Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
Success in sports requires an athlete to master complex technical skills, be in optimal physical condition, and cultivate a resilient mental mindset. Most busy coaches don’t have time to specialize in mental resilience in addition to their technical duties, and often feel dissatisfied with their ability to support their students in this area.
Continue reading “A Safe Training Environment Promotes Mental Resilience”
Nerves get a bad rap, but nerves aren’t all bad. In fact you want to be nervous, because it makes you perform better.
However, like everything else, you can have too much of a good thing. Not being nervous is bad, but being too nervous can be worse.
Continue reading “Nerves Are Good”
“C’mon. You can do it. Stay calm. Focus.”
Skatergirl skates to her opening position. She’s sitting in third after the short program and it’s time for her free skate.
Continue reading “Get Out of Your Head to Improve Your Performance”
“I’m so nervous,” Skatergirl says. “I can’t do anything.”
It’s two weeks before her next competition, and Skatergirl is trying to run her long program with Skatercoach. Unfortunately, she’s so nervous that she can’t even get off the ground for her first jump.
Continue reading “What Are Nerves”
Skatergirl groans. Ugh, why do I have to work on double axel today?
She’s been having issues with the consistency of her double axel and Skatercoach wants to work on it during her lesson.
Continue reading “How to Deal with Negative Thoughts”
“Here are my goals for the upcoming competition,” Skatergirl says, handing a piece of paper to Skatercoach.
“Let’s see,” Skatercoach says. “Land triple flip in short program. Good. Get three level four spins in your long program. Okay. Place in the top three. Alright.
“Yeah. These look pretty good.” Continue reading “Never Take Your Goals to Competition”