IMAGERY TRAINING FOR PRIME PERFORMANCE GOAL SETTING STRATEGIES GYMNASTICS IN THE ZONE – COMPETITITVE ROUTINES GYMNASTICS IN THE ZONE – INTENSITY REGULATION

You are not just a gymnast Gymnastics is just one of many things you do well. The result of a missed arm circle, bad vault entry or poorly performed giant swing does not make or break you as a gymnast or a person. You have friends, family, and other interests and skills. You’re an athlete, student, young adult, community volunteer, and perhaps a sister or a brother. You cannot control everything You have no control over the condition of the equipment, the quality of the music system, the lighting, or judges. You cannot control other gymnasts, whether they hit or miss routines or whether they have a positive or negative attitude. Focus on what you can control: being “coachable, ” good form and alignment, a quality warm-up, and executing your routines as best you can. Gymnastics is an individual sport. When it comes right down to it, it is just you and the competitive floor. Focus on using the correct techniques and on your own thoughts and actions. Staying positive is not enough Staying positive is a good goal, but not realistic all the time. Self-talk including self-criticism happens to everyone. You cannot easily stop these thoughts, nor should you try. You can develop strategies to manage self-talk more effectively. Stuff happens Gymnastics is only a part of life. Sometimes lousy things happen: a friend gets injured or moves away, a family member gets sick, a relationship is strained or ends, a recurring injury gets worse. All of these aspects of life and more can impact your gymnastics performance. Keep perspective and remember that problems are temporary and that things change