Olympic athletes have the power to inspire, motivate, and influence audiences. They are the best athletes in the world! I believe that we can learn a lot from these amazing performers, as long as we know what to look for… This blog is all about how to see the invisible game behind the performance. I encourage you to watch the Olympics with a new eye – try to gain insights into these Olympians’ performances that are not available to the average viewer. Looking at the mental game adds a new dimension to the viewing experience ...
The topic for this blog is how to help athletes perform well during competitions. I will address this question from the perspective of a parent or coach. However, as a teammate, you could also benefit from reading this blog and utilize the same techniques. As a parent or coach, you play a crucial role in helping your athletes perform their best. The support you provide them is probably the most important factor that contributes to their success. The power of this emotional support should never be under estimated. Just being there to support yo...
Thank you for the responses concerning what you would like to learn more about. The most popular questions related to dealing with nerves and helping athletes perform well during competitions. I will address the first question in this blog and the second question in my next blog. Here we go… Generally speaking, the secret to performing your best when it matters most is being able to get your mind and body in sync and working together. You do that by using the various mental skills and techniques that I have presented in the previous blo...
I have already introduced the topics of imagery, goals, and composure (relaxation under pressure), so I will not go into detail about those topics. Instead, I want to ensure that you know that these mental skills can be used to help you overcome fear and conquer your mental blocks. I encourage you to look back into the archived blogs and read or re-read the information about those topics. Often times, you will find something NEW that you didn’t remember from before and that can help you improve that skill even more. Since this is the las...
True mental toughness is achieved when you have a strong balance of all mental skills. However, one of the most important and difficult mental skills to master is that of focus (sometimes called concentration). The reason focus is so difficult to control is because most people don’t even think about it and we are all easily distracted at times. To help you improve your ability to stay focused during practices or competitions, use your cue words (see my last blog on Confidence for more details). Too many gymnasts allow their attention to ...
Confidence is the antonym of fear! Confidence is built from several factors: past successes, preparation, support from others, and self-talk (how you talk to yourself). Each factor is important, but today I will only highlight the concept of self-talk. We constantly talk to ourselves, both in our heads and sometimes even out loud (this is when some people may think you are crazy). Our self-talk can be both positive and negative. This distinction is important because positive self-talk can build your confidence while negative self-talk is sure ...
This is the last blog of the mental blocks series. The fear of success is probably the least common of all the fears that athletes face, but it still occurs. The reason that it is so rare is because it seems so counter-intuitive. Since you try to avoid things that you are afraid of, the fear of success means that you try to avoid success. But wait a minute? Don’t all athletes want to be successful? The reason some athletes have a fear of success is because they are afraid that they can’t handle the pressure associated with being su...
The next common mental block is the fear of embarrassment. This is a very difficult fear to overcome because it has some deep seeded roots. Everyone wants to be liked and accepted by others. This refers to the need for social approval. Therefore, if others disapprove of you or something you do, then you become embarrassed and feel very uncomfortable because you are not being “liked and accepted by others.” Athletes most often encounter this fear when they are performing under pressure. This pressure may come from the athlete themse...
In my last blog, I introduced you to the fear of failure. I mentioned that this fear is a natural part of sport and is an “unacceptable” fear. This is because there is nothing at risk except for your personal pride. The fear of injury is also an inherent part of gymnastics, but this fear can be classified as “acceptable.” This is because it is more important to consider the realistic risk of being injured, as a serious injury could end your season or even your career. Therefore, if attempting a skill that you are not re...
A common problem in gymnastics is having a “mental block.” But what is a mental block? Simply put, a mental block is a fear that is preventing you from performing a specific skill. Why is this important? Because if you are limited in the number or type of skills that you can perform, your overall potential in the sport of gymnastics is limited! This is a big problem if you plan to compete at a high level or progress to the next level from where you currently are. So if fear is the cause of a mental block, then we must look at what ...
