SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 13 When we miss the target, it is because of self- doubt. Self-doubt takes away our ability to be confi dent and tightens our muscles, so we cannot perform the fl uid movements needed to shoot well. Confi dence is part of being mentally tough and is necessary for all sports. Mental toughness components involve being competitive, confi dent and in control, as well as being committed and composed. Mental toughness also involves being courageous and consistent. Shooting like sports such as golf or bowls requires you to stay in the present: in the here and now. If you focus on the past while you are competing you will develop judgements about past performances and especially past failures. If you focus on the future, you will develop fears and anxieties that will tighten up your muscles and produce self-doubt. The secret to being successful is to stay in the present, breathe and get into the zone. In April, Junior SSAA NSW members will have the opportunity to attend a Junior Target Shooting Camp in Griffi th. During this camp the participants will have the opportunity to learn the technical skills required for a number of shooting disciplines. Coupled with learning the technical skills, I will be conducting a workshop to introduce the juniors to some of the mental skills necessary to shoot well. The juniors will be introduced to a number of general sport psychological skills and some shooting specifi c psychological skills. Goal setting, relaxation, concentration, attention training and mental rehearsal are all skills that can assist shooting sportsman reach their potential. The juniors will also learn how the mind works. They will also learn strategies to limit self-doubt, keep them in the here and now and deal with the distractions that get in our way when we are competing. Self-talk is something we all do when we are competing, but we have to learn how to turn it to our advantage and limit the negative and debilitating impact of negative self- talk. Whilst these skills are valuable tools for helping become better at sport, they are also critical life skills that will be integral for success at school, further study and life in general. Mental Skills For Shooting Shooting well, involves confi dence. Whether we are shooting static or moving targets you have to be confi dent when you address the target and pull the trigger. Michael Kruger-Davis I am a psychologist and have been working with shooters for almost twenty years. I started writing articles for the Australian Clay Target Association journal in 1999 and have also had articles published in the New Zealand Clay Target Journal and the South African Association Journal. I have worked with the ACTA Junior Development Squad and the Hunter, Southern, Far-West and Sunrasia Academies of Sport. I am a very keen clay target shooter and shoot trap, skeet, fi ve-stand and fi eld and game.

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