Alayna Musson, June –
At the NASP® States and Nationals, there are so many overwhelming things going on around you and others. Some could compare it to a busy beehive. All the people are there for a reason, all doing something, all buzzing around in crowds.
With so much going on, what should I do?
This year (2025), I went to the Kentucky State archery tournament and the Eastern Nationals. There are so many fun things to do, but so little time. I am always told I cannot be out all day. But lucky for you, I can tell you how I squeezed most things into my afternoon.
We are all there for one reason: to shoot. I shot in the NASP® 3d and Bullseye Tournaments at both the State and National tournaments. I have always had tight flight times, whether I had 30 minutes in between or an hour and 30 minutes, I made sure my times would work.
Always make sure you get there at least an hour early!
Who knows with traffic? Life is unexpected, and so are others. People don’t know if they are going to get in an accident one day or another, or not at all. If they knew, they would tell you and prevent a traffic jam. To make sure you always have enough time, get somewhere early! They always say, “If you are early, you are on time, if you are in time, you are late”.
Another plus of getting there early is that you have more time to walk around when you get there.
Don’t make any other plans or appointments for the day!
If you make any other plans or have other things going on that day, it’s only going to put you in more of a rush getting in and out of there.
Get around to ALL of the vendors!
You might not go into all of the vendors, and that is ok. I am alright if I pass by it and ask myself, do I need to go in there (or want to)? One thing I love to do is grab all of the FREE stickers!!! I vandalize my bow case like no tomorrow! Just getting around to see all of the things is fun in itself!
Talk to other people!
You won’t realize it now, but you might meet some people you will know forever. They might be strangers, but people are there to talk about their experiences, sell things, and give advice. I have met people who impact not only my life, but also other people’s lives with just their words. I have met the person who lives behind making Bullseye! I have met someone who believes in others and not their scores! And most importantly, I have met the person who is behind all of the NASP® Student Contributor articles, the one who makes this magic happen! Walk up to other people and see what they have to say.
There is so much more to write about the adventures through NASP®, and the State and National tournaments, but the next time you go to a big tournament like this, be sure to follow these tips and go see your vendors!
