of control. Most blocks come from having a loose mind. Too many times, the mind becomes loose, going off on it's own "field trip" of negativity and doubt. These field trips may lead to losing an element. Remember, out of control thinking leads to out of control performance.
As a coach, it is essential you correct loose mind just as you would correct improper body alignment. Similarly to observing improper alignment, it is extremely easy to see when your athlete has a loose mind. Strange rituals, popping, and negative body language are all signs of loose mind. It 's easy to bring their attention back to their thinking by saying, "Your mind looks loose, repeat the correction inside your head over and over", or "Better physically, now tighten it up mentally".
Battling the Block: 3 Keys to Breakthrough
A figure skater battling the block needs to bring out the entire army. There are three aspects of training that are especially helpful. Only utilizing one or two of these aspects is like fighting a battle with one hand tied behind your back. Two of these training interventions are physical one is mental. It's very common for coaches and athletes to do the physical interventions without addressing the mental. Since we know that blocks are mostly mental, it's crucial coaches and athletes address the mental side too. The two physical aspects are progressions and repetitions, the mental aspect is tightening the mind. When coaches address a block simply with repetitions and progressions, they may see results over time. With enough progressions and repetitions, thinking finally changes. By addressing the mental side as well as the physical side, coaches target the fear or frustration at it's core, therefore obtaining results faster. It's important to note that the fastest way to work your athlete through a block is to combine progressions, repetitions, and mental training simultaneously.