by Paul Davison
W
hen I was talking with a good target archer at the Las Vegas Shoot, he said, “I was too nervous to shoot well. I would love to be able to simulate the excitement level that I experienced the first day on the line, so I
tightest group possible. That will transfer into the best score that you are capable of shooting. You can’t ask anymore of yourself than that. I like the way my son, Vic, responded to a reporter after the gold medal match at the
By Terry Wunderle
Metrication of the NFAA Conversion to the Metric System There were three major issues facing the NFAA in the mid 1970’s, two of which were subjects of previous Nostalgia Corner articles: 1. “The 5-3 field face is too easy.” See Oct/Nov 2002 issue. 2. “What about amateurism in the NFAA?” See Aug/Sep 2004 issue. And, 3. “How does the NFAA respond to the Metric Conversion Act of 1975?” Although the Metric Conversion Act did not require mandatory conversion to the metric system over a ten-year period, it implemented a process of voluntary conversion throughout the United States ... public and private. The NFAA took this to heart, and at the annual Board of Directors meeting in February 1976, there was a Metric Committee in place. Its mission was to look at everything in the NFAA rules for possible conversion from English units to metric units. Conversion of target face dimensions was easy. Since the scoring rings on the Field and Hunter faces were being changed anyway (see No. 1, above), why not make the faces metric? The 24-, 18-, 12- and 6-inch faces went to the slightly larger 65-, 50-, 35- and 20-cm face diameters, respectively. Likewise, it was easy to change the 16-inch NFAA Indoor face to a 40-cm equivalent. Conversion of shooting distances was a different story. Should the NFAA follow the NAA and make a one-for-one conversion of “yards” to “meters?” This would add about 10% to all outdoor shooting distances, making scoring 46 Archery Magazine February/March 2006
more difficult; but, on the other hand, the new target faces are about 10% larger, making scoring easier. Mostly because of the argument that hundreds of NFAA clubs had no way to increase the size of their field ranges, the Metric Committee recommended adoption of the “whole-meter-to-the-nearest-yard” conversion scheme. For example, 20 yards would become 18 meters, 45 yards would become 41 meters, and 80 yards would become 73 meters. These “odd” distances would then render all 28 Field and Hunter 20-pins obsolete, plus the perfect 15-pins for the International Round, as well as all similar State Association “perfect” pin programs. These non-traditional shootings distances, coupled with the added cost for new 20/15-pin dies and inventory, did not sit well with the NFAA Directors. Although the whole-meter-to-the-nearestyard proposal finally won out, there was never an agreement on the change-over date. It kept getting pushed forward a year at a time. Since they didn’t have to think about it, NFAA members could accept the metric target faces. On the other hand, thinking about metric shooting distances was too much for the average archer. The NFAA just wasn’t ready for 100% metrication. Neither was the rest of the United States public. All efforts to metricate the US were abandoned in 1981. Any previous Nostalgia Corner article may be viewed at www.stringwalker.net.
Pre-Tournament Preparation could prepare for it.” Some tournaments are won and many are lost weeks before the event. At the big tournaments, most people experience the effects of too much anxiety. The anxiety starts long before the tournament and builds until the tournament is underway. Most people think of the tournament in terms of winning or shooting a high score. This is what causes anxiety. The apprehension in turn causes muscle tension and/or loss of focus. An archer must limit the anxiety level by putting more emphasis on the performance, rather than the results of the performance. Every time you think of a big tournament, think in terms of you executing every shot with perfect form. True, nearly everyone wants to win or shoot a high score. This is not the problem. The problem develops when you give winning more attention than producing a perfect shot. Winning and score are part of the game; however, they are not the primary component. Shooting the best that you are capable of shooting is the main element. So when you think of going to the next big tournament, put your first emphasis on the most important part. Think, “I will shoot each shot with perfect form.” This should be the goal that you strive to achieve. If you do shoot each and every shot the best that you are capable of shooting, then you will shoot the
Olympics. The reporter asked, “How does it feel to lose the gold medal?” Vic replied, “I didn’t lose the gold. I shot good and won the silver. He shot better and won the gold.” To help prepare for big tournaments, give practice more importance. When you practice, pretend you are starting a national continued on page 48
Archery Magazine February/March 2006 47