Champion titles because I practiced
very hard.
In 2006, I opened my archery school
"White Arrow" for Austrian archers, and
then in 2011, "Archery Education
International", which caters to archers
and coaches from all over the world.
From 2009-2011, I was head coach of
the Austrian 3D-Team (3D = shooting
on plastic animal-like targets on a
course in the woods), and between
2008 and 2013, I was a team
supporter when there was no head
coach for the team.
In 2009, I became a national - and in
2011 an international - coach trainer (this is still my job), specializing in the Olympic Recurve bow
and traditional bows. I also finished my education as a sport mental trainer in 2011.
In 2010, I started to write a textbook about coaching in archery with many practical tips and
exercises for archers, coaches and coach trainers. It will be available in 2018 in German, and
hopefully in 2019 in English.
I have learned so much
through my archery. For
example: I can do almost
everything if I try hard
enough. But I do think that
to be successful, the most
important thing is to have
fun at what you are doing. I
loved to practice hard.
There was never a time I
didn't want to take my bow
and arrows and practice
my shooting technique,
focusing on every shot;
there were the days I had
to stop myself to have a
rest. When you focus on
your shooting technique,
the hits will come by
themselves. It is wonderful
to feel the body's tension and relaxation, the harmony and smoothness in the approximately 15
to 20 seconds you need for one shot.
I always had goals: for the training and for the competition. They were all related to my
technique (which key words I want to use, where to put my focus) and how to act in various
situations. Whenever I failed, I just asked myself what I could have done better to achieve my
goal and tried to act accordingly the next time. Whenever I finished an archery competition (no
matter whether I got a medal or not), I asked myself what is the next thing to practice so that I
can improve my skills. Archery also taught me to focus much more on me, on the moment; to
concentrate on the important things and blank out things that are unimportant or not relevant.
This all had a massive influence on my private life.
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