Training Tips

NAA membership Application

Currently , all archers may shoot in any GAA tournament. If it is an NAA sponsored event, all archers are welcome, however if the archer is not an NAA member, the archer can not win or place in their category.

Only GAA members are eligible for State Championship awards.(1-07)

NAA membership applications are usually available at the tournament for GA resident to apply for membership and be eligible for awards.

Archers wishing to shoot in a NAA sponsored JOAD competition must be a member of a JOAD club.

Tournament tune-up tips

If you change your arrows, or any equipment, verify the sight distances you have set.

Try to make no big form changes within 2 weeks of competition

Concentrate on refining fundamentals:

• Essential steps ( stance , nock, set hands, pre-draw, draw, anchor, aim, release, follow through( see Kisik Lee fundamentals))    
• Refine key elements:  bow arm held firm after release: “release… 2…3…4…..”
•   foot position consistent ( it is legal to mark foot position with golf tee’s outdoors, tape for indoors)
•   “ string picture” consistent

Feel confident :

  leave home early for the tournament, plan to arrive   30 minutes early, For outdoors: dress in light colors, take plent of water, suntan lotion.

Indoors: take /wear layers for temerature adjustment. For NAA sanctioned events , be sure you adhere to the NAA dress code.

Count out the arrows you will shoot &   put only that many in the first quiver tube . If you shoot more than the alloted amount ( 3 per end for indoors, 6 per end for outdoors) the highest scoring arrow will be disqualified.( Keep back ups in case of   broken/damaged arrows in another back tube )

Mark all arrows on the shaft with your initials.

Be familiar with scoring procedure

  Keep   backups in your tackle box:

   string , arrows, nocks, sling (see Coach Erics "Essentials for your Tackle Box" list )

KNOW YOUR BRACE HEIGHT and check to make sure yours is set.

Write your sight distances on masking tape on your bow square

When shooting practice rounds before the tournament, warm up and check that   your sight is set for your distances by shooting a few rounds, but don’t over shoot and get too tired . Visit with friends, relax.

  “Yawn” for de-stress ( you’ll see the Olympian’s doing it as they stand on the shooting line - the   chemicals released in your system will help relax you)

Check all equipment a few days before the tournament, look for damage, loose parts, proper arrow points, fletches glued tight, nocks look good, check that   screws are tight and make   corrections.

If you do have an equipment failure during the tournament, and you can’t recover quickly, raise your bow over your head. The Judge will come, and you will be given additional time to shoot.

KNOW who the judges are .

If someone else has a problem with equipment or targets DO NOT STOP SHOOTING unless the JUDGE says so- listen for the whistles. The   clock keeps ticking   unless the Judge says stop,

Home practice may include strength/ stamina exercises:

A. Use a 1 or 2 lb dumbbell, ( or empty milk jug with   some water added- no more than about 1/8th full - the jug holds 8 1/3 lbs) Practice several times a day, using correct “stance” , raise the weight   using your bow arm as though you were raising your bow , hold for 30 seconds (more if you can ) and then slowly lower the bow arm.

B. Do a “dry run” of your shooting sequence with no arrow, foot position set, string picture checked, anchor set.

Remember:

You know your shot sequence. Rely on it. Sometimes (even in practice) a shot execution is not what you had in mind - something is “off”. The next one will be better.