Thanks for sharing! I was a fearful gymnast and try to be patient with my girls who are facing fears and get a little creative in breaking things down and helping them take small steps towards conquering those fears. That's not to say I don't periodically slip up and get frustrated with a kid, so the post is a good reminder of what it's like to be in the gymnast's shoes.
I also loved the response from the coach, because sometimes you do need to give the gymnast a "time out" from the skill, especially if they are balking or getting themselves worked up to a point that could be detrimental or cause more stress. It doesn't mean I'm mad or think you are incapable of doing the skill, I just think you need a break to cool down. And it's important for the gymnast to know that what I do is from a place of love (though the same cannot be said for all coaches when it comes to dealing with fears). I have 2 girls who are struggling with beam fears at the moment and I feel as though I am constantly nagging them, pushing them, torturing them, etc. and hope they aren't getting the sense I enjoy doing it! But man, I sure do enjoy when the result is them making steps forward and feeling great about what they've worked through!
