Competition fear (nervous archers)

[Avalon1]

What can I do on compettion If I am nervous, because If i say to myself that I am not nervous, it will be worser. What to do it this sotuation? Listen to music? thinkig abut other things? Concentrating much more on shooting? I think this is the problem of many archers, if you know some good technics to make it better, tell it! :-)

[New Tricks]

I seem to be repeating myself this arvo but here goes.

What are you doing at a tournament that you are doing different to when you practice? The answer should be, 'Absolutely nothing Alex!' Shoot scoring rounds in practice. Wait the full time between ends. Use a score card and write the scores down every end. Mark your arrow holes. Put your bow behind the equipment line. Every one of these things you do in practice means that come competition time, you have fewer things to worry about.

What you find will be different is the environment. Archers, wind, sun position. What you will THINK matters really does not. I see all too often and particularly at Junior level, individuals thinking and acting as though other archers actually care about how others are doing. Sure, with respect to score they do, but how often do you hear someone giving a very in depth breakdown of the third arrow of the last end and why they shot a 6.

I also see guys on the shooting line throwing their head back so that the rest of the line know that the 7 they just shot was a bad shot an really they are better than that!!!!! You know what? Noone cares. Sure they probably like that you shot a 7 but they aren't going to nod and say to themselves 'Oh, OK, that was just a bad shot there and would have otherwise been a 10.'

Control what you can control and that is your shooting. Once your arrow is gone, it is gone. I detest the use of spotting scopes as too many archers will use them to score and not use them to judge the environment and it's effect on arrow placement.

Take for example Simon Fairweather in the 2000 Olympic Final. The announcer called a shot of his a 9. The camera was zoomed close in on his face when this happened. He looked over his shoulder toward the announcer with a confused look and then stared long and hard into his spotting scope. The arrow was indeed a 10 as he first thought but he let the uncontrollable take him away from his usual sequence.

He had done everything right and was rewarded with a 10. He knew this hence his reaction so why look? Human nature. Sure it all went well and he won Gold but that arrow was in the target, too late to have another go. If you practice in different environments, eventually you will know where to aim in different winds so the guess work will go out of it and guys like him would be very very well versed in this skill.

In summary, practice tournament conditions often. Remember that you all shoot in the same wind and sun. You can only control your arrows. To be good in crap conditions, go and shoot in them. The rest is uncontrollable so forget about it.

[apexrob]

Thanks DR Euro Roid .

[New Tricks]

You are indeed welcome. All you personally need to shoot better is a good dose of 'kick in the nuts'. I have some here and will administer when I see you next.

[apexrob]

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7092/strdeyeyellowt9ld.jpg (http://imageshack.us) :D

[wareagle]

I used to get very nervous in 3D comp. when I was lining up to shoot the 1st target, I rarely score well on the 1st, I have found if I stretch and warm up while I'm waiting, it stops the shakes, er.. well it used to, but now that I'm a geriatric, I'm allowed to shake :D

[Avalon1]

New Tricks: thank you verry much :D