Reagan Trent, March – Scrambling at the last minute to find your equipment causes errors that might cost you the tournament. Preparation has never let me down in archery. It is always helpful to be prepared for the day, so it is not so hectic. Forgetting to check your nocks or not waxing your bow because you are in a hurry does not have to be a reality. Give yourself enough time to prepare your equipment and yourself.
Depending on my flight time, I try to get at least eight hours of sleep. Sleep is important for your mind and body, not only for archery, but it also helps with everyday life. While you are sleeping, your body naturally repairs the muscles on which you have worked. For archers, this means better shoulder muscle recovery and overall physical readiness. Studies have shown that sleep-deprived athletes, including archers, experience a decline in accuracy. We archers depend heavily on focus, concentration, and mental precision during competitions. Making sleep a crucial part of your routine is important.
Eating is a large factor when it comes to shooting. I do not eat any food an hour to an hour and a half before shooting at a tournament. Some foods can negatively impact an archer’s focus and aim. Foods full of sugar or excessive caffeine can decrease focus and cause you to be shaky when holding up your bow. The best thing to do is fill yourself up with healthy fats and protein to support muscle development and repair in advance. Having these pre-prepared saves time and energy. I eat eggs and a piece of toast for breakfast and a high protein lunch.
When I am done eating, I check my equipment from top to bottom.
I try and drink plenty of water before a tournament. My mom always has to remind me because I forget about this a lot. Standing on the line for a long time without moving your legs can be harmful. This happened to me at a tournament this month. I forgot to drink a lot of water and got lightheaded, and my vision started to blur. One I had some water, it helped almost instantly. I will not forget to do that again; it was a little frightening.
Lastly, I would like to mention that while we archers prepare ourselves for a tournament, much preparation is in place by our coaches, volunteers, and parents. I would urge you to give a huge thank you to your host tournament site coaches, volunteers and parents who give up their time to help set up for our tournaments. Without them none of this would be possible. I could not be more grateful for all their support.