...for they are our future.
I personally hate the term "noob" but it's become such a part of our terminology along with "hold", "rhinohide" and "gimp". To some, a new member is fresh meat, a "willing" pell to be beaten on. To others, a new member is the grating, and at times annoying, person who is still trying to figure out where he fits in. And to some, a new fighter is a person with a lack of control, who swings excessively and headshots every person they fight. But they bring such boundless enthusiasm and driving willingness to learn. Ah, how quickly we forget that we were that noob once. And that's really what I'm getting at.
We all had to start somewhere. Look back on when you first started. Were you left to fend for yourself or did someone help you through the growing pains? I remember my first mentor in fighting, Sir Killian of Valdemar (no relation to the current Sir Killian). When I first started coming out, he epitomized what I thought a knight should be...hell on wheels with an undeniable presence on the field. When he commanded you, you followed without hesitation. But without him, I wonder if I would be where I am now. Time and time again, I hear stories of veterans who ended up staying in because of someone or perhaps a few people who saw their potential beneath the surface. Can you be that person?
Here are a few things you can do to keep your new members going:
1. Be mindful of the example you set. New fighters will pick up on the fighters who throw tantrums, storm off the field, blow off shots, or argue with the marshals. If a veteran gets away with it, why shouldn't they? Conversely, if the new members see veterans taking their hits, enjoying what they're doing, and being respectful to each other, they're going to see that too.
2. Take them under your wing. It's far easier to let them fend for themselves, to let them continuously be beaten down until they either step up or walk away. But oftentimes that leads to alienation and a person leaving the sport. For many of us, it's how we learned. Why should the fighters of today have it any easier? Teaching them takes work. Mentoring them takes work. However, it can be difficult to stick around when you're crushed on a regular basis and it seems like there's no one willing to help.
3. Be approachable and take the initiative to seek them out. Vets are often intimidating and sometimes outright terrifying to our new fighters. Don't make it any harder for them by making that expectation a reality.
4. Be patient. It can be difficult and frustrating especially when they keep making the same mistakes over and over. But, again, did you not go through that yourself?
5. Introduce them to opportunities outside of fighting. Do you know fighters who look at non-fighters with derision as if they are somehow less because they cannot or choose not to fight? That's a lousy attitude but it's one that can be easily propagated. Everyone contributes in their own way and fighting should NEVER be considered the only meaningful thing out there.
6. Hang out with them outside of practice. Make them feel welcome. Show them that the social interactions in Belegarth can be just as fulfilling as the fighting aspects.
7. At their first event, look out for them and introduce them to the people you know. Don't let them fend for themselves and end up doing something that may haunt them later.
8. Encourage them to make their own garb and weapons. That time and emotional investment is often the spark that keeps them interested in Belegarth.
9. Impress upon them how Belegarth MUST take a back seat to real life. If they're not doing well in school, then they need to focus on their studies. It's so easy to get caught up with hanging out with friends instead of studying or going to class, particularly in a college environment.
New members of Belegarth are the children of our community and you, the veterans and established members, have a direct effect on their growth and development. It's up to you whether you choose to embrace them with open arms or weed them out with indifference.
[...]
