Nicole; Thanks for the RSVP. I understand that my written question is not clear - I had intended to ask how other coaches come up with sage wisdom/motivating words for travel day/competition day?
As to college coaches: In broad strokes they planned each meet theme in advance. Not the exact words, but the themes as they matched the step by step training and season progress to the "big show"-National Championships. All meets had individual/team goals.
In an afternoon they changed my planning for that gymnastics competitive season. We went thru my weekly/monthly calendar all the way from summer thru State/Regions/East.-Western/Nationals. The dissection of physical/mental training was excellent detail for me. They encouraged more practice/reps of mental training with occasional tests. I learned quickly from their planners that the "que coaching words" were written down and planned. The D1 coaches shared that they re-enforce the words often and frequently. I took away that learning sessions of the mental can easily be done without doing it in a leo on an event. The mental strength learning was planned to done in a group, small group and individually. By the time the training was repeated at the individual level it was really understood. Testing of mental training was encouraged to be "a competition" as much as possible. Competition and excellence thru the testing was an excellent reminder to me in setting up my planning.
Mental training that I found I needed to focus on was "team." They had terrific suggestions to build "team" thru the year. The benefits showed up right away end of the season last year - my girls were excited for the new season right away after their big meets. I had the lowest "retirement numbers" ever. "Team" energized them.
The creative games/themes for training has worked wonders with making my conditioning assignments something that is actually looked forward to vs. dreaded. The games/themes in physical prep matched the themes. Yes, their planning was that complete. I quickly adjusted as my training was not that completely rounded. The emphasis on measurement and goal meeting was excellent reminders to make the process meaningful. The skill/routine prep was easier and more difficult. I needed to spend a ton of time learning and upgrading that was very different than the D1 coaches. My year, in that way, has much more training steps. I took away to prepare themes thru that process and do more intermediate "shows" or small competitions.
I got to read a couple prepared "Meet Planner" s and immediately copied the format as it better organized myself for the orchestration of the event. Coach assignments, athlete reminders, trainer assignments, theming, special event words/thoughts and the category that I had missed in the past - travel words/special pre-meet prep.
Nicole, I am running out of steam. My fingers are failing to recall any more info at this time. I am just completing travel back from this weekends meet. I will arrive at the gym in a few hours with seemingly no down-time. Fortunately, my Workout Planner for this week and the Meet Planner for this weekends meet are already written on my cmptr. and printed on my desk.
Thanks again Nicole. I hope I assisted with my response, SBG -
