Many months ago I asked skaters and their parents to talk with me about, “What do skaters really want from their sport?”
The most difficult part of this was putting my own experience and expectations aside to really listen to what they were saying.
The danger facing any “expert” is to teach to what we think people “should” know rather than what they really want to know.
This research was full of “aha” moments for me. Some of my thoughts were validated, but I learned so much more than I could ever imagine.
I want to again thank those who have shared their stories and insights with me. I have incorporated this new insight into my Build your Champion Mindset Course.
This is what I learned from skaters and their parents, does this resonate with you?
Skaters want be happy (or satisfied) on their journey to becoming the best.
Skaters are smart because a “happy” skater skates better than an “unhappy” skater.
No one is going to continue to put 15+ hours a week into something that makes them miserable.
If you are unsatisfied with your skating and you:
- Have a good coach and
- You do your work;
Changing your mindset is the only thing left for you to do to change this situation.
Some will argue with the idea of an athlete being “happy or satisfied.”
They say that this is a tough sport. Athletes work hard and make sacrifices. They push themselves to the limit every day, this is not “fun,” and they are not going to be “happy.”
As a skater grows in ability and in maturity, their experience of “happiness” or fun changes.
Rather than the big smile and bubbly 5 year old who runs off the ice after mastering a bunny hop, happiness comes from a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction of a job well done or “surviving” a tough task.
Mastery of skills at the higher level is more difficult because the skills are full of complexity. Rather than landing a new jump (outcome) each week, months of practice may go by before a new jump is landed.
Skaters and parents need to make a mental shift to take satisfaction in the process while waiting for the outcome.
Why is this important?
This is important because athletes skate better when they are satisfied, happy or motivated. Athletes who are frustrated, discouraged, or unhappy find it difficult to execute even simple things well.
What would this look like? Here are a few examples.
Satisfaction can come from:
- Persisting when something is challenging.
- Hurting less than last week in power class.
- Looking at the ice traces and finally seeing that flag on the lutz.
- Checking off things on a practice list.
- Noticing small or large improvements.
Here is one tip you can use to help change your mindset to look for satisfaction in the process (what you do everyday).
Celebrate little victories. Every day look for something(s) you did well.
By doing this, you build your momentum each day rather than feeling stuck until finally landing the next big jump.
Working on your mental game will give you tools to excel in your sport and in life. Imagine what it would be like if you knew you could turn out your best performance every competition? Start your journey to worry free competition with “Confidence Myth Busters,” a complimentary eBook.