The Coaches paradox

[bethany]

well there are of course 2 options..

1. get bossy (like helen) and

2.go to the ppl who want it..like ME!

bethany

p.s. you were going to have 2 oprions before my dad pointed out the error..

[PaulT]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

Tarkwin, you need help, help to enjoy your archery, help not to put too much pressure on yourself while shooting! Stop beating yourself up with "feeling pressure to score"Just go to the line, shut out every thing around you and shoot your arrows without thinking about scores, just aim for gold and you will shoot gold. Tell yourself"that was a good shot,that is how I shoot" but say nothing when you put a bad shot in. It's so easy to be negative but harder to be positive, usually you say to yourself "that was a lucky shot!" Lucky!! bo£%cks, you were aiming for it, you set the shot up to hit it, you hit the gold, it was an excellent shot!

I agree entirely, lucky shots don't exist (see signature below). I have to say though B E that 'lucky bo£%cks' sounds like an interesting concept!!!!!!!!!!!

[LineCutter]

Originally Posted by doubletop

i will always ask for help especially for my lads as i find they listen to a stranger telling them the same thing as i am and then do it. Stranger is defined as anyone but me in this particular message

I couldn't agree more - your own kids are often best taught by other people & life in general! Makes you wonder what being a parent is for, other than being ingnored

[Tarkwin]

I got up this morning and decided to head off to the Chiltern Archery to shoot some arrows.

By the time that various around the house things were done, I got there at about 12.30. My scorebook was left in the car so I wasn't tempted to use it.

Now that I wasn't chasing scores I found that I was much more relaxed and I shot better. I was able to concentrate on what I was doing rather than what I was trying to attain, for the first time since I don't know when I was noting where I was anchoring, how the tab shelf felt under my chin and how the string felt against my face.

The most important thing I achieved was groups, the fact that they didn't fall in the gold was not important - this was achieved by sight adjustment.

I wasn't under pressure to shoot a specific number of arrows per end or even a set number of ends, so if it didn't feel right I took it down. Some ends I shot 4 (inc my spare 'just in case' arrow) others only one.

I still had some go wild, particularly towards the end of the day, but not as many as last night and the wayward arrow did not affect those that followed...

In all I shot for 3 1/2 hrs - including smoke, drink and 'comfort' breaks. The last 1/2 hr or so I was starting to feel it, but I feel much happier about things today.

£9 well spent....I may do this regularly.

T.

shameless plug: the guys at Chiltern were first class..If you're in the area, use them....

[morphymick]

Just goes to show. Chill-out and things will start to happen.

No pressure = no worries = more fun. (Mmmm.... new signature, perhaps)

Mick

[Bald Eagle]

Tarkwin,
Glad you had a good shoot, easy when there is no pressure! I don't know whether you are right handed or left but assuming you are right handed,watch where your arrows group and note where the "rogues" are impacting. A right handed archers arrows, at centre shot, should never go right of gold, if they do you have tension in your bow hand. If they impact high of gold, you probably heeled the shot and if they impact low left of gold, you may have dropped yor bow arm. Simple!! All of this information is well researched, tried and tested, assuming your equipment is tuned to perfection and yor arrows match.Good Shooting.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

...and if they impact low left of gold, you may have dropped yor bow arm...

This reminded me of a passage from "Archery in Earnest":

the aim is with the sight-pin dead centre, the line seems strong and true, and the clock keeps ticking away inside. The hold seems harder but the sight stays in the middle. The tension comes off the back and onto the arms and effort is made to draw the arrow to the length and the loose becomes a tense, ungainly jerk. Then back I am to dumping arrows into that dustbin of FITA Stars... low left for a right-handed archer

It happens to us all. The difference between most of us and the best of us is how often it happens. Think what it would be like to only make the good shots...

[Bald Eagle]

I'll take your word on that Rik, it's one book I've never got round to reading, but will eventually. Roger Ascham's Toxophilus was a good read but the one I got out of the library was printed in old English! It took a long time to read it.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

I'll take your word on that Rik, it's one book I've never got round to reading, but will eventually. Roger Ascham's Toxophilus was a good read but the one I got out of the library was printed in old English! It took a long time to read it.

I still recall Ascham's description of archers running down the field after their arrows, flapping their arms and calling encouragement to them to fly well.... They'd fit right in with some guys I've met!

[TJ Mason]

Furface, is this coaching available to people who aren't members of Adel? I'd definitely be in the market. I've NEVER had proper coaching, not even a beginners course, though I'm hoping to get on a level 1 coach training course soon.