The mind in archery
As in all sports, you hold the keys to your future success by preparing yourself mentally and physically, and by following a pre-developed training plan, possibly with the assistance of a qualified archer. These points are further elaborated below as part of the preparation for competitive archery. The mind in archery:
1- The mind
To win the competition, having a positive attitude is crucial, and it is almost more important than technique and equipment, which are certainly complementary.
In archery, the mind plays a more significant role than you may think. While physical condition, technique, and equipment are all important, it is ultimately the mind that controls the action and dominates the whole process. Therefore, it is essential to understand what you are doing and what your mind is doing.
It is crucial to recognize that everything ultimately resides in the mind. By acknowledging the reasons for effective shooting, you will give proper space to controlling your mind. As you approach the shooting line, challenge yourself, and let only one thought occupy your mind: the recipe is simple, take a correct first shot and repeat it as many times as there are ends to be taken.
On the firing line, you are alone, and no one can help you. Physically, you must exhibit dynamic behavior. If you have developed the habit of using your mind positively and building self-confidence, then you will put yourself in a position of confidence. These are the first, and not the least, keys to your future success.
2- Warm-up
You must realize the enormous importance of warming up, as it helps prepare the archer for optimal shooting conditions during training or competitions.
Warm-up allows for a gradual transition from rest to effort. It awakens the muscles and neuromuscular system, increases cardiac output, oxygenation, and raises body temperature.
The benefits of warm-up include increased muscle and tendon elasticity, faster muscle contraction speed, improved motor coordination, precise gestures, and the ability to repeat them. Warm-up also helps prevent injuries such as muscle strains and tendonitis. Continuously maintaining good hydration during training or competition reinforces this preventive action. Hydration facilitates the elimination of toxins from the muscles, maintaining their elasticity as well as that of the tendons.
Warm-up is also an opportune moment to activate concentration and focus on the objective. Controlled breathing, particularly during stretching exercises, provides great benefits for muscles, tendons, and joints. In a competitive situation, it helps manage stress and bring it to an optimal level. The effectiveness of warm-up is directly proportional to its regularity and the seriousness with which it is practiced.
3- Training
The first step is to set a personal goal with the possible assistance of a coach. From the beginning, you must be clear about your intentions and avoid confusion. Determine whether you aim to compete and be among the elite or shoot for fun and remain in the realm of leisure while maintaining a certain level. Answering this question is crucial as it determines the pace and frequency of training.
To avoid frustration and failure, the time spent training should align with the initial goal you set. Find the optimal training dosage that allows you to stay in your best shape. Do not hesitate to pick up your bow when you feel the need to reconnect with it and regain confidence. Devote numerous hours to training, which are necessary to maintain and even improve your fitness, tone your muscles, acquire a sense of coordination, synchronization, stability, balance, and ultimately achieve a flexible and coordinated movement for your best performance.
Sensations
Training is essential and irreplaceable if you want to enhance your shot and develop the ability to recognize whether the sensations are good or not. This, in turn, allows you to concentrate effectively at the desired time. Visualization complements the work you have already done. It is an intellectual process that reactivates all action patterns and serves as an essential complement to training. Visualization enables you to anticipate and build a shooting strategy, preparing you to handle any event that could disrupt the firing sequence. By constructing a visual sequence for each situation, you create a database that you can draw upon later when developing an overall strategy.
4- Shooting in the wind
Experience shows that archers who excel at shooting in the wind share common denominators: they possess a high level of confidence, and they do not consider the wind as a handicap to their victory.
Next read: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/purpose-vision/athletes-prioritize-your-resources