Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
Audio here.
Skaters tie themselves in knots with worry that Judges won’t “like” their programs or with comparisons to others who seem to be “ahead” of them in skills. The more they worry, the more their confidence suffers. Eventually their improvement seems to be at a stand still, and frustration rules. Continue reading “Worrying What Others Think is Holding You Back”
Audio found here.
How can mental skill training help me to stop being so nervous?
When the competition is on, athletes describe a wide range feelings. From mild butterflies to feeling “sick” to their stomach.
Nerves before a competition or a test can be alarming if you are new to mental skills training. Anxiety or worry often takes the form of butterflies in the stomach. Continue reading “How to Handle Nerves in Figure Skating”
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Many skaters feel they have to be perfect. They are afraid to make mistakes.
Common characteristics of perfectionists, particularly attention to details, and the need (drive) to get things right, make them excellent skaters. Skating is a sport of technique and precision where attention to details can be a benefit. Continue reading “Dealing With Mistakes-Learning from Nathan Chen”
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Have you ever lost your momentum and drive? Feel lost and unfocused in practice? Don’t remember why you go to the skating rink every day?
Feeling this loss of motivation can happen for many reasons, but no matter what the reason you can use the steps in this article to pick yourself up again.
Some reasons for loss of motivation: Continue reading “5 Steps to Get Motivated in Figure Skating”
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I was fortunate enough to attend the Canadian National Championships this year. I went as a part of my work, not as a casual spectator. I was there for the all of the Senior short and free programs in all disciplines. I learned much and would like to share some observations I hope you will find helpful. Continue reading “Skating a Clean Program: Learn from the National Championships”
As far as careers go, Mirai Nagasu has reasons to give up, just quit. She was the US National champion in 2008 at the age of 16, 4th place at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games, then was dramatically left off of the next US Olympic team in 2014 despite a third place finish at the US National Championships.
Many athletes would have quit at that point. She could have taken it as a vote of no confidence when Ashley Wagner, 4th place at US Nationals that year was named to the Olympic team. Continue reading “Work Around Mistakes and Belief in Yourself: Observing Mirai Nagasu”