Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
In the champion mindset, you must be alert and pay attention in order to Learn and Grow in your sport and in life.
This learn and grow mindset allows you to make mistakes, to be patient with yourself and to keep things in perspective.
When you know that adversity is part of the process, and that each mistake is an opportunity to learn, you can let go of a lot of your internal struggle and feel more peace.
In anything, sport or business, if you want to get to the top of your game, studying those at the top can give you a lot of great information. Although many elite athletes work with experts on their mental game, the general public doesn’t usually hear about it. It leaves the wrong impression about mental game. Young athletes need to know that mindset doesn’t come automatically, it takes attention and consistent work.
One thing that high achieving athletes have in common is consistency. They recognize that consistency is essential in order to compete at the highest levels. Continue reading “You Need Consistency to Win”
To listen to the audio version of this article click here.
Practice the way you compete so that you can
Compete the way you practice.
You finished a competition. Once again, you wonder why you can’t skate consistently in competition. You know you have the potential to skate well because you do it in practice. Continue reading “How to Skate Consistent Programs in Competition”
The following question is from a concerned parent:
I have a 12 year old skater who is a perfectionist. This controls her whole life. In competition, if she falls on one jump, it is devastating to her and she can’t control her emotions. She shuts down and can’t compete or perform. She is a high achiever in school and first chair violin. Her coaches say she has the potential to reach Nationals in the future, but the biggest thing holding her back is her mindset.
She is so hard on herself. Nothing she does is ever good enough. There are many days in practice that she is in tears of frustration. I keep asking her if she wants to quit but she just gets more upset.
I have tried reading books to her, motivational quotes, journaling and even not allowing her to skate if she cries on the ice, but nothing works. I need advice.
— Sports Mom
Listen to Audio version here.
Congratulations, you competed at Regionals* and qualified for Sectionals. It’s a whole new ball game now!
Wrong. As long as you started the season right, very little needs to change. Continue reading “Get out of Your Own Way in Figure Skating”
Listen to the Audio version here.
Not the first question you’d expect if you are a high level competitive skater. Especially not before you start your off ice warm up on competition day.
I have worked with countless athletes, researched excellence, and am a student of life. It is true, being happy allows you to do your best work. Every day I teach athletes strategies that help them to get to their “happy place”.
That is why I was so blown away when a coach told me that he asked this of his skater.
Continue reading “The Secret to a Great Performance in Competition”