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This article is about a common cause of frustration for skaters. One that slows them down and can keep them stuck, season after season.

It happens anytime a skater is unhappy with the skills they have (or skills they lack). For some skaters this happens after the intense the summer training season just before their big competitions. But for many this happens every week, or even daily.

The Skater Makes a Goal

At the beginning of the season, a skater makes a goal to land a jump, or master a skill. Ideally they make a plan for the year with smaller goals that lead logically to their year’s goal.

When they look at where they are with the skill in reality, they feel disappointed and upset.

This holds true for any goal in skating or in other sports. For this article, let’s use the double Lutz as an example.

Here is the skater’s goal: I want to land my double Lutz in competition at Sectionals.

It’s a month before Sectionals and right now the Lutz isn’t consistent.

Every time the skater falls or doesn’t land the jump, they get more upset and frustrated. During every practice or program run through they see that they still can’t land the Lutz. They are unhappy and start to feel that everything is terrible. They are terrible.

In response to this frustration, the skater feels the need to cram to get the jump done. Just like when you put off studying for a test until the day before, and stay up until 3 in the morning to cram.

How Cramming Affects Practice

When skaters feel the need to cram, they are focusing on the outcome–landing the jump. They will do anything to land the jump before the competition. Every time they fall, or don’t land the jump is another step downward into the spiral of despair.

When a student crams for an exam, there comes a point when their brain is full or they are so tired, that they shut down. They stop absorbing information and start to memorize random facts they hope will show up on the test.

The student is not learning. They are only focused on the outcome–to pass the test.

In school, the purpose of a test is to provide feedback. To learn what information you have mastered and what you still need to study. Many students (and parents) feel that getting straight A’s is the same thing as being competent in a subject.

This could be true, or straight A’s can mean that you are a great test taker and know exactly what to do to get a good grade. It doesn’t always mean you have learned the material. This is a great example of focusing on the outcome (A grade) and forgetting the process (learning things you can use).

Successfully landing a jump requires lightning quick reflexes and exacting technique. When a frustrated and tense skater forces a jump, they will probably fall more than land it.

You could take short cuts (cram) to learn your double Lutz. If you are successful, you might be able to squeak through (jump up and pray) for a short time. Unfortunately, in the long run, you will need to go back and fill in the gaps to land your harder jumps like triple Lutz. This makes more work and frustration.

Cramming higher level skills doesn’t work in the complex technical sport of skating. The results gained don’t last and need to be picked apart and rebuilt in order for you to deliver consistently.

When you cram, you waste energy. Instead, use your energy to work on things that will help you land the jump or reach your goal.

Where to Spend Your Attention

Skaters need to bring their focus back to the process (what they are doing right now), instead of the future. You have no control over what you do in the future, but you do control over what you do now.

Play this game: think of your attention as money. You have a limited amount. You spend a bit every time you “pay attention” to a thought or action.

Once it’s gone, you have to wait until you accumulate more.

If attention is precious, and limited, you will want to spend it on things that will help you land your jump. You won’t want to waste it on things that don’t help.

Pay attention only to thoughts and actions that will help to improve the jump (or skill). Forget all other thoughts and actions, they are irrelevant.

One Simple Question Is the Answer

Here is a simple way to know which thoughts and actions to continue and which to stop.

If you answer “No” to this question, it is not helpful, stop it.
If you answer “Yes” to this question, it is helpful, continue it.

Here is the question: Does ___________help me improve my Lutz?

Fill in the blank with the thoughts you think or the actions you do and see if they are helpful or not.

Examples:
Does (worrying about not landing the Lutz) help me improve my Lutz? No.
Does (falling, then crying) help me improve my Lutz? No.
Does (thinking that I have taken too long to learn this jump) help me improve my Lutz? No.
Does (calling myself a terrible skater) help me improve my Lutz? No.
Does (thinking that Sally has her Lutz and I started skating before her) help me improve my Lutz? No.

Does (practicing my Lutz every day) help me improve my Lutz? Yes.
Does (thinking about going into my jump with proper technique) help me improve my Lutz? Yes.
Does (doing exercises the way my coach taught me) help me improve my Lutz? Yes.
Does (knowing that I am on the right track) help me improve my Lutz? Yes.

Physical Practice and Mindset

In the exercise above, we covered many things that could push you towards your goal or keep you from your goal.

We can simplify all of those things into two types of activities.

1. Practice (physical action)
2. Mindset (your thoughts)

Physical practice: Doing the right things can help you reach your goal.

• Know what you need to do to improve your Lutz technique.
• Create a plan (ask your coach if you need help).
• Work each day at the steps you need to climb to reach your goal.
• Stick to your plan.

MIndset: The right attitude, the right thoughts can help you reach your goal.

• Trust the plan you made.
• Focus on the process (one step at a time).
  • Frustration or worry means you are looking at outcome.
• Redirect yourself back to what you can do right now (the process).
• Accept and embrace the skills you have and make the most of them.
• You don’t need to be perfect to be amazing.

Pay attention to your thoughts and your actions, and work towards eliminating those that don’t help and multiplying those that help you to be productive.

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Do you find it difficult to manage negative thoughts about your skating abilities? If these tips help, but you want more, you can make a larger and lasting improvement in your skating with consistent mental game training.

Don’t just sit there dreaming, take action. Download the “Bust Confidence Myths” eBook compliments of ICE Mental Coaching, and take the next step towards skating your dreams.