| By J Howard
Self-esteem is
how gymnasts feel about themselves. It is shaped by both their successes in
life and competitions and positive interactions with others including coaches,
teammates and parents. Again, it is prudent for coaches to make an effort to
do whatever it is that they can to boost every gymnast’s self-esteem.
Gymnasts See
Themselves as Mirrored by Those Around Them
A gymnast’s
self-image refers to how they see themselves fitting into the world and the
gymnastics world. To a great extent a gymnast’s image of themselves is
molded by the responses of others around them including their teammates, parents
and coaches.
Fate is a Factor
To a great extent
a gymnast’s experiences in life are the primary factor. There is no possibility
for escaping all of the effects of heredity, talent levels, body type and just
plain good or bad luck. But coaches and parents can and do have a strong effect
on self-image, self-esteem, and therefore, the self-confidence of their gymnasts.
And coaches should encourage gymnasts in the effort to build their teammates
self-confidence.
#1 - A Team
Effort to Build Up Gymnasts
A gymnast’s
view of themselves and feelings about themselves strongly affects their learning,
motivation and competition performances. A coach or parent can help their gymnast
develop a positive self-image by caring about them unconditionally, pointing
out to them their abilities and talents and help them to celebrate their successes.
#2 - Cheers
– Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Your gymnasts will
be too young to remember the above reference to the TV show from before their
time, but the sentiment will still be important to them. Everyone likes for
people to recognize them and to be addressed by their name. Calling all your
gymnasts by their name shows them you have respect for them and lets them know
you have taken the time to get to know them.
#3 - Pay Attention
and Show an Interest in Their Life Outside the Gym
Gymnasts have a
life outside of the gym, which primarily revolves around their family and school.
The smart coach will ask gymnasts about their family, their friends and their
other interests and activities. Even more importantly, coaches will listen carefully
and show gymnasts that they care enough to remember what gymnasts have talked
about and said is important to them.
#4 - Play One
on One
You can build gymnasts
self-esteem and confidence by doing them the honor of paying them personal and
individual attention before, during and after practice. Personal attention implies
respect and that you value them enough to spend your valuable time with them.
#5 - Catch Them
Doing Something Right
It is common practice
for coaches to pick out and point out gymnast’s faults. And while in the
short term criticism can help gymnasts quickly figure out what they are doing
incorrectly, in the long run if they only hear what they are doing wrong, it
will negatively affect their confidence. It should be equally easy for coaches
to pick out what gymnasts are doing right, reinforce and build on their successes
and increase their confidence and self-image.
#6 - Get the
“Goods” on your Gymnasts
Coaching in a positive
manner and building up gymnasts by praising what they do well, recognizing when
they make a good effort, reward their good behavior and compliment their good
performances. If you spend more time catching and acknowledging what they do
right - all their “goods” – you will find they make even faster
progress and have more confidence.
#7 - Learning
from Mistakes Allows Progress
Gymnasts need to
know from their coaches that they are allowed to make mistakes. Encouraging
them after a mistake will make the learning process go more quickly and lets
gymnasts know they don’t have to be perfect all the time during the learning
process.
#8 – Gymnasts
are V.I.P.’s
In the rush to
use what limited practice time there is to learn new skills and perfect and
polish routines, it is easy for coaches to fail to transmit to their athletes
that they are a valuable person to the team. Gymnasts are special people who
devote up to six days per week year-round practicing. No gymnast could even
be on any gymnastics team if they were not in the top one percent of people
in general and also the top few percent of all gymnasts. It is important that
the coach makes them aware of how important they are and that they continue
to feel important as a gymnast.
#9 – Unconditional
Acceptance
Feeling accepted
by the coach and on the team should never depend only on a gymnast’s performance
or competition results. In a similar way to how parents should accept their
children with unconditional love, coaches who have chosen team members to be
in their gymnastics “family” should show acceptance of that gymnast.
This is not to say that a coach has to approve of everything that a gymnast
does, but they need to accept them as a person and as a member of their team.
#10 - Show You
Believe in Them
When coaches expect
that their gymnasts will perform to a high level, gymnasts rise to that level
of expectation. The opposite is also true. When gymnasts perceive by even small
actions and mannerisms of their coach that they are not expected to do well,
they do not do well. This has been firmly established scientifically for teachers
of all kinds. Make sure that you firmly believe and demonstrate to your gymnasts
in every way that you expect that they are going to be successful gymnasts.
About the Author
John Howard is
the author of 20 books and e-Books about gymnastics, gym design, gymnastics
humor and cheerleading. More books are already on the way. He has 25 years experience
and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts, international
competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.
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