Project Appleseed

As a new instructor I learned a valuable lesson over the weekend. My wife, daughter, son-in-law and myself were target practicing and I took the opportunity to do some position teaching and shooting a couple of redcoats. A little background is required here. My wife had a brain tumor removed in 2005. This tumor was pressing against her optic nerve and causing a spatial relations disorder that still affects her left eye to this day. My wife has always told me that she has problems with anything that approaches her or moves at close range in her left periphery. It took this shooting session to really bring home the extent of her problem. She had never shot a redcoat before and did "ok" on her first attempt. She said that she was anxious about having anyone on her left side on the line. We moved on to other targets and when we came back to the redcoat I moved her to the left end of our 3 person line. I could tell that she was much more relaxed and she cleared her redcoat from the "sitting" position! She later told me that she could relax and concentrate once I moved her to the left side.

The lesson learned? SPQR once told me "Mudcat's rule". And that is, "It's always the shooter". In this case it was the shooter that was the problem, but for a different reason. I thought I could "coach" my wife out of her anxiety. I was wrong. She has an actual physical issue that hurts her performance and causes stress, and not just in shooting. I have tried for years to get her to ignore this problem but this weekend showed me that "I" had to adapt and make a change for her issue.

We, as instructors, owe it to our students to not only coach them through mental and technique issues that are blocking progress, but to recognize or inquire about physical issues that may restrain our student's ability to improve. This may be very hard to do in a 2 day Appleseed. It took me years to find this out with the woman I fell in love with 32 years ago. But sometimes it may take digging deeper to find out why some students are having hidden issues. I told my wife that we may not always be able to put her on the left most position on the line at an event. We discussed it and perhaps an eye patch on her left eye during shooting will be the answer. She's willing to try. We will adapt and overcome

If the issue is largely peripheral vision interacting with the nervous system in a disturbing way, you might try something like this:
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Glassbelt_Eye-Glass_Shield.html

I find it useful for those (most often kids) whose bubble gets easily broken by activities to one side or the other.  Sometimes works, sometimes not.  But if it does, it's a cheap fix!

Excellent information odf!  I think it would be a good idea to either move this topic to the Adaptive Appleseed thread or to post a link there.

UL

Quote from: Nero on August 13, 2012, 05:55:52 PM
If the issue is largely peripheral vision interacting with the nervous system in a disturbing way, you might try something like this:
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Glassbelt_Eye-Glass_Shield.html

I find it useful for those (most often kids) whose bubble gets easily broken by activities to one side or the other.  Sometimes works, sometimes not.  But if it does, it's a cheap fix!

+1
I was just about to recommend the same thing.  My dad (shotgunner/trap) couldn't shoot well without "blinders".  With blinders he'd shoot a score of 24-25 out of a possible 25 and 21-24 without them.  The Federal, Winchester and Remington reps each gave dad a couple of handfulls of them and every car we ever owned there were at least a dozen in the glove box.

Thanks guys. We had discussed blinders and they will be easy to try with cardboard and tape but my wife's issue is that since her surgery, her left peripheral vision is WAY farther out front and probably well past where a blinder would be effective. We will find an answer though.

eye patch?

Quote from: SPQR on August 13, 2012, 06:27:59 PM
eye patch?

Sssshhhhhh, I know there are other things we can try first but maybe I fancy a pirate lass. 

ODF -

Help me here.  Do I understand right, that your wife has a spacial problem in her vision to the left and in order to shoot she needs to know her left is safe because she herself cannot see there to be sure?  That is the source of her anxiety?

Well, shoot, kiss that woman - sounds like a caring, concerned, safety conscious firearms owner! 

If that is the case, then just move her to the left.  I would as SB.  I would do it without a second thought and I would be willing to move everyone else on the line if needs be just as I would move an entire line around for someone in a wheelchair, or even for that shooter who is ready to go home in tears because they need space from the centerfire "Boomsticks".

I would also make sure the RSO on that side was aware and gave a verbal response to the line is clear question.  Make sure that response is loud enough she could hear it and know that RSO was her safety.

Frankly, it is not that big a adaptation to make and at least it is anxiety borne of safety and care instead of some less well intended & caring emotion. 

Now, let me say this, if you as her husband are feeling a bit of anxiety or embarassment about needing to ask for special treatment for her - dude, don't sweat it.  I know that when I bring my own kids to the events my baggage comes with them and that is why I have to hand them off and get to the other end of the line. 

Treat her as any other shooter, which is to say - get her comfortable so she can perform and have a good time. 

Without either, it is just not Appleseed.

Techres

P.S. It is the good mark of a man who sticks by a spouse through thick and thin.  We'd be a better nation if more had that kind of strength and fortitude.   

Quote from: Orangedotfever on August 13, 2012, 06:16:46 PM
Thanks guys. We had discussed blinders and they will be easy to try with cardboard and tape but my wife's issue is that since her surgery, her left peripheral vision is WAY farther out front and probably well past where a blinder would be effective. We will find an answer though.

Hmmm, sounds like the visual cortex mapping was affected.  </amateur doc>

Just making this up on the fly, but you might try getting several sets of those temporary wrap-around sunglasses they pass out at the eye doctor's offices.  I'm guessing they may be dark enough to eliminate the visual problem.  Chop off just the left side, tape to shooting glasses, make sure it fixes the problem.  If successful, cut away from the center to the left in steps until the problem recurs, then make up several sets at the last workable size.  Might retain depth perception while reducing the visual interference.

Quote from: techres on August 13, 2012, 06:42:06 PMHelp me here.  Do I understand right, that your wife has a spacial problem in her vision to the left and in order to shoot she needs to know her left is safe because she herself cannot see there to be sure?  That is the source of her anxiety?

Yes. She gets anxious when anything comes at her from the left side due to having problems with recognition and distance. She is always concious of her left side vision being restricted and is easily "spooked" from that side. I never realized what the extent was until this weekend. We ride bicycles together and she has a very rough time with me riding on her left side. She is strong willed and doesn't think that she deserves to be treated any differently than others. I'm sure we can work around that and I hope to have her at Bedford next month where you, I believe are still shoot bossing.