Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
Let’s look at a simplified view of your brain through the lens of mental skills training. There are two parts of your “brain”, the front brain and hindbrain.
The front brain is where your critic lives.
It’s the part of your brain that thrives on being in charge.
The hindbrain is where your muscle memory lives.
It’s the part of your brain that you want to be in to perform your best.
Skatergirl is frustrated. No matter what she tries, she can’t land a triple salchow to save her life.
This isn’t a new jump for her. It was the first triple she landed, and usually she can do it in her sleep.
Even though she’s supposed to work on her spins, Skatergirl decides to try it one more time. Unfortunately, she falls, so she decides to do it again. And again. And again.
Continue reading “Champion City or Lala Land, Which Path Are You On?”
Do you dread competition?
Is it an evil ball of darkness that is slowly destroying your world?
Don’t worry.
You’re not alone.
Parents, has your athlete ever said something like:
Skatergirl has a competition coming up, and she’s freaking out.
She’s worrying about all of the skills she can’t do.
All of the goals she hasn’t reached.
Her triple flip still isn’t consistent.
She hasn’t even started working on her triple lutz.
At the end of the season, she’s gonna age out of the Junior level.
With her current skills, she has zero chance of making the international team.
Skatergirl slouches on a bench in the lobby of the rink.
Practice is over and she’s getting ready to go home.
She pulls off her left boot and places it on the bench next to her.
She kicks off her right boot and lets out a sigh.