NYFAB/NFAA Virtual State Championship

 

   

  If you shoot for the stars, you might miss and hit the moon, but at leas you'll be heading in the right direction! This weekend I attend the  NYFAB/NFAA Virtual State Championship. Unfortunately, I didn't spend as much time mentally preparing for this event as I had for the Indoor National and the Mid-Atlantic Sectional. Those two events were my main focus for the indoor season. I know better than to be unprepared when I attend an event, but I just didn't feel like I needed the same mental game for this event as the others to be successful. It's a very poor attitude to have, and I'll share with you how my round went after arriving at the host site. 

  I registered for the 9 a.m. Sunday line, figuring the shooting time would be the same time I shoot every Sunday morning. I figured that would work well since my daily routine wasn't changing at all. I had a great practice round on Thursday night and felt good about my shot. I shot a Lancaster round for a warmup on Thursday and ended up with a 641, which I considered pretty good for shooting a bowhunter setup. It gave me a lot of confidence going into the event. After the practice session, I decided to take a few days off and not touch my bow. 

  When I got to the event, I was happy to see Jeff Wagoner and John Vozzy. I didn't know John was going to shoot, and I haven't seen him all winter, so it felt good to catch up with him about archery -- and life. I haven't seen Jeff since going to Hall's in January, and I always enjoy hanging out with Jeff and sharing stories. 

  My first two practice ends felt good. I shot a nine or two in the practice ends, but I was focusing on my shot and not my aiming. Then, the  line judge said, "This is the first official scoring end. The line is hot." 

  The clock began ticking, and I drew my bow. My hold was long and my back felt like jello. When I'm nervous, I know I need to stay strong with my bow arm, so I focused on that. When the release fired, the arrow stroked the 10-ring and pierced the X-ring through the heart. I talked to myself in my mind and said, "Nice shot, Todd. You always shoot well when you feel nervous." Then, I reached for my second arrow and nocked it. I pictured myself shooting another good shot, watching the arrow find its way to the X. Then, I drew my bow. The picture I had just seen wasn't quite as clear as the one that was actually occurring, but I stayed the course and kept pulling. Seconds later the arrow found it's way into the highest scoring ring. The anxiety continued building as I nocked the the third arrow. This time, both arms felt like jello. It was if I was Plastic man and my arms were dangling from tree limbs. I had a long hold, but when it fired, it followed the first two arrows and made its way into the 10-ring. Walking to the  target to begin scoring, I told myself, "I always get stronger as the round continues. I knew I was going to have work hard because I felt a lot more anxiety than I had felt in any round of the year. I didn't expect it, and I knew I would have to dig deep and figure it out as I went. Nerves are incredible thing and learning to deal with them on your own terms is something that takes experience. You might have to work a while to figure out what things work for you and what things don't work. You need to stay the path and learn from every experience. 

  

  After that first end, I struggled with my shot a little bit through the next couple of ends, but the arrows kept finding their mark. Then, in the fourth end, every shot felt like the most incredible shot I ever made. The first one was awesome, and the feeling built from there. I was sinking into the zone, and the times I've been in the zone in the past, I've been on cruise control until the end. Although I could still feel the nerves, my pin was sitting still and my shots were breaking with consistency. Going into the eighth end, I knew I would not miss on this day. My shot and aim came together to create an unbeatable combination. What was a struggle in the early going had turned into a powerful calm. My shot was powerful and my mind was calm. I was hitting every step in stride, and nothing could stop me. After the eighth end, the line judge informed all of the shooters we would take a 10 minute break since we were at the halfway point. I got a little distracted by that and began talking. I've always preferred staying to myself in any type of tournament and not talking to people during the shooting. I seem to focus better when I'm alone with my thoughts, and sometimes I get distracted my conversation. I need to work on this in the coming weeks. 

  My shots broke good after the break, and all of the arrows found their way to the highest scoring ring again. However, my aim had deteriorated a little bit from the rounds prior to the break. Going into the 10th end, I still felt good. Drawing on the first target, I felt confident I would stuff the one hold in the 10 ring. I hadn't missed the X on that target yet, and there was one hole in the target. The pin dipped a hair right when the shot fired and the arrow hit behind the pin. I knew it was at 6 o'clock in the 10-ring. I shot the next two arrows and made good shots.

  When we walked down to score the arrows, I saw that the arrow had gone into the target and channeled into a hole in the backstop. The arrow ripped through the paper at 6-o'clock in the 10-ring, but titled downward, so the arrow appeared to be out of the 10-ring. It was a bummer, but there was nothing I could do about it. I let the circumstances control my thought process, which took hold and got me good for a few minutes. 

  I lost my focus and began missing steps in my process. In the last five ends of the tournament, I got off course, my mental game suffered, I missed steps and made mistakes I haven't made the entire year. I had two shots fire prematurely when I skipped a step and engaged the trigger before the pin was in the middle of the 10-ring. Each time, the bow fired and the end result was exactly what it should have been for skipping a step. 

  After the round ended, I was really disappointed in myself, but I was also happy that I found that elusive "Zone" in the beginning of the round and road it through 2/3 of the event. It's not often that people find the zone, but it's also not likely that someone goes out of it once finding it. I made great shots today while under pressure, too. Although I would like to tell you I had a winning performance, I can't honestly tell you that today. I did shoot really well, though. I had a great round, but needed a little bit more luck. We will have to wait for the results for see how I finished. I'm guessing I probably have a good shot to win, but you never know these days. 

                                                          Closing Thoughts

  Today was a good day. It quickly reminded me that I need to stay 100% focused for the duration of the event. It also showed me that I ignored the strongest part of my game, which is my ability to concentrate. I will not let that happen again. 

  I got to watch some great shooting today. Recently, I have tried to help fellow archer Rick Steves with his mental game. I've always felt that my mental game is what has allowed me to win a lot of things along the way, and I pride myself with that. I might not shoot better than you, but I shoot well enough to let my mental game beat yours, which allows me to beat you. If you surround yourself with people who are mentally strong, you will become stronger in that area. 

  Rick worked hard on his mental game for this event and did the things I told him to do. He had a great round on Friday night in his league, and he followed it up with an outstanding performance in the state shoot. I've never seen such a good looking target that wasn't a 450. I watched Rick's entire round, and he performed flawlessly. He had a winning performance, even though he will not be the winner of this event. You can never ask for more than having a winning performance. Like me, Rick just had some bad luck today and missed a 450 by no more than a fingernail width of an arrow. 

  I think our club members will have another great showing at this event, just as we have over the last few years. Although you can never predict what will happen in these virtual events, I'm thinking Jason Clark and I will both win our third NFAA state title in a row. I guess we will just have to sit back and see what happens as the scores roll in. 

  I can't help but mention my little buddy, Jacob Slusarz. It's a pleasure to watch him succeed at the highest levels. While it's always disheartening to not bring home the gold medal, he's still showing all of us an incredible feat in archery. What he is doing is not easy and very few professionals have ever been able to do what he is and has been doing. While all of you are cheering him on, don't ever think that he is a natural. He works harder at it than anyone an imagine, and he has the ups and downs that we all have. Every round is not a stellar round. He manages his practice and works on things. He had lost his shot a little bit in recent times, just as I had. When we discussed it, we both came to the conclusion we needed to do something different. We both used our own methods and worked on things the way we thought would fix our problems. Obviously, Jacob put the correct work in, identified the problem and worked hard to improve a few areas of this game. Too many people don't put this type of work in. If you want to be a great one, you can follow Jacob's lead. You need to put the work in and do the things that will help you improve. Jacob is never satisfied. He always wants to get better. This drive and determination allow him to excel when he has a chance in big events. Always try to work harder than your opponent in silence. I respect this more than anything about Jacob. He never makes excuses, even if something else can me blamed. He always takes accountability, even if there was an issue with his equipment. Many people can learn from this trait. Always be accountable for your shooting. 

  When the results come in, I'll probably write another article on my thoughts about the indoor season. I'm unsure if I'm done indoors for the year, so I might still have a shoot or two to write about between now and then. I hope everyone is doing well. It appears we might be able to have a somewhat normal outdoor season this year once it finally starts. 

2021 Mid-Atlantic Sectionals

 

  This past weekend, I participated in the annual NFAA Mid-Atlantic Sectionals. I felt prepared going into the event, and I've been working on my shot for the last few weeks. After shooting in the NFAA Virtual Indoor Nationals in January, I lost my shot for a little bit and needed to get back on track. I made it a point to do a lot of shooting at my blank bale from a few feet away. I worked on my process and finger placement on the trigger. Going into the event, I was in a good place. I've learned to put expectations to the side and just go shoot my bow. I knew if my tournament took the same path as my mental preparation and blind baling, I would be in good shape. 

  Saturday's round seemed choppy. While I experienced good moments throughout the round, I never really found a good rhythm. I had a little more sight movement than I liked, but I know you can't stop a moving sight. Knowing that, I accepted the movement and did the best I could do under the circumstances. 

  When the round came to an end, I wasn't too happy about the score, but I also wasn't disappointed with my shooting. I made good shots and accepted where the arrows landed. After all, we can't walk to the target and place them where we think they should hit. Instead, we need to follow our steps, execute with good form and see the rewards for our efforts. 

  I felt confident going into Sunday's round. I knew I had not performed close to my abilities on Saturday, and I knew a better version of myself would make an appearance in the second round. I couldn't wait for my second round to start the next day. 

                                                         Sunday: The Second Round

  My shots went off smoothly in the two practice ends before official scoring started. They were smooth and crisp. When the announcement was made that we were on the first official scoring end, I felt good. The pin settled on the lower right bullseye, and I began executing. A few seconds later I saw the arrow land in the X-ring. The next four shots followed the first one, and I was off to a good start. 

  I cruised through the early rounds without a care in my mind. I didn't think about anything other than aiming, and the arrows broke cleanly from the bowstring and began creating a hole on the lower half of the X-ring. Finally, in the fifth end, I lost one out the bottom. It was out about the width of a human hair, but it was out. 

  After taking a break and switching targets from top to bottom and bottom to top at the halfway point, I felt pretty good. I was halfway home, and my form was feeling like I'd finish it off as I started. Then, the first end after the flop, I struggled with my shot a little bit and got slow. I ended up missing another one that was out no more than the width of a hair. I believe it hit directly behind the pin, and the hole on the bottom of the X sucked the arrow in and spit it out below the line. About now, I was wishing it was legal to move the sight in the bowhunter classes. I knew if I could give the sight a few clicks, I would probably be clean. I was aiming at the top of the holes, but the holes were low of center, and most of the arrows were hitting right at 6 o'clock in the X-ring. 

  The second end after the flop gave me the most problems of any end throughout the two days. I had to let down on my third shot three times, but I still finished with 45 seconds on the clock. I'm not sure what was causing the struggle, but I shrugged it off and told myself it was like me to make good, relaxed shots in a consistent time frame. After reinforcing those thoughts after the final arrow of that end, the rest of the round went smoothly. 

  When I got to the last end, I knew I would finish strong, as I am always a strong finisher. When the opponent's legs are weak, I can throw the knockout punch, and I knew my Xs were weak. I decided to punch them out and put them away. I pictured the knockout punch for each of the five arrows, then saw the image appear in real time. My last shot of the tournament was executed flawlessly and landed in the scribe of the X. 

  After the scoring was completed, I pulled my arrows, stuck them in my quiver and walked back to the line to put my stuff away. No matter where I end up finishing, as sectionals are mail-in tournaments, I knew that I had had a winning performance, and nobody can ever ask for more than that, no matter what their scorecard might have for numbers on it. I gave it my best and didn't quit. Here's my card for the weekend. I shot a 600 with 110 Xs, but in the Mid-Atlantic Sectional, for some unknown reason, they only take your best score, so my score getting mailed in by the host site will be 300 57xs. I'd say I'll stand a good chance in Senior Bowhunter Freestyle. 

                                               

Closing Thoughts on the Weekend

  Looking back at the weekend, I've learned that I can go into tournaments and temper my expectations. The old me would have gone into the tournament expecting to shoot what I've been shooting in practice sessions. The new me just goes to the tournament and figures if I use the tournament to practice what I've been practicing, then the end results should be similar. That's what has been happening. I leave the expectations outside of the range before I go inside. Expectations can suck the life out of you and destroy any chance of having fun. If you have expectations and don't meet them, it leaves no room for you to realize your growth. Instead, it breeds negative thoughts and negative thoughts give birth to negative results. You will never accomplish goals if you don't set a realistic plan to reach the goals. The secret is executing the plan -- both in your mind before you achieve the goal and in real life. If you execute the plan enough times in your mind, it will be much easier when your'e living that moment in a tournament. The mind is powerful ... use it to give you power, not to suck the life out of you. 

  Sometimes we don't realize how fortunate we are to be surrounded by good people and good shooters. In all the years I've shot tournament archery, my home club has produced some phenomenal archers and many good ones, too. Our leagues have always been run like tournaments, too. That helps all of us get the same experience a tournament provides. I've been able to stand next to these people and try to improve myself and gain knowledge. We can never know too much, and sometimes we can gain the most valuable insight just by listening to what others say. Always be open-minded and listen while watching. 

  The last few years we've shot our NFAA Indoor State Championship, Jason Clark, Jeff Wagoner, Jacob Slusarz, and I have won our respective classes. We all get to shoot with each other regularly, and we all get along. When you're shooting with one of the best shooters in the world, there's no way that can't motivate you to get better. Sometimes a person's presence drives you to try harder and do better but also just take what your work gives you. When you have friends who are that good, it makes you route harder for them. I'm a firm believer that when you route for people, it makes you better. You can ignore your bad times and talk about the good ones. When you focus on the positive and talk about it, it builds everyone around you. Nobody wants to hear about the bad shots or experiences that so many others like to share. Instead, the good ones talk about the things they battled and conquered during their round. A lot of people don't realize the struggles that great shooters face in almost every round they shoot. They need to be able to adjust on the fly and find a way to make things work. You are never going to be perfect every single time you shoot. 

  I shot in a lane next to Jacob all weekend. We usually shoot well when we shoot together, and the same held true this weekend. We have similar personalities and they kind of give fuel to each other. I enjoy being around young people who know how to work hard toward a goal. It seems like it's a rarity these days to see that kind of desire, dedication and perseverance in someone who wants to achieve something. Having the same type of dedication to different things in my life over the last 30 years, I can relate to the long hours of hard work when nobody is watching. I love the people who say, "I wish I could shoot like that." Well, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm sure you'll never be saying, "Gee, I wish I could put that much into it and drive myself crazy with all of the work I put into this sport." It just doesn't happen. That's where the great ones separate themselves from all others: they work in silence when nobody else can see their work. We only see it on the scoreboard. 

  As you continue shooting your bow this spring/summer try to remember that everyone works hard at this game if they shoot a lot. However, the great ones have a little something extra that others don't have. It's okay to ask these people how they go about doing things. Jacob, Jeff and I talked for two hours after we were done shooting today. We talked solely about archery. Conversations like that give me new life. They make me realize I could try something Jeff does or something Jacob does to improve myself. It may work and it might go in the other direction. Either way, any thoughts from great competitors go a long way with me. 

  Although I would love to go to the Indoor Nationals in Yankton, S.D., I can't justify going out there. If the nationals were in Louisville, I would be heading to the tournament. I'll shoot the NYFAB/NFAA Indoor State Championship in a few weeks and call it a year for the indoor shooting. I'm ready to get outdoors and focus on 3D shooting since we missed so much shooting last summer.