#1: Progressions
First thing to do when your athlete has a block or is continuously is break the element down to the progression they can complete successfully. Whatever that progression is, doing it over and over will help them gain confidence and correct the bad habit. It may be doing a single for a double or another type of drill. Have them do the progression as many times as they can until they feel ready to increase to the next level of difficulty. Keep increasing difficulty until they either feel confident attempting the element or combination again, or they can complete to element with proper body position. If they pop, have them go back to the last successful progression and repeat the process. Popping is a habit! It's better to have your athlete do the less difficult progression numerous times successfully, then train them to stop. Teach them to attempt the skill even if the entry does not feel "perfect". We all know, it rarely does.
#2: Repetitions
Along with the progressions, it's essential they do numbers, numbers, numbers! Keep them training each element and progression until they can perform them easily without fear. Numbers will help them feel more confident which in turn changes their thinking about the skill. After so many repetitions, they will begin to say, "I can do this", rather than "I'm gonna stop".
#3: Tools to Tighten the Mind
Progressions and repetitions can't break the block or popping habit alone. Dealing with the problem directly will help the block break easier and faster. The best way to break the block cycle is combining progressions, repetitions, and tight mind tools. Here are the three most effective mental tools to break the block.
Mental Choreography
I have written before in about the importance of mental choreography (MC) or "key thoughts". MC more than any other tool helps to tighten the mind. Think of MC as blinders for the mind. MC keeps the athlete's mind "locked down" so that distraction or doubt cannot interfere with focus. Help them create key thoughts that they say to themselves for any skill that is blocked. Have them say those thoughts in their head whenever they do the skill or the progression. Saying cue words in their head as they skate into and perform the element is extremely important. As they do each progression and repetition, it's essential they say their Mental Choreography words. The key thoughts will help them train their body to complete the skill automatically. Have them do repetitions of off-ice walk throughs while saying their mental choreography key words.
Visualization
What you think is what you do. Having your athletes imagine themselves doing the skill over and over again is one way to break the block cycle. Instruct them to practice seeing themselves complete the element perfectly Be sure they do their mental choreography words every time they visualize the element. This pairs the words they say with completing the skill. In addition to visualizing,