For every gymnast, there is a different motivational need.This is the same in anything, really -- we all havedifferent ways in which we are given confidence inourselves, no matter what we do. Whether we write or draw,sing or dance, we all need encouragement. Indeed, gymnastsneed encouragement in their sport more than many, becausethey are actually attempting to train their bodies andtheir minds in order to move correctly, to be able to takethe strain of the sport. As a parent of a gymnast, thereare many ways in which you can motivate your child. Someof them might work. Some of them might not. Find what ismost comfortable for you and your gymnast and stick withit. It’s easier for you both that way.
Show Interest
First and foremost, in order to motivate a child--mostcertainly a gymnast--you need to show interest in what theyare doing. If he or she feels as though you areuninterested in the sport as a whole, then they may becomediscouraged all together. How do you show interest, evenif gymnastics aren’t your absolute favorite sport in theworld? Actually, it’s pretty easy. First, you can warm upwith them before they train. Join in with their stretchesor their jogging, if you can. It feels good and it sets anexample. If you don’t want to run around with them, thenyou can ask them about their days at practice. What didthey do? What did they learn? Many young gymnasts willjump at the chance to teach their parents something. Itgives them the sense that you have things to learn fromthem, and all around, it is a wholesome feeling. Finally,it’s a good idea to attend at least one of their practicesevery once in a while. Make the effort. It will beworthwhile for everyone concerned. Also, goodcommunication with the coaches can be established there,which can certainly be beneficial.
Education
Education about the sport is a great way to motivate youryoung gymnast! For the enthusiast, this should be an easymatter. Just take care not to overwhelm your child withtoo much information at once. There is no dearth ofexciting information out there about gymnastics, from thetypes of maneuvers that can be made in the many variationsof the sport: rings, vaulting, parallel bars, and so on.,to the salaries of professional gymnastics specialists incircuses and theatrical shows, to the accomplishments ofgymnasts around the globe. This can certainly fosterinterest. If indeed it does, then encourage them to pursueit!
Positive Feedback
When your child is involved with gymnastics, it is alwaysgood to offer them positive feedback, no matter what theydo. Instead of pointing out flaws directly, you shouldgive them praise for what they did correctly in theirdrills or in their competitions. Don’t allow them to getdown about doing things incorrectly or incompletely --instead, keep their spirits up by telling them to repeatwhat they did correctly before. This is usually used inconjunction with constructive criticism, and it generallyworks the best out of all of the motivational methods forthe most people. For some, it can be somewhat irritating;some actually prefer honest criticism so that they canimprove by knowing what they did wrong. For the majority,it is heartening to hear someone say, “Well, this wasreally impressive…”
Constructive Criticism
Used in conjunction with positive feedback, constructivecriticism gives an athlete an idea of what needsimprovement in a tactful and non-offensive way. If yourchild is particularly sensitive to criticism, it may be agood idea to just offer positive feedback, but mostgenerally, the combination of the two works nicelytogether. There is a note you must be aware of before yougive your child any amount of constructive criticism, andthat is its timing. It’s advisable not to do so rightafter they have finished their training session. Waituntil just before they start the next one, so they havesome perspective on what they need to improve upon, withoutfeeling as though you’re ready to “shoot them down,” so tospeak. They’ll definitely appreciate it.
Competition/Reward
Finally, for the more experienced gymnast, there is theconcept of competition-and-reward in the sport. This issometimes used by coaches to encourage their athletes tocompete against one another and to improve, all with thepromise of some kind of reward. It may be a pizza party,it may be a day off, it really depends upon what level ofthe sport your child is in. You can use it to youradvantage, too, in just about any way you can imagine!
Take note that punishment is not one of the recommendedmotivational methods. Punishment is always negative anddecreases motivation in the long term. In fact, it mayeven lead to the development of phobias or aversions in thefuture.
With this in mind, I hope that your gymnast is motivatedand successful!
If you want to read more about motivation, I recommend you take a look at another article I wrote giving specific advice on increasing motivation:Gymnastics Motivation Or check out my favorite book on the subject: http://gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/good/motivate.htm
By Murray HughesGymnastics Secrets Revealed”The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read”
http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/gymnastics_motivation.htm
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