Heart Pounding - Head Spinning

[Kae]

Standing, waiting, you can feel your palms sweating, that little niggleing thought sitting at the back of your brain.
Can I, Can't I?
Why am I here?
I'm not good enough!
Look at all that equipment, all looks much more professional than mine.
They look so much more professional than I do, I just look like a bag of spuds.
Why am I bothering, Never won one of these before.
Perhaps I should go home?
Why should I bother, just to be disappointed again?


This is what I use to think at competitions (and other things which aren't printable).

This is a major problem for all competetive archers. I want to start this thread so that everyone can suggest ways of settling yourself before a shoot. To give yourself that moral boost than your not useless, and even if you don't win, that you can shoot to the best of your ability.

Personally I chat until 10 minutes before I'm meant to shoot, then use simple meditation (closing eyes concentrating on breathing, blocking thoughts for 10 breaths - which is damn hard), until I shoot. I find this means I feel completley relax when I shoot and I can concentrate on putting arrows into the target.

Kae.

[Murray]

I used to get very nervous, particularly at indoor competitions for some reason. So much so I'd be physically shaking and feeling a bit sick, even on the drive to the tournament! BUT the more you do the less it gets. Personally I'm like you - have a chat, have a laugh while setting up the kit, then settle down to some visualisation and set my mindset towards getting into a single-minded, focussed zone.

[Ceri Jones]

6pint, 2double whisky's, and a kebab.....Sorry thats the night before....

Before the shoot have a look around, think here we go, then concentrate on what my body is doing on the shooting line, and listen to my heartbeat, seems to cut out all backround noise and aids concentration.

[buzz lite beer]

I too when 1st entered the competition arena was well intimidated by all the top class gear on display, the archers with racks of medals on their quivers,
you will find this season a lot of archers with Inno bows from W&W and Helix G3 and other world class combo's that can't hit 800 for an Albion round, and as for the badges, amongst one archers collection was a cycle proficiency badge and a Jedi knight badge just bulking the array out I assume. When you realise that the majority of archers who talk the talk can't walk the walk the intimidation aspects drop, I realised early on that I can't influence any-one's ability and scores on the day, and they can't influence mine, keep your eyes on your own target don't scan the other archers bosses, they might put one good end in during the whole competition and I'll guarantee it'll be on the occasion you're taking a peek. I never go with the mindset to beat any particular archer, just try and bring the quality of form achieved on the practice range out onto the tournament shooting line

[Schme1440]

I think we all get nervous at our first comps. Again I was the same. The best cure is to have a routine to do before each shoot. After a few shoots it gets easier. Now all I get nervous about is when I turn up really early to get a good tent spot and wonder if im at the right place.

[clickerati]

Am I a freak? I've never been nervous in a competition. Frustrated and angry at myself for being a muppet, yes, but never nervous. It's so exciting to see lots of new people, different equipment and watch archers much better than I (and the ones that are worse than me, too). I try to glean as much as I can through observing these people. And as it is my want, I always come away with new friends from judges to archers. I get lots of hugs, I'm happy to see people I've come to know through competitions and can't wait to see them the again. I have never walked away from a competition without making a friend or learning something valuable.

[Anna K]

No you're not a freak! Cos I don't get nervous at competitions either, I absolutely love them. This meant that shooting compound has come as quite a shock - I don't quite understand why, but I get really sweaty palms when i shoot it, but yet I never do for recurve. I also have to work a lot harder at keeping calm and slowing my heart rate down, two things I never worry about with recurve. It's very frustrating, and I know the sweaty palms affects my shooting, cos I'm worrying about the bow slipping. Does anyone have any suggestions....?

[Schme1440]

Wash your hands and then rinse in cold water. This will remove greese and close the pours. Once hands are dry put some antipurspirant on your hands and this should stop them sweating. Alternatively Physiosport do a great hand grip gel that you can by from boots. ts like chalk powder like what weight lifters use but is a gel goes on wet and dries to a powder. Looks a little suspect though.

[darthTer]

I had my first proper comp last sunday.....

I found the best way was to show up later than intended, register, half setup kit, get called over by judges for noobie talk, finish setup bow....shoot.

Didn't have any time to realise it was a formal comp. By the time I did, I had already shot my first end & got a decent score (8,8,7)

[buzz lite beer]

Originally Posted by Anna K

No you're not a freak! Cos I don't get nervous at competitions either, I absolutely love them. This meant that shooting compound has come as quite a shock - I don't quite understand why, but I get really sweaty palms when i shoot it, but yet I never do for recurve. I also have to work a lot harder at keeping calm and slowing my heart rate down, two things I never worry about with recurve. It's very frustrating, and I know the sweaty palms affects my shooting, cos I'm worrying about the bow slipping. Does anyone have any suggestions....?

Physio Sport grip http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/makeup/physi...nd-grip-125ml/