Tight Mind Monday: Countdown to Competition - Advice for Athletes
Tight Mind Monday 10-31-16: Countdown to Competition—Athletes Edition
Athletes! It’s time to get ready for competition. So let’s get your head right with these tools on Tight Mind Monday.
1. Remember, when you practice like it’s competition, your competition will feel like practice! Be sure as you are putting routines together, you perform each routine with excellence. No sloppiness! When you are aggressive and focus on technique you form pathways in your brain that will payoff on the competition floor.
2. Take a moment before every routine and get into a competition state of mind, or competition bubble. Imagine you are in a meet. Hear the sounds, see the sights, feel the feelings. Once you are there take a deep breath of confidence, say a tight mind statement, and put on competition face and body language. Then do a mini or full salute. This entire process should take no longer than 5 seconds. It’s amazing how familiar competition seems when you have rehearsed it hundreds of times.
3. Remember your tight mind cue words or mental choreography on every routine. Make your mind tight and robotic with sharp, precise, technical cues or confidence statements like “I can do this”.
4. Be ready for recovery from any adversity at the competition. You might experience a bad warmup or an event that doesn’t go your way. One tool to work with negative emotions and shaky nerves at the competition is a “mini-clencher.” Here’s how you do it.
• Clench your fists and forearms tight down by your sides.
• Breathe in and hold your breath for the count of four.
• Exhale and shake out negativity or tension.
• Inhale confidence and say a pump up thought.
• Repeat if necessary or repeat confident breath and thoughts
Mini-clenchers help you release stress, worry, or negativity so you can compete free. No one will even know what you’re doing! If you have doubt, clench it out!
5. Remember to have fun. We all perform best when we are in a place of joy and gratitude. Joke with your coaches, laugh with your teammates, and never forget how lucky you are to be on the competition floor!
Have a great 2016-17 season!
Related:
Tight Mind Monday: Countdown to Competition - Advice for Parents
Tight Mind Monday: Countdown to Competition - Advice for Coaches