In that case, discover out among the explanation why this occurs and what your gymnast can do to get via this irritating state of affairs.
This time of season when many gymnasts are on the point of compete, I get very busy as a gymnastics psychological coach! It is as a result of gymnasts are gearing up for his or her meet season however are beginning to battle massive time and nobody is aware of what to do about it.
Why does my gymnast freeze up on expertise proper earlier than meets?
As everyone knows, proper earlier than competitors season begins (and even within the meet week main as much as meets), your gymnast is probably going feeling a LOT of strain.
This could possibly be strain to do sure expertise with out a spot or mats, or to place her expertise on a tough floor. For a gymnast, the considered having to do a talent by herself when she hasn’t been doing it alone is a really scary concept. And her fight-flight-or-freeze mode typically kicks in.
Then there’s additionally the strain to compete effectively this season that many gymnasts really feel. Perhaps it is a massive yr and your gymnast actually must hit her routines to indicate schools that she’s worthy of a spot on a collegiate staff. Or possibly your gymnast had a extremely nice season the yr earlier than and now feels this inner strain to repeat her success at a special stage. That strain to need to do effectively can even trigger her freeze mode to activate.
One other strain that comes up is a worry of embarrassment. Many gymnasts do not wish to go to a meet and look unhealthy in entrance of everybody else. Whether or not they’re anxious about what their coaches will suppose or what different gymnasts or spectators may suppose, embarrassment is a strain that may shut your gymnast down.
So strain main into meet season and every week main into meets can actually take a toll in your gymnast’s mindset. As I at all times say, strain equals hazard to your gymnast’s mind. And when her mind is sensing hazard, it’ll go into freeze mode in gymnastics.
One other factor that occurs this time of season is that gymnasts go into panic mode as a result of they do not really feel prepared. Typically they’ve an concept of their head of the place they SHOULD be at this level within the season. For a lot of, they wish to be perfecting their routines and expertise and placing on the ending touches. When, as a substitute, they’re nonetheless struggling to get expertise, this causes a panic that may preserve the freeze mode activated for for much longer than it must be.
Consequently, your gymnast begins to match herself to the place she thinks she must be this time of season, feels disillusioned or embarrassed that she’s not additional alongside, after which dwells on this truth.
That, mixed with the strain she is feeling, will possible trigger her to freeze up on necessary expertise she wants so as to compete.
So what do you do to assist your gymnast who’s freezing up on expertise earlier than meets?
This generally is a devastating state of affairs for gymnasts, coaches, and oldsters. One as a result of everybody feels helpless and second as a result of your gymnast is in main misery and it isn’t getting higher.
1. Encourage your gymnast to concentrate on every day at a time.
The “what ifs” (what if I do not get my talent in time, what if I embarrass myself, what if I can not compete) could cause your gymnast’s head to enter a complete head spin and make her not suppose clearly. When she focuses on the current second and what she will work on in that second, it helps her keep out of panic mode.
If she does not have already got a Abilities/Confidence Ladder mapped out that she will use to information her exercises, create one. This offers her a plan for what she will work on every observe to construct belief again up together with her mind on the talent she is freezing on.
2. Work out a plan for what your gymnast CAN do throughout competitors.
If it is getting near competitors season and your gymnast cannot do her again tumbling cross however can substitute it with one thing else, begin engaged on a special tumbling cross. Whereas you do not need your gymnast to keep away from the talent she’s freezing up on, you DO wish to ease her thoughts. And having a again up cross or completely different talent that your gymnast can compete as a substitute may help alleviate the strain she is feeling.
3. Have a dialog together with her coach concerning the state of affairs.
One of many scariest issues to your gymnast just isn’t understanding what’s going to occur. Sitting down together with her coach and discussing the state of affairs might be very useful to your gymnast’s mind. Speak to teach about what occurs if she will’t get her talent in time. Will she scratch that occasion utterly or substitute a special talent?
Many coaches do not focus on this stuff with gymnasts and the uncertainty can preserve your gymnast’s mind at risk mode. Open communication is essential.
4. Remind your gymnast that she’s overcome one thing like this up to now.
In case your gymnast is like most who freeze up on expertise pre-competition season, she’s possible gone via this up to now. Perhaps final season she was in the same state of affairs. Remind her that she obtained via it then and that she’ll get via it now.
Going via worst case situations can be useful to your gymnast. Ask her “what’s the worst that can occur?” The reply is often that she’ll need to scratch an occasion. And whereas that is not what your gymnast desires to do, it isn’t the top of the world. She’s robust sufficient to make it via a state of affairs like that.
5. Assist your gymnast concentrate on what she will CONTROL.
Strain stems from a concentrate on issues which can be exterior your gymnast’s management. Will she get a talent in time? Will coach be disillusioned? What is going to occur sooner or later? These are all ideas which can be exterior her management.
Encourage your gymnast to concentrate on what she does have management over – her effort, what she’s centered on as she works on her talent, her perspective, if she works to alter her unfavourable ideas into extra impartial ones…something that is not consequence primarily based.
When she brings her focus onto issues she CAN management, her mind eases out of hazard mode and feels extra in management. This may enable her to do her frozen expertise extra of the time, thereby permitting her confidence to rise once more.
Backside line, strain is a doozy for some gymnasts. I particularly see this affecting gymnasts who’ve excessive expectations for themselves and are perfectionists. These are those who do not enable themselves the grace to go at a slower tempo or to have “unhealthy” days. After they put that strain on themselves and may’t handle it, their brains go into hazard mode and expertise get frozen.
By studying easy methods to concentrate on what your gymnast can management, by having a plan for what to do within the occasion that expertise do not unfreeze in time, and by staying within the current second and taking every day because it comes as a substitute of worrying concerning the future, your gymnast can slowly work via her frozen expertise.
For some gymnasts this takes time to work via. For others, generally getting that first meet out of the best way helps their mind really feel extra comfortable and expertise come again extra shortly.
Endurance is essential. Even (and particularly) when the clock is ticking and meet season is quick approaching, it is necessary to your gymnast to permit herself the additional time to get into competitors mindset mode.
In case your gymnast is struggling and meet season is approaching, attain out to me! See extra info beneath.
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For those who or your gymnast wants help, along with the assets beneath I additionally provide one-on-one teaching classes through Zoom.
Useful Hyperlinks:
