Tournament Nerves

[Flandyman]

As a bit of a new boy to this ( not shot many competitions) I shot a WFAA Indoor PAA ( worcester ) Sunday and I set myself up with a couple of things -

1. Every arrow you shoot is the only arrow you shoot - the one before has gone and the next one does not exist - each one is the only one so make it the best you can

2. You are only shooting against yourself - you know how well you can shoot and you are here to try and do that well and better - its your PB not anyone elses

3 - silly this one but I mentally sing a song with the lines 'it went straight down the middle' cant remember all of it but it sums up where I want them to go - finds it helps me concentrate on what I should be doing and helps me forget the rest around me

For interest I shot a third with a PB - that was the bit I liked ( my wife shot a 1st , my eldest shot a 1st and my youngest shot a 1st Ah well girls just have to show off !)

[Alex Greig]

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Look what your average is and not your PB. There is a good chance that you may loose some points due to nerves but as long as you keep around your average than it must be going to plan.

[Medoc]

Shoot with a hangover, have "the hair of the dog" during sighters (3 or 4 pints will do), keep a ready supply of birch sticks in your bivvy to be used for self correction, call all arrows as 9's or 10's and ensure the judges are "onside" with incriminating evidence of what they get upto in the judges tent!

Erm, cant do that now its the era of drug tests and traffic lights, better to try to shoot one arrow at a time, concentrate on your shooting plan and ignore everthing else, and CHILL OUT because its a hobby and SUPPOSED to be fun.
(Repeat the last line over and over when your arrow sails past the target and kills yet more worms.

[cliveanne]

Originally Posted by Flandyman

As a bit of a new boy to this ( not shot many competitions) I shot a WFAA Indoor PAA ( worcester ) Sunday and I set myself up with a couple of things -

1. Every arrow you shoot is the only arrow you shoot - the one before has gone and the next one does not exist - each one is the only one so make it the best you can

2. You are only shooting against yourself - you know how well you can shoot and you are here to try and do that well and better - its your PB not anyone elses

3 - silly this one but I mentally sing a song with the lines 'it went straight down the middle' cant remember all of it but it sums up where I want them to go - finds it helps me concentrate on what I should be doing and helps me forget the rest around me

For interest I shot a third with a PB - that was the bit I liked ( my wife shot a 1st , my eldest shot a 1st and my youngest shot a 1st Ah well girls just have to show off !)

I'll go along with 1 & 2 but 3? no way!! I don't sing, not even mentally. If you could hear me you would understand why

On the line: as far as I'm concerned,, I'm having another practice session (Physical & or Mental). Perhaps not the right attitude to take, as it might mean not being in the spirit of competition, thereby keeping my scores to a lower level than I could possibly shoot. But hey, so what, there are archers out there who can outshoot me, as I can other archers. No big deal.
Relax, Enjoy the company, the snide comments (Often the best bit ), pick up tips from other archers, give tips to other archers. Listen, watch, try it, learn.
But, what ever you do ...don't forget the food & drinks

[Hood-Robin]

Scoring and nerves!!!!!! This must feel what a gay coming out of the closet feels like LOL ( no I am not gay, just a pun)
I admit I hate scoring and will make any excuse I can not too. I have a phobia about getting it wrong and looking a pratt. I Know, I know 2006 outdoor shooting I am going to score and get over my phobia.
Preparation for shooting and nerves at competitions.
This will sound a contridiction to the above but I get totally self centred and do not think about anybody else from the moment I get out of bed untill I have finished shooting. I am not even interested in the scores my mind is centred on the GOLD and how many times I am hitting it plus all other 1001 things that make a good shot.