How can I beat a gymnastics mental block?
How can I beat a gymnastics mental block? I’m scared of a gymnastics skill that I used to be able to do. Now I can’t get myself to go for it. What can I do?Answer: Many gymnasts say that mental blocks are one of the worst parts of gymnastics. Sometimes they happen for no obvious reason, and usually you can complete the skill without problem, if you could just get yourself to do it. Here, some tips from gymnasts and coaches for getting past the fear. Some will probably work better than others for you, so keep trying until you find the techniques that work best for your brain. • Talk to your coach. Almost every gymnast has a mental block during her career, so your coach has most likely seen this happen many other times. Explain to her that you’re trying your hardest and want to figure out a plan to get comfortable with the skill again. The two of you should be able to come up with a game plan together. • Visualize. Close your eyes and pretend you’re doing the skill. The more detail you c
