I recognize the importance of pursuing the mission to make mental training part of every athletes off-ice routine. You wouldn’t wait until your athlete had an injury before you started introducing stretch and fitness classes. So, why wait until there is a mental block or significant lack of confidence to start implementing mindset strengthening classes?
The need to take a preventative, proactive approach to mental training, making it accessible to all skaters from beginner to elite, is a true investment. Skating clubs can make mental training part of the program they offer skaters from the very beginning. There are many reasons and benefits in doing so. Here I highlight ten.
10 Reasons
- It normalizes mental training and makes it more easily accessible.
- The skater no longer feels like she/he is alone in her/his thoughts and emotions dealing with pressure.
- It produces skaters who are connected to their thoughts and feelings.
- It builds confidence.
- It helps skaters become more brave.
- It produces skaters who can better communicate their needs.
- It focuses on building the WHOLE athlete: mind, body, and spirit.
- It improves skater’s ability to focus.
- The skater learns coping skills for dealing with injury and time away from the ice.
- It builds a more resilient athlete who can cope with failure and set backs.
Sport Specific Mental Training
To get started, your club can offer a sport specific mental training masterclass in person or online. Meeting and connecting with your athletes and teaching the fundamentals of mental training, is a great way to build connection to do great work together.
Next, the club will invest in and include mental training as part of their already scheduled seasonal off-ice program. Sessions will be conducted via video conference with the group of skaters. Investment for 1 hr of training is $125 CAD. Email me at mindbodyperform@gmail.com to book your masterclass.
Providing skills to athletes at the beginner stage will help prevent future problems from occurring at the elite level, when the pressure is heavy and a lot is at stake.
Until Next Time,
Keep Your Brain in the Game
Use this worksheet to identify the KEY CHARACTERISTICS of your confident self so you can CHOOSE to use them going into your next competition.
Get the worksheet –> https://rebekah-dixon.mykajabi.com/pl/141210
Hi, I'm Rebekah. I help skaters improve their performance by strengthening their mindset. Please check out my blog, sign up to my mailing list, or follow me on social media for inspiration. 