Anon Nerves at a Meet

[Anonymous (9dd7)]

How do you guys deal with nerves when you are at a meet? My routines at practice (and at meets, too, honestly) are very consistent, but I always get really nervous when I am competing at a meet, especially on the beam. It's not a fun feeling, and it has caused me to rack up lots of deductions (wobbles, mostly) that I feel could be prevented if I was feeling more calm on the events. Do you guys have any techniques for feeling confident in your performances? Thanks

 

[Anonymous (b313)]

Lots of different ways to approach this mental preparation picture yourself at meets being calm and confident. Routines in the gym with pressure. Coach watching, getting scored, no sound, lots of distractions. Pretending to be at practice at a meet, picture your gym. Hope this helps a little

 

[Anonymous (1972)]

Lately my DD's gym has had other teams practicing at the same time take a few minutes to watch their full routines so that they get used to a crowd of people watching and hopefully get over any embarrassment. Plus it seems to give them a boost to have teammates cheering for them, it is so lovely to see the support! We will see if that worked this weekend!

 

[Anonymous (efbd)]

Focus on inhaling through your skills at the appropriate time. Make that your mid routine meditation in a way. So it’s all you are focused on and nothing else. Will also help your energy and stamina. But if nothing else would keep your mind occupied on something simple and focused. Something not as big as the skills you’re completing.

 

[Anonymous (9730)]

Visualize and pray!

 

[Anonymous (61d7)]

Before I start my routines I look around and say what I see in my head, for example an orange spring board, my coaches black hair, my teammates blue leo. It works very well but tends to where off pretty quick if it does I just think of a random word, not something that will make you laugh just a code word like the name of a pet or family member, your favorite food or a sound(I always say “weeeeeeee” in my flyaway). I don’t trust myself enough to come up with a random word on the spot that won’t make me laugh, so I always have a set word that I think of before the meet starts. And like 9730 said PRAY!