Where does the time go? At any time of the year skaters can start to panic.
When Spring competitions start, when Summer training is winding down, and when skaters and coaches are preparing for qualifying competitions.
At various times during the year, skaters might find themselves disappointed at where they are compared to where they wanted to be at that time of the year. Unfortunately, they anticipated being much closer to their goals by now.
You know how it is easy to make goals and promise yourself things will be different on January 1st or at the end of a skating season. You have 12 months ahead of you, a blank sheet of paper. Lots of time for making lots of progress.
It is much more challenging to be in the middle of a season or a year, having lost momentum somewhere along the line, and come face-to-face with a disappointing-half-finished-season.
You can’t wait for the new year or the end of the season to make a brand new start, but there is so much time left until then.
How do you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and build up momentum for a strong finish to the season?
You create your own “ending” for a new beginning. Create an artificial ending wherever you are now, and start fresh.
For example:
- The end of one season and the beginning of another are natural breaks in the year.
- The start of Summer training.
- The start of school.
- After a vacation.
- Make a new start when you change up your training or add something new.
Marking the end of a period of time and the beginning of a new can give you a fresh start psychologically without waiting for the beginning of a new year or the end of a competitive season.
Many skaters already have the skills to do this. They do this all the time when they make a mistake in their competitive program.
For example, in a Senior Mens Freeskate program there are 12 elements. If the skater falls on his third jump, a seasoned skater knows that he has 9 more elements to make an impression on the judges. If he has lost focus because of the fall, he gets up, leaves the mistake behind, and moves on to the next element. Then the next, and the next, one after another, gathering momentum and finishing strong.
Your season is not over yet. Imagine your season is a program, you still have more time to make an impression on the judges. Pick yourself up, refocus on what you can do to get closer to your goals. Build momentum in practice and finish your season strong.
You train hundreds of hours on the ice, you have the skills to execute a great program inside of you. If you can just get out of your own way!
Mental skills training can make a difference because it can help you access what is already there during competition and practice.
Start your journey to worry free competition. Download “Confidence Myth Busters,” a complimentary eBook for a jump start!