Page 5 - Nov emag2018

Nerves are normal

If a shooter tells you that they do not get nervous at the start of a big match they are probably lying.
It is true that some competitors get a bit more worked up than others but that may be because they need to be more
hyped up to shoot well. Some level of arousal or excitement is necessary for all the senses to be fully alert.

So, what are nerves?
Have a look at the curve below – it is called a Normal Curve and is used in statistics and business but also in psychology. It
shows in pictorial form, levels of arousal that a human being can experience, from being almost asleep to being aroused
to the highest level at the top of the curve. The trick for shooters is to get themselves to the level that is right for them
and allows them to perform at their best.

Fully aroused Over the Top

Getting a bit excited

Totally shattered

Almost asleep

A quivering mess

It is all related to FEAR, or the fight or flight syndrome – a very basic instinct which comes from the earliest days of hu-
mankind when, if you did not have this instinct well honed, you could become breakfast for another predator. In order to
survive, you had to have all your senses alert to the highest and most effective level. In other words, be ready to fight for
your life or run away as fast as you can.

How to deal with nerves if they are affecting your performance. There are a number of tricks/techniques you can try.
Here are a few:
Learn a relaxation technique

Practice mental rehearsal
Use positive thinking

Get more competition experience
"F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours." Zig Ziglar

YH’s musings

September 2018

This has come out of watching and talking to the juniors in their first ever competition and my memory of being so

nervous and shaking that I could not hold the rifle still because my hands were totally jittery.