How to Reach your Gymnastics Goals

Workouts are a complete waste of time if you don't know why you are doing it. However, if you step into a workout with a specific plan or goal in mind, then you now have a good map to get where you are going. Spend time before workout reflecting on what it is that you want to achieve that day. Do you want to improve your block on vault, or your back tuck on beam? Maybe it is as simple as doing a minimum of five "no fall" beam routines during your beam rotation. Whatever it is, decide and then focus on your actions to make it happen. Don't just think about it, but keep a clear focus on 2 to 3 things on each event that you want to improve on, and then work to meet those improvements by the end of your workout. If you want to do five "no fall" beam routines, then you may need to set goals such as working on better body alignment, and improving your shaping and arm placement during your jumps. If you are struggling with falling off on your cartwheel each time you do a routine, then maybe you need to set a goal to improve your arm placement during the finish position or make sure that you are kicking over the top during the execution of the skill. If you improve your cartwheel, then completing five "no fall" beam routines will be more achievable. If your coach dictates the skills you are working on that day, then choose one or two of his corrections as your goals for that skill. Once you have achieved those corrections consistently, then choose two more.

As a coach I tend to give out 5 or 10 corrections on any one skills to my students. It is impossible to make all the corrections at once, and in order to keep from being overwhelmed with all the things that are wrong with a particular skill, I suggest they pick two corrections and work on those first. Once they are consistently making the corrections they chose, then they pick two more and work on those. This process is a very simple way to understand goal setting, and determine what you need to be focusing on. At meets, I have my students write down 4 corrections for each event, and they only think about those 4 goals. If they meet those goals, then whether they received first or last place, they have done exactly what I asked of them, and they can be proud of their accomplishment. However, if they win first place, but haven't met the goals they set for themselves on that event, then they can be clear that they just got lucky.

There are some rules to goal setting that you need to follow to be successful. When you set goals, you need to make sure to keep them measurable, achievable, realistic and they must have a deadline. Don't just pick a random set of things to do, but instead decide on the result you want to achieve, and then break it down into measurable and achievable steps to get there. Also, make sure that your goals are realistic in reference to your abilities and the time you have to meet them. If the hardest skill you are performing on floor is a back tuck, then it may not be realistic for you to have a double back within the next two months, but a layout would be very realistic in the next two to three months.