Chase McBroom, February -Archery is a great way to make lifelong friends from all over the world. In Las Vegas last year, I shot with a few guys from Japan. They couldn’t speak English but communicated through Google Translate. I even met Tim “The Hammer” Gillingham while warming up next to him in Arizona, which was awesome, since he is my favorite PRO.
I have archery friends from eight to eighty-eight. The young ones look up to me and remind me to have fun in archery, the older one’s mentor me in archery and in life. Some of my best friends are archery friends because they understand the dedication it takes to be a consistent archer. Most archery clubs also do fun things to add to the social side of archery. My NASP® team will have a fun shoot every year which usually involves archers vs. parents. The worst parent is awarded a trophy and the archers who beat the coach’s score are rewarded with a prize. It’s a time that’s less stressful than tournaments and creates lots of laughs. Some archery clubs go bowling together, have supper as a team and even have outings to seasonal events like Santa Land.
Some of my best archery friends are from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia. Several of these are multiple hours away from my town and I never would’ve had a chance to meet them without archery. My buddy, Maverick and I won first place in the JOAD Outdoor Nationals team shoot last summer in Des Moines, Iowa. It was the best feeling ever. We were randomly placed on a team together and we knew immediately that we had that first place.
In NASP®, I’ve met so many friends from other schools. Some of my favorites attend Calvary Baptist, Tioga, Converse, and Benton High Schools. My very first NASP shoot, another school coach came over to me and told me that he had been following me through the Louisiana Field Archery Shoots. It was amazing that someone even knew my name. NASP® coaches are helpful and patient with us Genesis shooters. Most are volunteers or parents, and you see them at every shoot. They are willing to help anytime. I haven’t shot in a National or World event for NASP yet, but I’m hoping to get that opportunity to expand my Genesis friends list.
It helps to have friends in archery, especially at shoots. I’ve had all kinds of bow issues from the string jumping off the cams to the sight breaking on my compound bow. I’ve had parents and other archers jump in without question and act as a bow press to help me replace my string. They have offered extra sights, re-tied my serving and even helped me re-fletch arrows. I’m grateful for this tribe of people.
So, how do I make friends? Once you get on the line, you can get very nervous. After arrows are shot and you’re down the lane, you’re forced to talk to your bale mate while scoring. This breaks the ice and gets the conversation started. I ask what school they attend and what grade they’re in. By the end of the shoot, I’ve made a new friend. I may even ask how long they’ve been shooting and if they shoot with other organizations. It’s that easy!
