Balking, also known as a mental block or a dip in confidence, occurs when an athlete struggles with a skill they’re fully capable of performing. Today Coach Rebecca responds to a coach's question about how to handle a student grappling with balking.     She shares her current philosophy and two-balk rule, which includes a private discussion follows the first balk, and then the athlete is done for the day after the second balk. She also discusses the reasons why athletes balk. ...

Gymnastics Coaches: The RIGHT Way to Stop the Balking EP 297

I’m Rebecca Smith, your podcast host, and High Performance Coach. I’m Director of Complete Performance Coaching and founder of The #PerformHappy Community.Maybe you’re a gymnast with a fear of going backwards.  A swimmer who can’t seem to go any faster.  Or a parent who is clueless about how to help your child succeed.  You might be stepping up to tougher competition and looking to raise your game. Whether you're struggling with a mental block, or you just had the best season of your life, this podcast is for you.Kids need resources to deal with the pressure of competition, but they don’t necessarily want it to be their coach or parents.I teach parents, coaches, and adolescent/teen athletes of all abilities how to achieve their personal best. These are the tips and mental toughness strategies that my clients tell me help them most.I also provide insights for parents and coaches who want to support their kids and their teams.Performing well is a blend of hard work, skill and mental toughness. I’ll teach you how to use all 3 to be the best athlete you can, and have FUN competing in your sport. Mental skills translate to all areas of your life.  When kids learn skills to cope with stress & emotion in a sport context, they become better prepared to thrive in school and beyond.Join me each week as I help people reach peak performance and maximum enjoyment.

Sports

Swimming

On today’s PerformHappy Podcast episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Professor Jaime Hamilton, a communication expert and fierce advocate for bullying awareness. Jaime founded The Comm Experts to bridge the gap between higher education and real-world contexts, focusing on bullying prevention and awareness. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she is passionate about enhancing communication in all areas of life.Bullying in youth sports is a challenge many face, whether from peers, coaches, o...

Preventing Bullying in Youth Sports with Jaime Hamilton

Today's podcast features Kaitlyn Donovan, captain of the Illinois State gymnastics team. Kaitlyn shares her journey through injuries, the rigorous recruiting process, and how she keeps her passion for gymnastics alive.In this episode, Kaitlyn offers invaluable tips on recruiting and mental skills. Her insights, drawn from over 20 years of experience, are pure gold. Whether you're an aspiring athlete or looking for motivation, Kaitlyn's advice will resonate.Don't miss her three-minute mastercl...

Staying in Love with your Sport (Even through Recruiting) with D1 Collegiate Gymnast Kaitlyn Donovan

Welcome to the latest episode of PerformHappy! Today, we're thrilled to bring you an enlightening conversation with neural performance coach Yuka Sugiura. Join us as we explore how Yuka's expertise can revolutionize your approach to performance.In this episode, Yuka shares her insights on leveraging the brain-body connection to optimize performance, alleviate pain, and increase flexibility. Discover how her unique blend of brain-based techniques and rehabilitative practices can transform your...

Using the Brain-Body Connection to Optimize Performance with Yuka Sugiura

In this week's episode of the PerformHappy podcast, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with one of my favorite gymnastics experts, Dr Dave Tilley from Shift Movement Science. Our discussion centered around a topic close to the hearts of many parents and coaches: mental blocks in young athletes.We delved into the nuances of supporting young athletes who grapple with fear and mental blocks, particularly in sports like gymnastics, cheerleading, and figure skating. Dr Tilley shared inva...

Mental Blocks: What Parents and Coaches Need To Know with Dr Dave Tilley

In the newest episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, we sat down with Baz Collie, the senior coach of the British men's gymnastics national team, to uncover his unique coaching approach. Collie's philosophy revolves around building relationships and fostering belief in athletes at all levels. He stresses the importance of adapting to individual needs, creating an athlete-driven environment, and nurturing a supportive team culture. Tune in to discover how coaching from the heart can elevate perf...

Gymnastics Coaches: The RIGHT Way to Stop the Balking EP 297

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