I was recently working with a group of gymnasts from Club de Gymnastique Gymini in Quebec. These young ladies were well trained, strong and flexible. It made my job very easy but It made me think: What goes into Athletic excellence and coaching excellence? Luckily I had a 6 hour drive home to ponder this.
It is a question that always fascinates me. I go into a gym and see some great gymnasts. Gymnasts with perceived “athletic talent” but who have not (or will not) have success. Every young coach wants to have successful gymnasts. During the course of my career I have been fortunate to train with, observe and coach some great gymnasts. I have also been able to work with and closely observe some great coaches.
There is some obvious overlap between gymnastics excellence and coaching excellence.
Talent and Ability – You can argue what talent and ability are but regardless of how you define them they are a must. The truly excellent athletes make the most of their ability. Sometimes they may not have the most ability but they find ways to exploit what they have to the maximum.
Mindset – “Mindset” is the current buzzword, when I started coaching I had no idea what it was called, but every great gymnast that I have seen has had that hunger for growth and were tough. They focused on the possibilities and were not usually afraid to make a change. (I am currently re-reading the book “Mindset” and would encourage you to pick it up)
Focus – Excellence in any sport or job demands a laser like focus on the task at hand. No distractions.
Dedication – This is a given and goes along with focus. They know what they have to do and are willing to make the sacrifices to achieve that.
Routine – The great ones have training and practice routines that border on ritual. (admittedly- some may take it a bit too far) I think this serves as a psychological anchor, a point of reference that gives them a sense a security. They come in everyday and start it the same. When they step into a gym for competition, they start that day the same way.
Lining up after Training
Resilience – They have the ability to bounce back from failure or setbacks, learn from it and internalize the lesson to get better. This cannot be overstated. In gymnastics, as in life, there are going be injuries, frustration and setbacks. Those who have the tools to deal with these setbacks are the ones I have seen as the most successful.
Lifestyle – If you are an athlete you are an athlete for 24 hours a day. In gymnastics there is no off season or off time. You are always preparing for the next competition whether it is this Saturday or in 6 months. LIFE OF AN ATHLETE is something that you want to look up.
Consistency – The great gymnast is consistent, the lows are not too low and the highs are not too high. Everyday they move forward. If only a little. They operate on an even keel. As a coach you know what you are going to get. They show up everyday. The spectacular comes from the consistency in training and competition.
They know what they want – Focus on the goal at all times. The goals guide them like a beacon in a storm. The goals keep them on course. These goals are measurable and attainable but NOT easy.
Know Their Strengths – They are acutely aware of their strengths and train and compete to their strength. Over time they have the ability to bring their weaknesses up to the level of their strengths.
Risk – Nothing worthwhile is easy and by and large nothing easy is worthwhile. Great gymnasts are willing to take calculated risks and occasionally push the envelope. There is always risk intruding to be the best. This demands that they are comfortable with being uncomfortable all the time.
Athletic Intelligence – The great athlete possess an high athletic IQ. They know their bodies; they know when to push and when to back off. They understand their sport. They may not be able to articulate it but they show it in everything they do in training and competition.
I am sure there are more. But this is all I could write down as I was driving home!
