Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
Skatergirl is on the ice practicing her combo spin. She wants to improve her technique so that it will be centered and fast.
She skates around the rink to find a spot and does a quick sweep of the ice.
Okay, now to step into the right inside 3 turn, then forward… Hmmm, she wonders where she and her friends are going for lunch? Subway or pizza?
This Skatergirl is distracted.
Continue reading “Find the Right Focus For You”Skaterdude works his skates off in practice. He has practiced so hard that he can now do all his jumps successfully. In fact, he has been skating clean or near clean programs for months now.
During competition season, his training center hosts exhibition days every week. This is where skaters do mock competitions. It’s an opportunity to skate in front of an audience under increased pressure, to practice for competition.
I know what you are thinking, “Skaterdude is in great shape. Consistently clean programs in practice…what is the problem?!” Continue reading “Handling Expectations Will Get the Results You Want”
Skatergirl is warming up her jumps before her lesson. Her triple toes are beautifully executed. She nails 3 of them before her lesson with Coach.
Now it’s time for her lesson. Coach asks her to do the triple toe.
This should be no problem right? She just did 3 of them perfectly mere moments ago.
She tries but can’t do it. She falls on the first one, pops the second one and circles on the third.
Her triple toe has become a triple no. Continue reading “I Can’t Jump When My Coach Is Watching”
It’s the morning of her short program and Skatergirl is on her 20-minute practice ice.
Her warm-up has been great so far. She feels the exhilaration of the competition, feeding off the high energy of the other skaters on the ice with her. Every one of them is doing their own thing with focus and determination.
It’s time to warm up her triple Sal…shoot, she fell on her first attempt. Continue reading “The Frustration Routine”
Positive thinking is one of the most important aspects of success.
– Bill McDowell
So called experts, social media, titles of books, people you meet; everywhere you look, you are told to think positive, to find an optimistic side in every negative or stressful situation.
In the skating world, you are encouraged to visualize your success. Visualize doing a clean program. Believe you are great. Tell yourself you can do it. You can do your triple lutz, no problem.
This sounds good in theory. You tried to be positive, even told yourself, “I am a great skater, I can skate a clean program. I got this.” Continue reading “The Big Leap Fail”
Skaterdude has to practice a forward camel with a change of edge spin for his program, but hates doing it. He keeps falling, it’s difficult, and his body is sore.
It is so frustrating when he can’t get it right, but in his mind he hears his spin coach saying, “You need it in your program this year, for levels and points.”
In his mind, he knows that practicing it will make him better, but his heart is not in it. He would rather jump; he’s a jumper. Continue reading “How to Motivate Yourself to Practice When you Don’t Want To”