Balancing an archery career and a social life can be very difficult, especially when you have a job or school on top of that! Everyone has to make sacrifices in their life in order to have time for everything that you want to do, after all, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Youth Archers
When I was growing up, I used to think archery was the be all and end all, as a youth archer, it genuinely feels like that. Competitions every weekend during the Summer months, then most weekends during the Winter. Everything would lead up to the Nationals, indoor and outdoor.
In order to balance school and a social life, my parents and I had to do a lot of juggling, there were a lot of arguments and upsets, but it was worth it and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. My friends could not have been more understanding, and they were such a key part to my youth career.
The school I attended was very accommodating as well, they would help me with training in the weeks before the National Championships, told the school during assemblies when I won the Championships. A youth archer needs all parts of their life to be running as smoothly as possible.
Youth archers need to be able to focus on school whilst they are there, their friends when they are with them and archery whilst a training or competition. Having to miss friend’s birthdays, family birthdays and events could have caused a lot of friction, however, thankfully it did not. Having the most supportive family, friends and school genuinely contributed to the success I had, make sure your child has that too.
Adult Archers
If you’re looking to be a competitive archer as an adult, it can be a lot more different in some respects, but also easier. Friends as adults all have different things happening in their life, so it’s a lot easier to spend time traveling up and down the country to compete without influencing friendships.
However, finding time to training whist having a full-time job can be very stressful and difficult, if you let it. At the end of the day, archery is a sport, for most people. Finding the time to train after, before or even on your lunch break is a lot easier than you’d think. You just have to have the dedication. Set your mind to a training and motivational mind-set and you’ll make it happen.
If you’re a leisure archer, make sure you don’t put too much stress on yourself. It is a hobby and it is meant to be enjoyable! Archery is one of the most sociable and definitely inclusive sports in the country. You can spend a Sunday morning shooting a frostbite with your fellow club members and it will be a very laid-back event, suitable for a Sunday!
All in all, make sure you prioritise what you want to. Archery can be the most intense sport, if you let it. There is no need for it to be, it is enjoyable, it takes up your spare time, you should enjoy it. Make sure, as a youth, you have support around you in all aspects of life, your friends need to be understand.