Focus: Breathing Hard

10 minutes – Discussion Points/Important Questions:

Why is it hard to shoot well in a race? Heart rate, breathing hard, shaky, vision gets blurry, distractions, etc.

How can we help this as we come into the range? Lots of deep breaths as we come into the range, slowing down a bit before entering, really consistent in shooting.

How can we breathe before we shoot? 3 big breaths and a final exhale (which completely stops) before taking the shot.  

15 minutes – Head Out to Range, Zero, Confirm, and Start 10 Minute Warm-up

35 minutes – Combo Practice Working on Session Focus

What to look for: 3 big breaths and a strong but controlled exhale before taking the shot. 

25 minutes – 1 Skill/Drill Based on Focus: Line Shooting

Put a vertical paper line targets on each lane. Athletes line up with the target work on their breathing pattern. They should see their sights move up and down the line with their 3-breath pattern, then they stop their breath and shoot, repeat for 5 shots. They should be able to make a group if they are stopping their breath at the same point down the line each time. Shoot 5, check the target through the scope to see grouping, try the same pattern with 2 more clips.

1 Game: Mini Race with 3 Shootings

Athletes start in the stadium and coach says “go”. Athletes ski a lap and into the range, shoot, do penalty loops per miss, then repeat two more times before lapping to finish. Athletes working on consistent and focused breaths throughout the session.