King Arthur Tournament 2025: What You Told Us

By Jim Walker, San Diego Archers

Thanks to everyone who shared feedback on this year’s King Arthur Archery Tournament. We dug into every comment to see what worked, what didn’t, and where we can make the next one even better. Here’s what stood out.


★ Overall Experience: You’re Loving It

A solid 83% of participants gave the tournament a 4 or 5 out of 5, and just as many said they’d definitely recommend it to a friend. That’s the kind of support that keeps this community growing—and we’re grateful.


★ Organization + Volunteer Team: All Thumbs Up

Across the board, folks praised how well things were run. “Good” to “Excellent” ratings were the norm. Two people even used the word “excellent” specifically when talking about our volunteer team. That’s especially rewarding, since every San Diego Archers tournament is fully volunteer-run and donation-funded. No paid staff. Just folks who care.


★ The Archery Itself: Smooth and Fun

  • Range Setup: Everyone ranked it “Good” to “Excellent.” That tells us the course is in great shape.

  • Rules: Most people found them clear. One new archer mentioned it wasn’t obvious you could start at any target—so we’ll highlight that better in the future.

  • Atmosphere: People had a blast. Comments mentioned the iron target, and shooting with friends as highlights.


⚠ What Could Be Better

We also got constructive feedback—and we’re listening.

🎭 Costume Contest Confusion

One participant had strong concerns about fairness. The main points:

  • Judging felt biased. They felt some well-made, period-accurate costumes were overlooked in favor of flashier or less authentic ones.

  • Suggestion: Bring back participant voting, but only hand out name tags and ballots after the shoot. That way, votes aren’t based on early impressions or friendships.

Also surprising—33% of respondents didn’t know the grand prize was a traditional bow worth over $200. That’s on us. We’ll make sure everyone knows what’s up for grabs next time.

🥪 Food & Drink Timing

While most said food availability was “Good,” one shooter said they were hungry and dehydrated toward the end of their day—around target 30. That suggests we may need longer or staggered food service windows to better match everyone’s schedule.

📣 Event Communication

A few people asked for more detailed info upfront—like when shooting starts, when the raffle happens, etc. We’ll aim to tighten that up for 2026.

One note on scorecards: A participant suggested captains hold onto them throughout the event to avoid misplacement. Noted.


☀️ Summer Heat = A Hot Topic

The weather was no joke this year. At least one person said the heat really affected their experience and suggested holding the event earlier in the season. May or early June 2026 came up more than once.


🧡 We’re All Volunteers—And That Matters

A third of respondents didn’t know this tournament (and every SDA event) is 100% volunteer-powered and funded by donations. That’s something we’ll promote more clearly—it matters. When people know, they’re more likely to lend a hand or chip in.

🔧 Read Me in 2026!

  • Costume Contest:

    • Return to participant voting, but hand out ballots after the shoot to reduce bias.

    • Clarify prize value (e.g., traditional bow worth over $200) to encourage more participation.

  • Food & Beverage:

    • Extend or stagger food service hours to match archers’ shooting schedules.

    • Consider offering light snacks or hydration stations around the course.

  • Event Communication:

    • Provide a clear, posted schedule (start time, raffle drawing, etc.).

    • Remind participants they can start at any target to ease confusion for newcomers.

    • Assign scorecard responsibility to team captains for better tracking.

  • Timing & Climate:

    • Consider moving the event to May or early June to avoid excessive heat.

  • Volunteer Awareness:

    • Promote that the tournament is 100% volunteer-run and donation-funded.

    • Add signage or brief announcements

Read more...

Survey Summary: Shaping the Future of San Diego Archers

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts in our recent survey!
https://bit.ly/493BvKu

Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to improve and grow the club. Here’s a detailed snapshot of what we learned from our members and how we plan to use it to shape the future of the San Diego Archers community.

Top 5 Takeaways from the Club Member Survey Results:

1. Barriers to Attendance:

Many members face challenges in attending events frequently, with over half of respondents citing work, health issues, or scheduling conflicts. Distance and advance notice were also significant barriers for some. We’re focusing on improving communication with clearer schedules and reminders to make planning easier.

2. Popularity of 3D Shoots and Animal Rounds:

The 3D Shoots and Animal Rounds are by far the most popular activities, along with the Balboa Park shoots. Members love the mix of competitive and casual events, which cater to both experienced and newer archers. We plan to keep these activities fresh and engaging, possibly adding themed events to increase excitement.

3. Interest in Social and Indoor Activities:

Members expressed a strong interest in social events, such as a monthly BBQ at Morley Field.

4. Volunteer Appreciation and Involvement Opportunities:

There is overwhelming appreciation for the volunteers who maintain our ranges and events. However, members expressed a desire for more opportunities to get involved. We’re planning to introduce a clearer volunteer sign-up system to make it easier for everyone to participate and help keep the club thriving.

5. Awareness of Membership Value:

While many respondents understand the benefits of club membership, including discounted events, some were unaware of the full range of perks. We are working to better communicate these benefits, and we are exploring additional perks like exclusive workshops, and merchandise to add more value.

Just Recapping – a Bit More Detail

Attendance and Barriers to Participation:

The majority of respondents shared that while they love being part of the club, attendance at events is sometimes less frequent than they’d like. Specifically, over half of members reported attending fewer than 10 events per year. The most cited reasons for this were work commitments, health-related challenges, and difficulties with scheduling. Some recommended more Saturday events.

For some, the distance to our events was a challenge, especially for those who live outside the immediate San Diego area. Members also mentioned that having more advanced notice about events would help them better plan their attendance. We’re taking these points to heart and exploring ways to better communicate upcoming events, perhaps through a more streamlined calendar or reminders.

Interestingly, a few members noted that while they are passionate about archery, they sometimes feel intimidated by the skill level at certain tournaments. We want to ensure that our club is a welcoming place for archers of all skill levels, so we are considering creating more “introductory-level” or casual events that allow newer archers to gain confidence and practice in a less competitive environment.

Favorite Activities and What Makes Them Special:

When we asked about favorite activities, 3D Shoots and Animal Rounds came out on top. Many members emphasized that they particularly enjoy the variety and challenge these events bring. The Balboa Park shoots were also frequently mentioned as a favorite due to their unique setting and the opportunity to spend a day outdoors surrounded by such a beautiful backdrop.

Several respondents specifically mentioned how much they appreciate the “fun and relaxed” atmosphere of our novelty shoots. Events like the State 900 also hold a special place for many members, with some expressing that these larger, more structured competitions provide a great opportunity to test their skills in a more formal setting while still feeling the support of the club.

To enhance these experiences, some members suggested adding themed events—for example, a “Classic Archery Day” where participants use traditional bows and wear historical clothing. We’re looking into how we might incorporate some of these suggestions in the coming year to create memorable, themed experiences that celebrate archery history.

New Activities and Community Ideas:

The creativity of our members shone when we asked about new activities you’d like to see. A recurring suggestion was to introduce monthly social gatherings, such as a BBQ at Morley Field. These events could provide a relaxed opportunity for members to mingle, share tips, and just enjoy each other’s company without the structure of a competition. The sense of community is what sets the San Diego Archers apart, and we’re eager to expand on that.

There were also some fantastic suggestions around holding workshops—like equipment maintenance classes and specialized shooting clinics led by our more experienced members. These ideas would help bridge the gap for those newer to the sport and also provide our seasoned archers with an opportunity to share their wealth of knowledge. We think Read more...