Gymnastics is undoubtedly one of many hardest sports activities there may be. However I would additionally argue that not solely is gymnastics a tough sport, gymnasts (as a inhabitants) are extremely robust on themselves as properly.
When you cannot be inside your gymnast’s thoughts and assume for her, there are some issues you are able to do to assist your gymnast be extra compassionate in direction of herself.
Issues You Can Do To Assist Your Gymnast Be Much less Robust On Herself
1. Reward your gymnast for who she IS and never what she does.
Gymnasts usually get wrapped up within the identification of being a “gymnast.” This may make issues difficult for them once they aren’t doing properly in gymnastics. If they are going by means of a very robust season or scuffling with a psychological block, they will start to affiliate their lack of expertise with a scarcity of self-worth. And that is unlucky as a result of everyone knows {that a} 12 yr outdated gymnast is SO rather more than simply a gymnast.
One of many methods you may assist your gymnast is to recollect to reward her for qualities she has that transcend her gymnastics skills. Is she variety to her associates or teammates? Is she useful round the home? Is she a caring large or little sister? Does she work arduous in class? Is she an important artist or artistic in different areas of her life?
Take into consideration traits that describe who your gymnast is as an individual and keep in mind to go with her on these traits. As an alternative of claiming “That was an important again handspring” concentrate on her efforts as a substitute. You would possibly say “I noticed you working arduous in your again handspring.” This teaches your gymnast to choose up on her innate qualities of being a tough employee versus feeling her value is tied into having the ability to do a talent in gymnastics.
2. Be a task mannequin to your gymnast.
As her guardian, do you present her how you’re compassionate in direction of your self? Or are you at all times beating your individual self up or saying detrimental issues out loud that your gymnast can hear?
When you won’t understand, your gymnast will decide up on the phrases and actions you exhibit in direction of your individual self. The truth is, a research by Dove achieved a few years in the past confirmed that younger ladies usually have the identical physique insecurities as their mothers, even when they’re actually younger. For instance, a mother who says she hates her legs or purposely would not put on skirts due to how her legs look will usually have a daughter who hates her personal legs, even when her daughter has no motive to hate them. There’s a lot energy in the way in which you deal with your individual self as her mother.
Due to this fact, the way you deal with your self issues! Your gymnast sees and hears all of it. And subconsciously she adapts your individual demeanors as her personal.
3. Write your gymnast a letter
As a enjoyable shock, write your gymnast a letter telling her how proud you’re of her. Remind her of all her superb qualities that make her stand out as a gymnast. Is she tall? Remind her how her peak makes individuals discover her lengthy strains. Is she swish? Inform her how the way in which she strikes is so lovely and makes her coronary heart shine.
Too usually we talk about the issues that may be improved with our gymnasts as a substitute of specializing in all of the positives. By writing a letter, you may put all of it out onto paper and your gymnast can learn it again to herself when she wants a lift of excellent emotions.
If you happen to’re a gymnast, listed below are some issues you are able to do to be much less robust on your self:
1. Deal with your self such as you would your finest pal
One of many hardest issues about being a gymnast is feeling like you need to be arduous on your self with the intention to achieve success. This sense would possibly come from the kind of teaching you get. Or it’d come from your individual assumptions that you just should be vital of your self with the intention to get higher. Realizing that each tenth counts can put numerous stress on you too. And being “yelled” at in apply or always corrected can take its toll.
Consequently, most gymnasts I work with are usually hypercritical of themselves, particularly once they make errors. And with each mistake comes extra detrimental ideas akin to “I am such a foul gymnast” or “I am unable to do something” or “I am going to by no means get this proper” or “Coach would not care about me.”
These ideas are sometimes harsh and but most gymnasts I do know proceed to permit themselves to interact in these ideas after they’ve made errors or struggled to be taught a talent.
One of many greatest suggestions I give my gymnasts is to speak to your self such as you would your finest pal. In case your finest pal was having a troublesome day on beam or making mistake after mistake, you would not go as much as her and yell at her extra. You would not inform her she’s a horrible gymnast or that she ought to simply stop. And also you definitely would not say something that may make her really feel worse. As an alternative you’d do your finest to construct her up. You’d encourage her. You’d say good issues to her. You’d let her know that you’ve got confidence in her and her skills and that you realize she will be able to do it.
That’s how gymnasts ought to apply talking to themselves. But once I inform gymnasts to do that it is like some international language they’re unaccustomed to! Most do not know what it is wish to be variety to themselves. However it’s so essential to a gymnast’s vanity and resilience to really feel like she has somebody (even when it is herself) who builds her up.
2. Embrace errors
Whereas errors are frowned upon in gymnastics competitors, they’re definitely needed in apply (and even in competitors) with the intention to be taught new expertise or learn to alter to new conditions.
After I ask gymnasts to consider how lengthy it took them to be taught their kip or giants or again handspring on beam or every other talent that usually takes a very long time, most need to overlook about that lengthy journey. And but, with each flip they took and had been unsuccessful, they got here nearer and nearer to studying that talent.
Errors are info. Errors are essential. You be taught what to do and what to not do once you make errors. This lets you alter and get higher at what you are doing.
And but most gymnasts I speak to cringe once they consider the errors they’ve made. They have a tendency to see this failure as ultimate as a substitute of a step alongside the way in which to the highest of the staircase.
Due to this fact, I encourage gymnasts to embrace their errors and have a look at them as helpful info. What are you able to be taught from these errors? What’s not working? What can you’re employed to enhance on? What would possibly you be doing improper?
3. Bear in mind all of the belongings you love about gymnastics
One solution to keep constructive and be ok with your gymnastics is to recollect why you like doing it. Alongside the way in which, it is simple to overlook why you like gymnastics a lot. Once you’re placing within the effort and all that tough work, you would possibly overlook that you just’re doing it as a result of it is one thing you like to do.
One solution to keep in mind all of the belongings you love about gymnastics is to create a “What I Love About Gymnastics” board. That is much like a imaginative and prescient board, nevertheless it has causes that you just love gymnastics on it. Possibly you assume it is enjoyable otherwise you love flipping and studying new methods. Or possibly you’ve a slight obsession with leotards! Maybe you want competing or hanging out together with your gymnasium associates.
Regardless of the causes, you’ll want to put them in your board by slicing out photos, phrases, or images that characterize these emotions of pleasure about gymnastics. Then glue these items onto your board, add numerous glitter or decorations, and grasp it up in your room. Having this as a reminder is a good way to recollect the comfortable components of gymnastics. Once you preserve this in thoughts, you could be extra compassionate in direction of your self as a result of you realize you are doing gymnastics since you adore it.
As a gymnast, it is essential that you just work arduous but additionally do not lose sight of all that you’ve got achieved. Whereas all of us need to do higher, being “robust” on your self shouldn’t be at all times the easiest way. Once you’re robust, your mind truly learns to belief you much less and subsequently pushes again. As an alternative attempt to keep in mind that your mind is simply as delicate as your finest pal and that that you must deal with it kindly and with respect.
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If you happen to or your gymnast wants help, along with the assets beneath I additionally provide one-on-one teaching periods through Zoom.
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