Question: How can I help my athletes overcome mental blocks in tumbling and stunting?
Answer from sports psychologist Dr. Caroline Silby: Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes to solving mental blocks (resulting in not going for a skill). Yet there are some strategies that can accelerate the timeframe in which athletes move past the block and acquire some advanced coping skills in the process:
Keep it Rational – It’s important to keep this whole process non-emotional. When an athlete cries and gets upset, offset this with your own positive body language (i.e. relaxed posture), tone of voice (i.e. normal tone) and encouraging non-verbals (i.e. head nod). Be firm and clear about actions he or she can take to meet expectations, but check the emotions at the door.
Create a Systematic Approach – Coaches put themselves in charge in the gym by what they do versus what they say. When we talk too much to children, they are just waiting to see what we will actually do rather than say. Having a systematic approach to navigating mental blocks can provide a structure for all [involved]. Then, when these challenges occur, you both can move into execution mode, saving a lot of discussion and emotion.
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