Are you a Gymnast who focuses on other people?

Can you sometimes focus too much on the quality of other gymnasts you are up against? Or worry about what your coach or parents are thinking about you?

If you do – you will likely be intimidated on occasions.  You’ll compare yourself to others and in your mind think they are better that you.

This is one quick way to destroy your confidence.

Self-intimidation can be a big problem for many gymnasts, they then go on to psych themselves out – on their own.  They pay far too much attention to other people.

What can happen in the mind is:

– Worry too much about the quality of other gymnasts

– Compare their skills against the other gymnasts

– Pay too much attention to what coaches and parents may be thinking

– Imagine past poor performances and errors

– Criticise themselves

– Think about all the things you cannot do

– Worry about all the things that could go wrong

All of these things are a fantastic way to perform poorly with little confidence.

Solutions – Self awareness is key

Tip 1: Notice in the build up to a competition if you place too much emphasis on the ability of others.  It’s very easy done – especially in today’s world where results of previous competitions are online.

Tip 2:  When you warm-up, if you feel you are paying too much attention to other gymnasts – notice it and stop.

Tip 3: Visualise when you are at your best, what you look like pulling off move after move, flicks, tucks, round offs, landing perfectly….

All in all, comparing yourself to other people is not a good thing to do.  It’s very easy to then go on and forget other gymnasts are humans too and are far from perfect.  Let’s be honest, even in the Olympics the very best gymnasts make mistakes.  It can happen to anyone at anytime.

So I challenge you to focus on you and the skills that have got you where you are.

If you enjoyed this blog offering sports psychology advice for gymnasts be sure to sign up to “The Mental Edge” for regular updates.

You many also have some questions about one 2 one Sports Psychology Coaching with a Leading Sport Psychologist, David Charlton, based near Newcastle upon Tyne – Face to face, via the telephone, SKYPE or online via email are available.