In a sport as physically and mentally demanding as gymnastics, it’s not uncommon for the mind to get in the way from time to time. Many athletes encounter mental blocks– when fear takes over and prevents them from performing a certain skill. Sometimes the skill is new and it’s a general fear of the unknown, other times the skill is familiar but a past mistake or injury creates a fear that wasn’t there before, and sometimes it seems to happen for no reason at all. Regardless, there are many tools that gymnasts can use to work through their thoughts when a mental block occurs.
The most important tool is communication with oneself. Talking through one’s own thoughts, skills, and fears can help break down all of the anxiety and make the issue easier to understand. Dr. Patrick Cohn is a highly regarded sports psychologist who helps athletes train from the inside out by understanding their mentality to overcome those mental obstacles.
He suggests the following approaches to practicing effective self-communication:
Eliminate Negativity
This is much easier said than done, but negative thoughts will only hold you back from making progress. Dr. Cohn uses the term “mental toughness” to describe the accountability an athlete takes in challenging their imposing thoughts and fears on a regular basis.
Ask “Why”
Think rationally about the possible risks of a skill or why you are afraid. Build confidence by practicing the skill in an area where the risk is low, and slowly introduce less “safe” environments when you are physically ready to do so.
Mental Imagery
If you can imagine what it would look or feel like to do the skill successfully, there must be some part of you that believes you can do it. Use this as motivation to generate positive self-talk when practicing the skill for real.
Skill Cues
Talk yourself through each part of the skill – “breathe,” “step,” “hurdle,” “reach” – as you’re doing it. Break it down one step at a time without thinking too far ahead to the end of the skill or what could go wrong.
Obviously, there is no one-size-fits-all cure for mental blocks. Not every athlete will respond to each method, so figuring out what works best for the individual will be part of the process. Though this can be frustrating, the sense of accomplishment you will feel afterwards will be worth all the time and effort you put in!
Information Sourced From:
Cohn, Dr. Patrick. “Combating Fear with Mental Toughness: Gymnastics Mental Coach.” Gymnastics Mental Coach | Mental Training for Competitive Gymnasts, 26 Apr. 2017, https://www.gymnasticsmentalcoach.com/combating-fear-with-mental-toughness-in-gymnastics/.
Cohn, Dr. Patrick. “Gymnast Mental Blocks in Tumbling: Gymnastics Mental Coach.” Gymnastics Mental Coach | Mental Training for Competitive Gymnasts, 27 Apr. 2017, https://www.gymnasticsmentalcoach.com/mental-blocks-tumbling/.
Cohn, Dr. Patrick. “Mental Imagery Styles for Gymnasts: Gymnastics Mental Coach.” Gymnastics Mental Coach | Mental Training for Competitive Gymnasts, 26 Apr. 2017, https://www.gymnasticsmentalcoach.com/mental-imagery-for-gymnasts/.
Cohn, Dr. Patrick. “Overcoming Mental Blocks in Gymnastics: Gymnastics Mental Coach.” Gymnastics Mental Coach | Mental Training for Competitive Gymnasts, 25 Apr. 2017, https://www.gymnasticsmentalcoach.com/overcoming-mental-blocks-in-gymnastics/.
Cohn, Dr. Patrick. “Visualization to Improve Consistency: Gymnastics Mental Coach.” Gymnastics Mental Coach | Mental Training for Competitive Gymnasts, 12 Jan. 2017, https://www.gymnasticsmentalcoach.com/how-to-use-visualization-to-improve-consistency/.
