Ava Castrogiovanni, June – When I started archery, I could’ve never imagined what this sport would turn into for me. NASP® has given me many friends and experiences and introduced me to outdoor archery. I have fallen in love with outdoor archery and IBO. IBO offers a different approach to the same world. Some of my fondest archery memories are walking through the woods for hours tackling some of the most challenging shots I’ve ever taken. IBO facilitates long-term bonding as archers face challenging weather, difficult shots, and steep hills together. It has given me so much more confidence in my abilities.
IBO creates independence and self-reliance in archers. While walking through the woods, you must carry all of your equipment. It fosters and grows self-confidence and responsibility. You have to know what you will need and are solely responsible for having it. IBO makes archery more than just a school sport, it makes archery a life-long experience that not only brings families together but also creates new ones. Every time I get sad that my senior year is almost here and that will be the end of my NASP® archery career, I remind myself that I can still shoot IBO and that my archery life will always be able to continue.
IBO not only gives me a sense of comfort that I will be able to shoot competitive archery for the rest of my life, but it also gives me people I look forward to seeing at every tournament. In bullseye tournaments, all of the people are new and it can be nerve-racking. However, in 3D tournaments, run by IBO and NASP, the IBO coordinators are always around somewhere. And they always make sure we are having fun. One of the coordinators always gathers us around before the tournament and tells us to ask him 3 non-archery questions. Those questions not only create friendships between the coordinators and archers, but they also help archers to stop stressing and just have fun.
While I love bullseye tournaments, sometimes I take them too seriously. I stress about them for weeks before the big tournaments, negatively affecting my performance. When I shoot IBO, I put less pressure on myself and it allows me to have more fun. IBO tournaments have made me a better archer. When shooting in IBO, you must trust your shot and know your aim spot for each distance to accurately guess where to aim based on your assessment of the distance for each target. To succeed in archery, you have to be able to trust yourself to make good shots and trust that the arrow will go where you want it to. My confidence in my shots grew tremendously when I began shooting IBO.
IBO is where I have made some of my best archery memories, but it is impossible to pick just one to be my favorite. I have met so many amazing people and learned life-long lessons. I am so grateful for everything that I have gotten from the programs of NASP and IBO and I encourage you to branch out of your comfort zone and try an IBO tournament!
