From wobble boards to yawning, the tricks used by GB archers to tackle pressure

Wobble boards, water paints and dancing are all part of the preparation for two young British archers who attempt to stay relaxed and get themselves ready for the pressure of major competitions.

Thea Rogers and Megan Costall are part of Archery GB's World Class Programme and have recently returned from competing in Turkey.

As well as practicing hitting the target, their mental preparations include activities to reduce stress and remain calm in the high-pressure arena of top-level sport.

They also look for ways to "get a little bit of separation" from competing.

The pair, both from Wales, live in Shropshire so they can train at Archery GB's Performance Archery Centre at Lilleshall.

The £3.6m facility opened in 2024 and is a place where the British archers can work with their coaches and support staff.

Costall, 22, said: "Lots of people say that archery is an individual sport but the amount of support and the community, it's a team thing really."

Because competing for medals in a major competition with large crowds is very different from shooting arrows on a quiet range, the archers try to simulate that pressure.

But Costall said: "I find it really hard to recreate the feelings of pressure with consequences and rewards."

As well as doing a lot of weight training and cardiovascular work, she sprints to and from the targets to get her heart rate up, to simulate the effect nerves can have.

She also shoots while standing on a wobble board to simulate unstable ground and attaches a water bottle to the rod on the front of her bow to simulate the effect of wind.

Sometimes, she said she even did a little dance on the range to relax.

Costall's other trick, to keep calm under pressure, is to yawn a lot.

She said it could look strange for spectators, but there was a scientific reason behind it.

"I've found a bit of research that said if you yawn you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, that's the one that makes you calm," she explained.

Rogers, 23, also looks for way to relax in time when they are not shooting and said: "I personally like to do a little bit of art, so I take a little sketchbook and water paints."

She said she also liked "a bit of mini-golf" to unwind, while some of the young male archers liked to take themselves away for a round or two of regular golf "because you know, they've got to do it properly".

"It's not often we get a lot of downtime," she said, "but whenever we can we try to do things outside of archery to have a little bit of separation".

Both archers have hopes of qualifying to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games, but Rogers said: "There's a lot to it and more than just picking up the bow and shooting it."

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