For a lot of gymnasts throughout the USA, State meets are developing.
I speak to quite a lot of gymnasts who inform me that attending to States after which qualifying to Regionals from States is a vital purpose of theirs. In truth, many gauge their success this season primarily based on whether or not they make it to State or not (p.s. some gymnasts say State…some say States, so I am going to use them interchangeably on this article).
Whereas making it to an enormous meet like States is an accomplishment, it is essential that gymnasts do not make this meet such an enormous deal that it causes them to get actually nervous or bomb their routines.
Backside line, it truly is simply one other meet!
Right here they’re:
1. Search for clues out of your previous profitable meets.
Take into consideration a previous profitable meet of yours. It may very well be from this season or any current previous season. Which meet was your finest one? Shut your eyes and put your self again there. Attempt to keep in mind what you probably did to arrange for this meet. Did you’re feeling assured going into this meet? Had been you excited for it?
Additionally keep in mind issues like whether or not you probably did a pre-meet routine earlier than this meet or in the event you listened to sure music (both calming or pump up music). Did you discover a strategy to block out the distractions on the meet and/or have been you capable of keep centered throughout your meet?
What have been some ideas you had? Had been you capable of shake off errors?
The BEST strategy to do properly at a future meet is to recollect again to what has labored for you up to now. Should you can re-create sure issues that have been useful, it could allow you to place your finest foot ahead at your State meet.
2. Put your physique right into a assured place even in the event you aren’t feeling so assured.
I speak about physique language quite a bit as a result of it is a trick that may actually make a distinction. A State meet is a meet that may usually really feel intimidating. You are strolling right into a gymnasium or area which may really feel greater or totally different than what you are used to. There are quite a lot of gymnasts there and a few of them is perhaps REALLY good. It is onerous to not really feel nervous or such as you’re underprepared.
Should you discover your confidence waning, focus in your physique language. Likelihood is you are in a not so assured place. As an alternative, strive rolling your shoulders again, lifting up your chin barely, sticking your chest out a bit after which see how you’re feeling.
Your thoughts and physique are linked so if you put your physique right into a assured place, it creates a assured feeling in your thoughts. So even if you’re not assured, showcase your assured physique language. It is going to assist your thoughts really feel higher about your competitors and help you step into the arrogance it is advisable rock your State meet.
3. Watch the “little” deductions.
As a former decide, I used to take factors off persistently for the “little” issues. I noticed flexed ft and barely bent legs or arms time and again.
Bear in mind, judges take factors off of every ingredient when there are kind errors. So in case your legs are bent in every a part of your tumbling move, you then get deducted each time. When you’ve got a lovely cut up or cut up leap however flex your ft, that is a deduction.
These “little” breaks in kind add up.
One other large place the place gymnasts get deductions are on their vaults (significantly entrance handspring vault). The reason being as a result of vault has totally different phases the place judges can take off factors. So you probably have bent legs all through your complete vault, you’re getting deducted for these errors all through every of the phases (entry, help, touchdown part).
4. Keep in mind that your value as a gymnast shouldn’t be determined by this one meet.
It is very easy to place quite a lot of strain on your self to do properly at this one meet (or at Regionals/Nationals). However on the finish of the day this is only one single meet.
Whereas it is perhaps a meet on the finish of the season, it would not need to outline how you’re feeling about your whole season. This ONE meet is not the tip all or be your entire gymnastics journey. It is only one single second in time.
Whether or not you do nice at your State meet or not so nice, take a while to mirror again in your season and keep in mind how far you have come. When you may need to see your self getting greater and better scores because the season goes on, there are such a lot of components that go into play that may have an effect on whether or not this occurs or not.
As an alternative, take into consideration the issues that you’ve got improved on all through the season. Has your kind gotten higher? Are you extra capable of bounce again from errors? Are you much less nervous at meets? Do you’re feeling stronger? Do you’ve extra energy if you vault?
These are the issues it is best to measure versus your scores at one meet over the course of the season.
5. Have enjoyable!
The purpose of doing gymnastics is to have enjoyable! And judges can inform in the event you’re really having fun with your self or not. So even in the event you’re nervous, drive an enormous smile in your face and use that as a cue to recollect how a lot you like doing gymnastics.
Take into consideration how superb it’s that you would be able to flip via the air! Consider how enjoyable it’s to swing on the bars. Remind your self of how cute your competitors leotard is!
Gymnastics is supposed to be an gratifying expertise. Gymnasts usually get so wrapped up in having to do properly that they put pointless strain on themselves. Be sure you’re remembering why you do gymnastics and absorbing each second of it.
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Should you or your gymnast wants help, along with the sources under I additionally provide one-on-one teaching periods by way of Zoom.
Useful Hyperlinks:
- Free Downloads: Get free gymnastics downloads to assist your gymnast work on her psychological abilities in gymnastics.
- Stick It Woman Academy: Enroll your gymnast in my membership group the place she will be able to be taught totally different psychological coaching methods and get on a weekly LIVE name with myself and different aggressive gymnasts.
- Free Fb Group for Mothers of Gymnasts: Be part of this group to speak with different gymnastics mothers and get suggestions for how you can assist your gymnast navigate via the psychological ups and downs of gymnastics
