iDoHunting.com: Why is it that we get so nerved up we can’t shoot

League and tournament shooting builds endurance!

It’s amazing how many times this subject surfaces at an archery tournaments or with the folks at the many hunting camps. This not only takes place at the major events but many folks experience this even at the local spot or the 3D events at their clubs. So it's not just you fighting this at times, we’ve all seen it.

As I already stated in my last article, there are all kinds of elements that affect this. These elements affect every one of us differently due to our personality traits. Yet all of these elements can be dampened in the same fashion. It just takes some folks more dedication to controlling this compared to others.

What key elements affects this?

Our daily lifestyle and pressure level:

Your daily life style really does play a role in how we can stay focused in our game and what level of tournament pressure we can handle. Individuals that live a laid back, quiet environment will normally handle the game better. These folks are so used to being low key and happy (and possibly bored). It usually takes something very serious to get this type of a person worked up. This type of an environment has been ingrained into their system so long that when shooting a tournament, they tend to shoot the game as if it’s no big deal. Most of the time, they don’t even seem that excited about it and yes some will seem as they are having a blast.

Archers of this level can still experience tournament pressure, but tend to relax and calm down quicker thus being able to keep their game in focus. The folks who tend to be on the run and spread themselves thin or work and live in a high tension stressful environment, will tend to try very hard to stay calm and will defiantly be nervous standing on the line. This tends to come from always being on edge. The stress that this individual is exposed to daily causes their personality to always be alert to what’s happening around him or her. This can come from all walks of life - indoors or outside.

Usually you will tend to focus more on trying to stay calm and you do so by chatting with others around you or by listing to music on an I-pod or something. Everything seems to be cool, but then for some crazy reason as soon as you step up to the line and try put an arrow on your bow, the red lights start flashing all over in your mind and all of a sudden the knees are rattling so bad you swear the guy next to you can feel the shaking. Or you can’t even draw your bow back without having the arrow fall off the rest, and here we go - what used to be a fairly easy target at home to settle in on is almost impossible to hold, yet even think about trying to squeeze off the shot thus causing your confidence to crumble momentarily from the increased size of your groups. Understanding this helps you reassure yourself that it’s not just you being an idiot.

Time to check the scores!

So when you attend these events, try to understand that we are all different and that some can handle the pressure easier than others. Knowing this we can then focus at trying to work with your fears versus against them. Every one of us gets nerved at one time or another. Many have said if it wasn’t for getting a little jittered, archery wouldn’t be any fun. Well maybe a little once in awhile, otherwise I could handle a calm relaxed game at times and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings any.

If you tend to have problems with this more then you like, you’re not alone. This can be at the beginning of a game or during the final rounds. Always try to stay positive! Crank up some cool music on the way to the event to get yourself jacked about hammer’in some dots or 12 rings. The bottom line is to get pumped and picture your arrows smashing the score rings. Build your confidence level even if you’re just beginning in this sport or a seasoned archer.

Back when I started smashing my first 300s back to back on the 5 spot, I had an awesome song that got me pumped when driving to league. When I was shooting my arrows, I would focus on that song in my mind. I would purposely flood my conscious with thoughts of this tune to eliminate the numbers creeping in. This tip worked great and in time you shot enough 300s that the mental barrier at this level was raised to the X counts.

Back in 2000 I would go to work every day and I would write on a calendar in the morning; “I can and will shoot a 300 60X game because I love it! And this is what I do!!”
Stay pumped and confident even when you’re nervous. Avoid concentrating on the fact that you’re scared silly and nervous. Instead, focus on the things that will fire you up. Even the best of the best are nervous up there - they just don’t let it control their minds.

Shooting with others and in new surroundings strengthens your ability to stay relaxed

Where we tend to practice:

Practicing at your home range or when shooting with your friends at a local club, you’ll tend to build a comfort zone. Some of the greatest scores ran consecutively are done at clubs. This is a great start, but to work at breaking the mental barriers that are within us, we need to move around and try to shoot in some local areas that are somewhat strange to us. Having a new group of people staring you down builds your inner strength in staying focused in your own little world - just you and your target when you draw that arrow back and release it.

Some people want to train in an area that’s dead quiet. That’s great but then what happens when you’re at a shoot and you’re on the line and a few folks who are already done and standing behind you yak’in about something? Then the noise level starts getting worse. You’ll be distracted not only by the noise, but also by your inner thoughts that are focused on the issues behind you versus thinking about THE TARGET! Then - woops there goes an arrow and now we’re upset and then there goes another… I’m sure you’ve already are familiar with this picture. So get used to shooting with a ton of distractions; not just music playing but people talking also. Use this to your advantage because just maybe the feller next to you that you’re shooting against will fall weak to this same issue.

What we eat:

Many archers shoot just awesome at home or at league. Their weekly scores are crank’in and life is good! Then they head off to the State or National Championship with high hopes. But the night before they leave, they suddenly change their eating habits. They know this is a serious business and they need to eat right now and eat “Healthy”. The day of the shoot healthier stuff can’t have this and they can’t drink that, boy many of folks have been there. What happens is they struggle and have a tough day. Why??? They did everything right so it must have been the pressure. They felt weak in the knees and the bow was heavy or sight vision was blurry. What really happened is that they threw their body for a loop and their energy levels and their body crashed. Always eat what you normally do every day. Remember those awesome scores back home. Back down a little on some of the things that contain sugars and caffeine, but don’t go cold turkey!

In time you will achieve your goals!

How we approach the game:

Go compete at the many archery events with the idea that you’re there more as a learning experience hoping to gain knowledge from some of the best ever. Some archers are probably better teachers then they are archers. Absorb all you can and remember to get fired up. When you stand in front of that paper target or that foam animal, take a good glance at it and instantly picture your arrow smashing into the scoring area. Stay pumped and believe in yourself and your shot. If the shot does not feel right as your aiming or even from the start - let down and force yourself to let down to save that 12 ring or X. Once you do this, you’ll see and understand the results of self control and you’ll be more apt to repeat this.

Remember this - 99% that’s right 99% of the time! The only person that is concerned with your score should be yourself and when you’re shooting, get the numbers out of your head. Stay jacked and pumped about the game.

Accomplishing your goals is knowing that you can improve on any given day. Get rid of the fears of who’s watching you, what your scores are, and what others may think when you throw an arrow out of your head. Stay PUMPED! The only competitor you have is the air between your ears. If you focus on the positive things in archery and the camaraderie, the improvement will level the chance of overcoming some of those demons that work against you – You will have had a great day!!! And you will have a blast!!! And when all that happens, someone may tap you on the shoulder and say “Man you were awesome today! Congrats on a great finish my friend!”

All of the tips above can greatly benefit you as a hunter as well. If you can get to rock solid at a shoot or at a league, then you are building the confidence and endurance to put that pin on a monster buck when he gives you the chance.

I hope some of this helps!

Good Luck Folks!