PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RAVENNA MI PERMIT NO. 320

Seven Ways to
Remain Focused
Put yourself in this situation. There is one target
left in the tournament and you are tied for first with
another person in your shooting group. He shoots
first and scores an eight on a long, hard turkey
target. Now it is your turn. What is going through
your mind? Are you thinking that you need to hit
a ten to win? Are you thinking that you have to at
least hit an eight? Are you thinking that you cannot
hit a five or you’ll lose? I hope you are not entertaining
any of these thoughts. Instead, you need
to be focused on using the best form that you are
capable of shooting. You have to remain focused
on the task that is facing you, which is perfect shot
execution. There are many things that can distract
archers to the point that they lose their focus. Once
this happens, their performance will suffer. Here are
some ways to combat the distractions and help you
remain focused:
• Use pre-tournament preparation. Do not think of
the upcoming tournament in terms of winning or
having a fabulous score. Instead, think in terms
of you making every shot with the best form that
you can produce. When practicing, try to shoot
every shot with perfect form. Then each time tell
yourself that is what you are going to do at the
tournament.
• Relax. The whole key to being able to execute
good form is staying relaxed. Regulate your
breathing. Take deep, slow breaths. Constantly
remind yourself to drop your shoulders and relax
your muscles.
• Think performance. You know you can shoot
great form. You do it constantly in practice. All
you need to do is execute the same shot that you
have been practicing.
• Do not be concerned with results. Do not put
any emphasis on your score or the score of others.
You can be concerned about that after the
tournament is over. Being concerned about
points while competing will distract you from a
top performance.
• Be totally involved in the moment. Forget the
shots that you have already taken and the ones
that you are going to face. Only be concerned
with the shot that is in front of you.
• Do not give shots a more significant value. In the
By Terry Wunderle
scenario at the beginning of this article, most of
you probably looked at the shot as a win or lose
situation. By doing that you place a higher value
on the arrow. When you do that too often you
try to fine-tune your sight (over-aim) and make a
poor shot execution. It is just another shot, so allow
yourself to shoot the way you have practiced
for months.
• Use Mental Imagery. Before releasing the arrow,
look at the target and see yourself going through
the motions of using perfect form. Let your body
and mind feel the shot and then execute that
same shot.
It is easy to get lost in thought, especially thinking
that is not part of the task in front of you. When
your mind strays, stop and bring it back to reality.
To be a good archer, you have to discipline yourself
to stay focused by controlling your thought processes.
44 Archery Magazine April / May 2008 Archery Magazine April / May 2008 45