Offspring versus Concentration

[Snarkhunter]

The last couple of shoots my son has been struggling with his shooting and has become (understandably) quite annoyed and stressed with how he was scoring. The effect on me was going from scoring 82 for the first dozen arrows (at 60 yards - so I was quite pleased ) to just 23 for the third dozen! I couldn't work out what was happening until the same thing happened a second time and I realized I was concentration on how my son was shooting rather than how I was.

Now I will take some time with him next weekend to work with him on his form. My question is (especially to those of you who shoot with your children): is there a way to keep my focus and concentration whilst being able to be supportive of my son? Any tips for regaining lost focus?

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by Snarkhunter

The last couple of shoots my son has been struggling with his shooting and has become (understandably) quite annoyed and stressed with how he was scoring. The effect on me was going from scoring 82 for the first dozen arrows (at 60 yards - so I was quite pleased ) to just 23 for the third dozen! I couldn't work out what was happening until the same thing happened a second time and I realized I was concentration on how my son was shooting rather than how I was.

Now I will take some time with him next weekend to work with him on his form. My question is (especially to those of you who shoot with your children): is there a way to keep my focus and concentration whilst being able to be supportive of my son? Any tips for regaining lost focus?

My sympathies. I had similar issues at the end of last season. It did affect me too, though not to the same degree. I am not sure I really solved it. FWIW....

1. At the club we have a seperate juniors session, and while I could normally shoot at the same time, I found it best to delay my shooting to the seniors session so I could concentrate on working with him.
2. At tournaments I just had to completely leave him to it. We are lucky in that there are usually a number of juniors from our club at any tournament. He was used to being at the other end of the line, and sharing a tent with the parents of one of his friends. Even with this though I think it was affecting my scores.
3. I had to try and completely isolate any effect on my score from him. The last thing he needed was to suspect his problems were affecting me, since the extra pressure would have been unfair.

Where are we now? Unfortunately depite lots of work we were unable to straighten him out. He is currently taking a break, but now he has started playing the cornet as well as climbing etc. He feels he has too many other things to do at the moment, and doesn't want to start. I am sure there is an aspect of not wanting to try in case he can't get back to his previous level.

I think you have to be very careful to try and get the right level of help and support to allow the problems to be worked through in a positive fashion. It might help to see if someone else (do you have a good club coach) to work with him.


Best of luck to both of you

[simon m]

Our club secretary's son shoots and he comes to some practises without his equipment so he can give his boy 100% about twice a month.

[Snarkhunter]

Thanks for the input. I will, as I mentioned, try to give him my undivided attention for a session and see if this helps.

No. 2 son is due to start the beginners course later this month on Saturday mornings so I might see if he can come along and shoot on his own with some guidance from me just to concentrate on his form. My other half might appreciate me not being out for the whole of Saturdays for six weeks too!

Has anyone found ways of re-focussing after concentration has been lost?

[geoffretired]

Your son's shooting is a distraction, like any other, with regard to your score.( a different form of distraction obviously)
To become distracted means you are not busy enough during your own shot sequence.( I do not mean that in an unkindly way) The more aggressive the distraction, the busier you have to be.
Being busy during your shot sequence has to be part of that routine, not just something you do in emergencies.
It's like driving a car, some drivers are on the phone and driving on automatic; learners can't do that, they are too busy doing all the things in the right order etc.
Archers can shoot on automatic and think about all sorts of things. They won't necessarily shoot well though. Archers need to keep themselves busy in a way that is connected to the shot they are putting together. They have to get all the fine detail put in place properly. Much of that can be done on automatic but something has to be done with real concentration; otherwise son's scoring will get in the way. If the form has a weakness, a part that is frequenty forgotten or performed badly, that's something to concentrate on.
This has to be practised until concentrating becomes normal/routine; not put on automatic.

[Nick Forster]

Iam glad I am not the only one.
I have 2 sons who both shoot and dont get along with each other this can be for me very distracting although there behaviour is good generally and I have not had any complaints from others.
To make things worse my eldest and most dedicated to archery son is left handed, hense is always facing you on the line and if he is shooting badly (or he thinks that he is ) the facial expressions and body language are very off putting.
My one and only defence is never shoot at the same time / detail ie: when he is on the line I am not. in tornourments I always ensure that we are nowhere near each other.
The advantage to shooting a different detail is that you can give them attention when required and still shoot yourself but you must insist that when you are on the line they leave you alone.
Hope this helps
I have found that having my son doing the same sport as myself has improved pour relationships but sometime the patients of a saint is required.
Nick

[MrM]

You should try it when you don't shoot, but your offspring does, and she's having a bad day! Luckily I can go for a walk and let her calm down, whichobviously you can't

[Snarkhunter]

Thanks for that Nick - I knew there would be others who had had the same experience! My son and I were in different details but it was hard to put aside his issues when I came to shoot. I agree that the benefits of a shared activity are, however, more important than my concentration issues.

Geoff - some good pointers. I had assumed that "Autopilot" was a good thing but perhaps I need to learn to actively focus on different parts of the shot routing to improve consistency and deal with the Distraction Gremlins. And, of course, to stay relaxed during the whole shot!