This is the final episode of our year long Conversations with Coaches Weekly Mindset Workout series. All month we’ve been talking about how to help your gymnast change their belief to something that will help serve them. The thought ladder is the best tool we’ve got, and we know that with practice it will be the best tool in your gymnasts tool belt as well! In this episode, Ali and Stacie discuss how to put the thought ladder into practice to help your athlete benefit from it. Just like learning...
Dec 26, 2023•16 min
We’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking about your gymnast’s current belief and also the belief she wants to have. You know, the one that’s going to actually help her to achieve her goals!? We know your gymnasts can’t just flip a switch and believe something different. Their brains need evidence that their belief can be true before they will start trusting it. In this episode, our mindset coaches talk about the most powerful tool we teach, THE THOUGHT LADDER . The thought ladder is a strate...
Dec 19, 2023•21 min
Let’s get back to neutral. When your gymnast is spiraling with negative thoughts or beliefs about themselves, it’s so important to get them back to neutral first. They can’t see the positive side of things until they’ve been able to recognize the facts of the matter. In this episode, Ali and Stacie teach you how to help your gymnast identify what things are facts and what are her thoughts. Thoughts are powerful things, and when gymnasts start to believe that their THOUGHTS are FACTS, they limit ...
Dec 12, 2023•18 min
This week, we’re gearing up for competition by helping you instill some strong identity-level beliefs in your gymnasts that will set them up for success this season. We all have certain beliefs about ourselves and who we are. It’s really easy for athletes to believe their worth is contingent on their performance. They want to believe “they’ve got it”… but what will really help them is the belief that they can handle it, even when they don’t have it. All this month, Stacie and Ali are talking abo...
Dec 05, 2023•10 min
Practicing the choreography is what makes your gymnasts routine run smoothly. The more they break it down, drill it and run through it, the more comfortable they become with it. Mental choreography is just as important. Practicing the thought patterns, cue words, deep breaths and other great focus points into a routine of its own will help your gymnast become more successful in competition. This can start from the warm-up. Each gymnast is different, so it will be up to you as the coach to figure...
Nov 28, 2023•14 min
Do you want your gymnasts to be focused at a meet? Well, focused on their gymnastics and their technique? Then they need to use cue words that work. Gymnasts tell us all the time that they need to just not think when they compete. But the reality is that their brain will be thinking. And left unchecked, it will usually be thinking about everything that could go wrong. Instead we want to help prepare the brain to think specific things on purpose that will help them focus on the technique of their...
Nov 21, 2023•15 min
When we don’t actually believe “I’ve got this,” saying “I’ve got this” won’t actually help. If your brain doesn’t believe that you’ve, in fact, GOT THIS, it’s going to put up a fight and start throwing lots of icks your way, trying to convince you that there’s no way “you’ve got this.” Affirmations are only helpful when the “I AM” statement is something the gymnast can actually get behind. So how do you find the right affirmations for your gymnasts? Great question! In this episode, our master mi...
Nov 14, 2023•9 min
Visualization is a powerful but complex tool. We tend to lean into visualization when an athlete is struggling with a skill or routine, or when they are injured and can’t physically do the skill. However, if a gymnast doesn’t actually believe they are capable of completing the routine or skill successfully, visualization can be extremely challenging. In this episode, our mindset coaches discuss how to help your athlete buy into the visualization process step by step, and breakdown the difference...
Nov 07, 2023•20 min
Light energy and good vibes tend to get left behind during the grind of the competition season. We challenged our gymnasts to set big goals for themselves that are just a bit out of reach. Now, we’re working toward those goals, and sometimes, the goals are centered more around the end of season. So how do we keep these athletes motivated when they won’t know if they achieve their goal for 7 months? That is a very long, boring, hustle if you ask me. In this episode Ali and Stacie talk about the i...
Oct 31, 2023•13 min
In this episode, Ali and Stacie break down the scientific method. Yes… the scientific method. Its something these athletes are learning early on in school, but rarely utilize when problem solving in the real world. What’s the problem, what are ways to fix the problem, and where we start when experimenting with fixing the problem. The idea here is to try one thing at a time, and learn from it. “If I do this, then (x) will happen.” Once our athletes are able to get a result from this first hypothe...
Oct 24, 2023•15 min
Our gymnasts tend to believe that failure is not an option, when in fact, failure is the only way to learn new things. We know that a baby learning to walk is going to fall over a million times before they are stable enough to walk consistently and confidently. Along the way, we celebrate each attempt as if our child is solving world peace. The look of pride a toddler has when they topple over after taking 1 measly step is so bright. Don’t you wish your gymnast would have that sense of pride aft...
Oct 24, 2023•13 min
As you’re starting to get your gymnasts ready for routines, it’s inevitable that at least one of them is struggling to put the finishing touches on one or two skills they need for the season. This happens all the time. Sometimes they’re still afraid of the upgrade. They don’t want to get hurt. But most of the time, at this point in the season, what your gymnast is actually struggling with is a fear of failure, disappointment or unpleasant outcome if they don’t have the skill ready for the season...
Oct 10, 2023•9 min
It’s that time again. The point in the year when we have to start putting the rubber to the road and start getting those routines put together. Some gymnasts are ready for this step, and it’s such an exciting time. Others however, are struggling to finalize upgrades and put pieces together. In this episode, Ali and Stacie coach you through helping your gymnasts set realistic season goals that are challenging enough to allow them to grow throughout the season. It’s important to set big goals that...
Oct 03, 2023•14 min
Special episode comin at ya! Last week we did a free coaches clinic to help you get your gymnasts routine ready. If you'd like to get the full video replay, go here ! Get the Proven 4-Step Mindset Method to Help Your Gymnasts Get the Skills they Need to be Competition Ready. Help your gymnasts overcome fear, frustration and past failures that are holding them back. Meet season is around the corner. Don't make the mistake of skipping out (or skimping out!) on the mental training your gymnasts nee...
Oct 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min
In this episode, Ali and Stacie dissect the importance of properly fueling your gymnasts’ bodies and getting adequate rest. It’s no secret that these incredible athletes of ours are going non stop. We actually have to schedule in time for them to eat and sleep. Because if we don’t plan ahead of time, it’s common for food and rest to be the first things they forget about. Meal planning, prepping and having a strict sleep schedule could be the biggest difference maker in your gymnasts’ energy leve...
Sep 26, 2023•22 min
It’s hard enough to get kids to do their homework, let alone, get a busy kid to do their homework. Gymnasts have a TOUGH schedule, and homework can definitely put a damper on their precious down time. Recently, we talked about block scheduling, essentially setting aside a block of time to do a certain activity. For homework, this can often be pretty late into the evening. Having a planned period to do homework is great but sometimes our minds aren’t thinking clearly when the moment comes around....
Sep 19, 2023•23 min
Time management isn't just about schedules; it's about crafting the life you aspire to lead. 🌟 We understand that high-level gymnasts are incredibly dedicated, but sometimes, juggling 'want to' practices and 'have to' school can be overwhelming. That's when the real challenge begins. In our latest episode, Stacie and Ali delve into the art of integrating rejuvenating brain breaks into your athletes' routines. 🧠🙌 Whether it's infusing fun challenges in the gym or optimizing practice time for p...
Sep 12, 2023•21 min
Jumping into a new schedule is tough for anyone, but for gymnasts who are going back to school, it can be incredibly difficult. They’ve spent their summer waking up and heading into the gym on fresh legs and fully rested. Now, some of them are spending 8 hours a day at school first, which is basically a full time job, and THEN going to practice. No wonder they’re exhausted! In this episode, Ali and Stacie break down some of their favorite time management strategies. We’re all guilty of rushing t...
Sep 05, 2023•24 min
Looking for tools to use so that you can help your gymnast climb the thought ladder? Look no further! In this episode, Stacie and Ali give helpful hints to help YOU help your gymnast take those next steps. One of the most important pieces of advice is communicating that YOU see a future where your gymnast is already past this set back. Reminding them that you already have the new belief they are striving to achieve is something that can instill confidence in the process for them. When they see y...
Aug 29, 2023•21 min
“I might be wrong.” These four words can help jump start your gymnast’s mindset shift. When we start at the bottom of the thought ladder with our current thought, it’s usually not a productive one. The second step in the thought ladder is recognizing that the thought we’re currently thinking might not be correct. The simple act of entertaining the idea that they might be wrong, is going to invite them to challenge their old belief almost immediately. “I notice I’m thinking I’m going to miss my h...
Aug 22, 2023•23 min
When your gymnast develops a habit that is not your favorite - (ie. a bent back leg on literally anything), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated because they just can’t fix it. It’s not that they aren’t trying to, it’s that their body and their brain have determined that the way they are currently doing the skill is the path of least resistance. It’s not easy to make a change that is deeply ingrained and has become a habit. As coaches, we often find ourselves back tracking to reteach the...
Aug 15, 2023•20 min
In this episode Stacie and Ali talk about why your gymnast can’t actually just swap her negative thought for a positive one. It’s easy enough to say, “just think positive thoughts” - but it’s not practical. The more we think a thought, the more that thought is ingrained into our brains. So if a gymnast has had a negative thought for a long time, it’s going to take some time and effort to transition to a positive thought. We compare it to muscle memory. If she’s done it one way for a long time… i...
Aug 08, 2023•20 min
All throughout August we will be discussing how to help your gymnasts Actually think Positively. And just like July, we have everything you need, broken down into steps. Progressions for mindset skills are just like progressions for our gymnastics skills. When your gymnast is struggling with a negative mindset, he or she often casts themselves as a victim. The beam is the problem, or the flight series is the problem which in turn, makes the gymnast experience a victim like mentality. Once the gy...
Aug 01, 2023•18 min
Powerful fuel is created by emotions that inspire positive energy toward achieving your goals. Now that we know that, we can help our athletes focus on those energy fueling thoughts. The tough part is that our gymnasts are constantly plagued by negative emotions that pop up unexpectedly because, well… gymnastics is HARD. We all want our gymnasts to feel motivated, focused and determined all of the time, but the reality is that jumping straight to those feelings from a place of uncertainty is alm...
Jul 25, 2023•23 min
This week we’re continuing the conversation on creating powerful emotional fuel to help set your gymnasts up for success. Did you know that you can experience two emotions at the same time? One of our favorite strategies to help our gymnasts navigate through negative emotions is to focus on a second, more positive emotion simultaneously. We call them “AND emotions” and they are here to come to the rescue. Think about an athlete that’s scared to try something new. While they may be experiencing t...
Jul 18, 2023•17 min
Now that you’ve learned how to help your gymnasts allow their emotions to exist without pushing them away, you’re ready for the next step- Helping them to process those emotions. When we do this, we’re giving our brain a break from spending time on the thought and focusing our attention on the physicality of how that feeling lives inside of your body. Many times, negative emotions show up as a tight throat, sweaty palms, or accelerated heartbeats… In this episode, Ali and Stacie explain the thre...
Jul 11, 2023•17 min
Hardships happen. Whether it’s just a tough practice, or your gymnast is dealing with a major setback, if your gymnast has the tools to understand their emotions they can set themselves up for a tremendous comeback. We’d all prefer to feel happy-go-lucky and positive emotions on the regular. But the truth is, we can’t experience positive emotions without having experienced negative ones as well. It’s a give-and-take. Emotions are simply a release of energy that is triggered by a thought in your ...
Jul 04, 2023•17 min
We all know that positive thinking is important. You want your gymnasts to believe in themselves, feel confident, and banish their doubts and fears. But if you have tried thought swapping, you know this can be harder than it seems. Learning to think of a new, more positive thought is a skill. Just like a gymnastics skill, there are steps and progressions and it takes practice. But the effort is totally worth it. It is the way to overcome fear, mental blocks, doubt, and performance anxiety... and...
Jun 27, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Have you ever noticed that your athletes are really motivated to work hard when things are going well, and slightly less ambitious during times of struggle? It’s pretty typical for the human brain to be excited about things that come easily, that we’re proficient in, and want to do more of that specific activity. That’s why your athletes who LOVE BARS seem to always do great at the event. For the brain, the path of least resistance is typically the path it follows. So your athletes who struggle ...
Jun 20, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Think about driving to your job everyday… or taking your kids to school. You could probably drive both of these routes with your eyes closed (please don’t). But if you think about it, the more we travel a specific path, the more automated the journey becomes. When we think specific thoughts, we build a "roadway" in our brain. The more frequently we think those thoughts, the more difficult it can become to see that there are other possible "roads" we could take instead. This week our Coaches are ...
Jun 13, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 27
