The words Confident and Champion are usually used together.
Have you ever seen a test session? A kid goes out there, and it looks like they don’t have a care in the world. They skate with confidence, and even though they made a few mistakes—they pass.
At that same test session, you did what was required of you, you were very careful, mindful of each movement because you were worried that you would make mistake and fail. In fact you only made only one minor mistake–but you didn’t pass.
In competition, the kid with the large presence and the “just” landed jumps comes out ahead in the standings, even though you rotated all your jumps nicely, but were slow and hesitant because you wanted to do everything perfectly.
Confidence can make a world of difference in your skating.
If you skate with confidence and trust, you will truly execute your skills better and at the same time your weaker skills will look better too.
When you are confident, your body is relaxed and ready, able to execute skills easily and automatically.
When you are not confident, you think about what you need to do. Your body becomes tense and your “thinking” can block your whole system from responding automatically.
You are always the same athlete. Your mindset, confident or not confident is the only difference. Some days it is difficult to get out of your own way and stop over-thinking.
For example:
Did you ever have a horrible jumping day?
You landed everything the day before, and chances are you’ll land them all again tomorrow or in a few days.
Were you suddenly a different athlete that day you were “off?”
No, you still have all the skills and jumps you own, it’s your mindset that is different.
As Kurt Browning says: It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it!
How can I skate with Confidence again?
With a deliberate shift in perspective, by taking a step back and regrouping your thoughts and actions, you will be able to reset your mindset.
Every day you must practice a confident mindset.
When you skate, you practice your skating skills in a way that builds confidence.
1) Break down your element into manageable pieces.
2) Focus on what you CAN do and make it better.
3) Increase difficulty and work to put your elements back together again as your confidence grows.
Break down your elements into manageable pieces.
On a difficult day, find what is keeping you stuck and break it down into manageable pieces.
You will know that you have broken it down enough when you stop feeling stuck and start to move forward.
A triple jump can be broken down into entrance, rotation and landing, also single, double and triple rotation.
A combination spin can be broken down into entrance, basic position, variation positions, transitions between each position and exit.
Footwork can be broken down in to segments, clusters, and further down into individual edge patterns.
A program can be broken down into halves, segments, 2 or 3 element segments, individual elements.
Focus on what you CAN do and make it better.
Once you have figured out what the trouble spot is; begin with what you can do well.
Practice and remind yourself all the reasons you have for knowing you can do this skill.
Increase difficulty and work to put your elements back together again as your confidence grows.
As the foundational skill starts to feels better again, build the element back up in complexity, always focusing on what you can do well and making it better.
Take your time and keep building.
Deliberately practice for confidence every day, and you will find that in time you will be confident.
Confidence and trust do not appear by magic. They are the result of hard work. Hard work that you can do when you have the right mindset.
Ready to build your bulletproof confidence? The next step is to download the Bust Confidence Myths eBook, complements of ICE Mental Game Coaching.