How to Refocus After Mistakes in Your Program
Mistakes do not have to lead to more mistakes in figure skating.
How many times have you fallen during a program, only to lose focus and make another mistake soon after?
How many times have you had several jumps that you landed short?
How many times has a mistake led to another mistake a few seconds later or in your next program?
Why do mistakes often lead to more mistakes within the same program?
It all comes down to dwelling on what you did instead of focusing on finishing your program strong.
For some skaters, they get mentally trapped in what has already happened.
In other words, these skaters focus on the mistake itself or worry about not skating up to expectations.
These skaters start to question themselves and their ability to finish with a clean routine.
They judge their performance as not up to par and this prevents skaters from immersing themselves in the present moment.
Judging your skills, especially previous mistakes, interfere with skaters’ ability to skate freely and trust their training and abilities.
Mistakes are really just a blip on the screen.
Mistakes do not CAUSE more mistakes. Over thinking and dwelling on mistakes cause more mistakes.
The key is to focus on the net skill in your program–not the past skills.
It can be difficult but you can learn to do this.
Focusing is not giving yourself specific instructions while you go through their routine.
Again, this thinking should be reserved for practice time.
Peak performance comes about when you are immersed in the moment.
Skating freely is the ability to do what you have trained your body and mind to do without analyzing, judging and thinking as you skate.
Your mind may drift at some point but the key is to refocus or re-engage in the moment.
You might use a simple phrase or cue to help you get back into the moment, such as, “Next skill now.”
And you are not the only one that needs to compartmentalize mistakes…
19 year-old American Nathan Chen experienced some tough breaks at the 2018 Grand Prix finals.
Chen was first after the short program, but a mistake on his quad toe loop-triple toe loop combo cost him some points.
Chen, who was the reigning world champion, understood it was necessary for him to re-focus on what was in front of him, the free skate.
CHEN: “The free [skate] is the most important thing now. What I did in the past just stays in the past. I can’t change what I did. So I just have to use what I did and evolve it into the long program.”
Take Chen’s advice when you are in a similar situation.
The most important thing is what you need to do right now.
If you can keep the past in the past, you will be able to skate freely even after making mistakes.
How to Refocus Quickly After a Mistake:
Use a key word to refocus on the next skill after a mistake.
Keep in mind: Just the fact that you recognize you make a mistake says you’re thinking about the last element.
Repeat a simple phrase, such as, “Let it go,” or, “Focus on the next,” can help you “reset” your mind, move past a mistake, and finish your program strong!
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Avoid Comparisons to Feel More Confident in Figure Skating
- Figure Skating Improvement Plan to Avoid Frustration
- Figure Skating Practice, Preparation, and Confidence
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