The Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs to make it into the next round. That means that Gym Momentum Coach STEVE DAVID owes me BEER!
Reading the news the next day from sources in and around Toronto they were all searching for someone to blame. Just this morning someone wrote that the blame fell on their Goalie. This is absolutely CRAZY. Federik Anderson may have been the ONLY reason they took the Bruins to 7 games. The Boston Bruins were a better team and were ranked higher than the Maple Leafs for more than 1/2 the season.
In Gymnastics you are NOT going to win them all. There will always be someone with more talent or someone that has a good day. That should be what fuels your motivation instead of discouraging you. If you work HARDER and SMARTER than your competition- you will have your day! It is a marathon and takes both short and long term plans and goals.
When that day comes and you find your team further down the podium that you want to be- FIX THE PROBLEM. NOT THE BLAME.
The Gymnasts may have gotten crushed on Floor Ex. but before you BLAME the Floor Coach or The Gymnasts, look into the mirror. Look at your plan. Look at the path you have taken to get there. Find the problem and fix it.
It is too easy to blame someone.
At the end of the event, at the end of the competition, give them a high 5, tell them to go get something to eat and get some rest. Then it is time for you to get to work. Come up with your plan to fix the problems that occurred during the competition. Avoid the long lecture to the gymnasts when they screw up. They know they messed up. You pointing it out isn’t going to fix it. They are not going to do anything to fix it until they are back in the gym anyway.
There is more to learn from your mistakes and failures than your success and victories. If you only go to competitions or training camps in your immediate vicinity- you only base your success and failure on the few clubs you see. You need to see the big picture. You need to get out of your comfort zone. You will need to see judges and clubs from your area but also from different areas and different countries. JO Nationals, Easterns and USAIGC World Championships are right around the corner. You may not be able to get there every year, but you should try to see other sessions than the ones you are competing in. It will help give you perspective.
The number one thing that causes gymnasts (and coaches) to be anxious is the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. A gymnast may HEAR about how great another gymnast or team is. Then they to a training camp or competition and see them there and realize, They Aren’t So Special.
Your gymnast who is the “prima donna” who wins nearly every competition but doesn’t work that hard in the gym has an opportunity to learn a lot at training camps or big competitions because SO MANY PEOPLE WORK HARD.
You need a plan for the gymnast that works hard in practice but blows it in competition. She may need to attend MORE competitions than other gymnasts. She should attend a training camp because she will get comfortable doing new skills out of your gym. She will have another opportunity to show off.
Have a great week. HAPPY MAY!
