| Handling distractions |
| The most common application of concentration
skills is handling distractions. There are three basic steps to overcoming
distractions: |
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|
 Preparation |
Unexpected problems - of any kind - reduce concentration
and confidence a lot. A bit of preparation can make all the difference.
(This is realy just a part of good competition preparation, but it's
here because it fits!)
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Find out all you can
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For
the big events, gather every snippet of information you can,
so you know what to expect. What does the field look like? Got
a picture? Where's the sun going to be? Where's the Gotcha?
(there's always one... like the indoor cycle track at a University
Indoor shoot I went to, where the cyclists were whistle controlled,
and we had to ignore the whistles and use horn control for shooting...!).
Is there a crowd? |
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Write a 'worst case'
list |
What
could disturb you? Bad judge calls? Competitor jibes? Team mates
(!?) Write it all down |
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Use visualisation |
Roy
Matthews' method (right) is a great
example. But you can also just sit and think through how you
will handle all the things on your list, feeling how
it will affect you and working through your response. |
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Use practice |
If it'll
be crowded, practice shooting snuggled up against some mates
(could be fun...). If it'll be noisy, practice with your Ghetto
Blaster up full right behind you. If you're worried about jibes,
get your mates to stand behind you and snigger while you practice.
Get your coach to call some cutters low, or 'time you out' unfairly,
just so you can work out how to cope. |
With that done, you'll have a plan for a lot of what will hit you.
Next step is to fine-tune on the day, and for that.....
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| Tune
in to the place |
The sporting
bodymind has a good line on 'attunement'. The principle is simply
to take a good look around and get the feel of the place, so you're
not surprised later. For a more systematic approach, check the  mental
warm-up page for detail on attunement |
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| Remaining
distractions |
| Finally, for the remaining distractions, refer
back to the
basic
concentration techniques on the Concentration page, to get some
strategies for keeping your focus. |
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Quotable quote
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| Another leaf from Roy Matthews'
book, Archery in Earnest: |
| "..It
saves a lot of stress if you have a general knowledge
of the layout of the field .... When I travelled overseas
to shoot for Britain, I always read as much as i could
about the country in which the Championships were to be
held; about the town, about the food, the weather, the
history, so that very little surprised me when I got there." |
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| Roy Matthews, MBE, was a long-time
British Champion, Master and Grand Master Bowman, and was still
making international scores well into his sixties. |
| Visualisation
in practice |
| Matthews
is also reported to use visualisation in pre-shoot practice,
on the following principle: |
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Go
down to your practice field, and start shooting at a comfortable
distance
When
you've settled into a rhythm, start visualising the competition
venue.. put in the background; hear the sounds of the competition
and the spectators; feel the sun and the breeze... Carry on
shooting to your established rhythm, reinforcing the visualisation
at every shot, so that when you get to the shoot, every arrow
is familiar and in context.
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