How to Have a Champion's Mindset - March 2022
With States, Regionals, and Nationals right around the corner, here are some tips to help your gymnast perform their best!
A gymnast’s mindset is what separates them from their competition. Having a champion’s mindset takes practice but it is something that can be learned!
Nerves are normal with competition. The gymnast who has unwavering confidence and thrives under pressure is not because they do not have nerves, but that they know how to deal with their nerves!
First, instead of trying to push nerves away, we need the gymnast to acknowledge their nerves. The more we try to push away a thought or feeling the more it persists. Remember the chocolate example? If not, for the next 5 seconds try not to think about chocolate? How did it go? The more we resist the more it persists.
Tips for a Champion’s Mindset!
While competing, quickly forget mistakes and focus on the good!
Have your gymnast focus only on what you have control over. We cannot control the other competitors or the equipment but can control our attitude and effort.
Remind them to breathe to help calm their nerves!
Have them write down their goals. There are 2 different kinds of goals.
Outcome goals ex. Make it to regionals, win states etc.
Process goals (How are you going to achieve your outcome goals?) ex. square hips on my flight series.
Outcome goals are great, but they take us out of the present moment and are mostly things out of our control. We can have the best meet of our lives and still not win the all-around. Your gymnast can have outcome goals but also make sure they have at least 1 process goal for each event!
Remind your gymnast to have fun and smile! Smiling send signals to the brain that help us feel relaxed!
Best of luck to all the gymnasts competing!
If you feel your gymnast might benefit from more individual mindset help to prepare for their big competition, make sure to reach out to me at ariana@themindfulgymnast or contact me via my website!