Loop, There It Isn’t
You are working on your loop jump with your coach, but you are having trouble landing it. Your coach gives you the same correction that you’ve been working on for the past few weeks – you need to check your left side on the takeoff, don’t let the left side open up.
You know this is a problem, and you have been working on it, but it’s not easy to do this consistently. You really want to get this jump; you are so close.
So you double down and really try hard to remember to check your left side on the takeoff, don’t let the left side open up.
Ironically, this correction is playing in a loop in your mind. You even make a mantra “keep your left side checked, keep your left side checked…”
But instead of getting better, your jump attempts get worse. Now you are falling all over the place.
You are focused on getting it right, you are trying it over and over again, what is going wrong?
In your mind, you do your very best to execute the “correction” in the jump. But your body has a mind of its own. You do it right on one or even two repetitions. Not on the third. You are inconsistent.
So you try even harder to do the corrections. You end up doing worse. It just doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t practice make perfect?
Overthinking the Problem
Chances are, you are a skater who does your best. Even before your coach or parents tell you to. You naturally make every effort to do what you are told.
You’ve been working on your loop daily, trying to train your body to remember the correction. You make improvements, but you are impatient. It’s not fast enough.
But this time, your mind is made up. You’re really going to do it this time. The correction is at the forefront of your mind. You will do it, or die trying…
Time out! Now you are overthinking.
Remember, your natural work ethic is to do your best to incorporate the “corrections” to your jumps as your coach directs. You focus, practice and make every effort to change.
So you double down and “try really hard” on top of your natural training style…you overthink.
So what’s the problem with overthinking? Isn’t more always better?
Let’s put it this way. If Champion Mindset is a superhero, then Overthinking is the bad guy.
Overthinking is caused by fear. You don’t want to mess up. This leads to frustration because you can’t do it right.
Frustration makes you want to buckle down and “just do it.” When you buckle down, you tighten up. Right now, when you read the words buckle down, do you get tense?
So when you buckle down, tension grips your body.
But in order to “keep your left side checked”, you need relaxed and ready muscles. Tense muscles don’t react properly.
So, a little thinking is useful to set your focus, but overthinking is not.
Think About It
But don’t overthink about it. Overthinking will get you so caught up in thinking about it, that you end up not doing it.
Thinking leads to judging. “Did I do it right?” Your focus is on the result: pass or fail.
Failure leads to: “Why can’t I do it? What’s wrong with me?” Which has nothing to do with “keeping the left side checked” in the jump.
Bring your attention back to the action: At the right time, I will move my body parts into this position. This action will help you keep the left side checked.
Hero Mindset to the Rescue
If you battle with the villain Overthinking on the ice, start with these steps:
- Recognize that you are overthinking.
- Time out! Stop what you are doing.
- Breathe three deep belly exhales to relax your muscles and clear your mind.
- Remind yourself what action you want to take (the action not the result.)
- Go do it.
If the Villain Overthinking has been hanging out with you for a while, it might take some time and effort before your Hero Mindset is strong enough to overpower him.
Be patient and start with the first step, Recognize that you are overthinking. Train your superhero brain to get faster and faster at this skill.
With time and practice, you can overcome overthinking.
When do you overthink the most? Share in the comments.
Mental skills training can make a difference because it can help you access what is already there during competition and practice. Start here; download “Confidence Myth Busters,” a complimentary eBook and make a change.