- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
in practice i can skate a program amazingly but during compeitions i get all stiff and nervous and skate awful. what could i do to help?
Help with nerves?
- Thread starter crazyfootwork94
- Start date
Hi,
Well there really is no 'quick fix' for this problem that many athletes experience. Many different techniques work, it really depends on you, and you could try seeing what works for you each time you are in a testing or competition environment.
Many skaters will warm up listening to their favourite music through headphones, joking around can also help take the pressure off and get you thinking of something else than just 'skating your best'.
When you get on the ice for the warm up I suggest just really trying to get down into your knees, bending, and breathing deeply to get your body feeling like YOU are in control of it. Once you feel your legs under you and you feel good THEN start running through your elements. I often found flinging myself into such and such an element right off the bat made for stiff awkward movements, badly executed elements and therefore a fragile mindset when I step onto the ice for the actual performance.
Happy skating hope I helped.
Well there really is no 'quick fix' for this problem that many athletes experience. Many different techniques work, it really depends on you, and you could try seeing what works for you each time you are in a testing or competition environment.
Many skaters will warm up listening to their favourite music through headphones, joking around can also help take the pressure off and get you thinking of something else than just 'skating your best'.
When you get on the ice for the warm up I suggest just really trying to get down into your knees, bending, and breathing deeply to get your body feeling like YOU are in control of it. Once you feel your legs under you and you feel good THEN start running through your elements. I often found flinging myself into such and such an element right off the bat made for stiff awkward movements, badly executed elements and therefore a fragile mindset when I step onto the ice for the actual performance.
Happy skating hope I helped.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
Walking through the program with your iPod before the competition while thinking about the correct technique for each element seems to really help. I actually have technique cue words for each element and they give me something specific to focus on when I'm nervous. Also, take long, deep, slow breaths as you are waiting to take the ice. That will calm down that nervous response.
Other than that, you just have to do as many competitions as possible so that you get used to it and don't feel like you're having some out-of-body experience. My first competition of the season is usually a disaster, especially if it's a brand new program (in fact, that that is what happened at my competition last night, LOL!), so I try to make sure I do 2 or 3 competitions as practice competitions leading up to the important one.
Other than that, you just have to do as many competitions as possible so that you get used to it and don't feel like you're having some out-of-body experience. My first competition of the season is usually a disaster, especially if it's a brand new program (in fact, that that is what happened at my competition last night, LOL!), so I try to make sure I do 2 or 3 competitions as practice competitions leading up to the important one.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Many skaters - even top skaters - go through this. I used to feel that way too. My knees went like "jello" - it's a bit of stage fright. Try breathing deeply and telling yourself "I can do this!" Elvis Stojko would probably tell you to FOCUS. He is the most focussed skater I have ever seen skate. It's amazing to watch him.
Here is a great example of Elvis keeping his nerves in "check"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQYazYstUeQ
hope this helps...
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
thanks guys ill try this stuff. the thing thats wierd is that i have been skating in competitions for 7 yrs and its only this past 2 yrs this has been happening. ever since i got a new coach
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
ya im 15 so maybe that explains it
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
My thoughts exactly! Last year I peaked at this competition and got my highest technical score to date, then I lost my momentum by the time PCAS rolled around. So I've decided this year's awful performance was a good sign. :agree:
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2009
Hello
Thanks for sharing with us its very useful and informative information,,,,,
Thanks for sharing with us its very useful and informative information,,,,,
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
On another message board, I read that some coaches give their skaters a shot of whiskey to calm their nerves. I don't know how true that is. I can't see how that could possibly help. :scratch:
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
LOL! I think that rumor may have been planted by opponents' coaches. . .
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
haha ya thats a bit extreme
Your knees went like jello? :scratch: I think I need a bit of that! My knees go extremely stiff. If I don't fight it hard enough and let the fear rule, I am not able to skate at all, as I managed to see at one competition. My knees went so hard that I was not able to jump. But I mean, not jump at all! I have done whole programs without jumps! (to be able to jump, you need to bend the knees first!)
Luckily since then I had another competition where I managed to persude my knees and my head that I am the one who rules and not the fear!
