How to Prepare for a Gymnastics Meet
Before any gymnastics meet, hours of practice have been spent physically and mentally preparing for the competition. However, young gymnasts may still feel overwhelmed with all of the pressure that they put on themselves to do their very best. Here are some tips for how a gymnast at any level can prepare for a gymnastics meet.
Pack your bag the night before
It may be obvious, but take the time to pack your bag the night before. If you have to get up at 6 am to drive to the meet across your state, it’s best to grab your packed bag as you leave rather than trying to do it all at once the morning you have a gymnastics meet and become stressed out when you can’t find your favorite competition leotard or your gymnastics apparel.
Practice your weak events or skills
A gymnast may be the best at one event at a competition, but their other events might not be perfect. Take the time at practice to work on making your 'worst' event into your 'best' event. Ask your coaches what the judges may have taken deductions and use those critiques as focus points in the gym. Rather than letting deductions discourage you, think of them as an opportunity to get better and have it fixed for the next competition!
Take time for visualization
Many gymnasts take the time to visualize their routines leading up to the competition. Get in a routine of taking a couple of minutes every day to think closely about your routines, imagining yourself doing them perfectly in your head. Once this becomes a habit, it will be easy to picture yourself in different locations, at each competition so you feel a little more comfortable with the gymnastics equipment.
Participate in practice meets
Especially for younger gymnasts to understand how a meet works, many teams hold practice meets during training hours to prepare for the actual meet. If your team decides to hold a practice meet, be sure to join in with your teammates. This can help young gymnasts learn what to expect when they participate in their first meets. It is also helpful to ask your coach to judge your routine at practice. This way you know what your deductions are and you can work on fixing them.
Have a meet routine
Whether you have a certain visualization technique or warm-up practice that you like to follow, try to have a meet routine for each competition to make you feel comfortable. For parents with young gymnasts, be sure to help them pack their good luck charm such as a favorite stuffed animal or a favorite snack to help them feel comfortable at the meet.
Be at the competition early for warm-ups
Try to arrive at your competition with plenty of time to get used to the venue and to warm-up properly. Take the time you need to practice your routines, figure out what corner to start in on floor, and what side of the beam you should mount on. Even the slightest feel of different gymnastics equipment may throw you off just because it’s a bit different from the equipment that you are used to using at your home gym.
Of course, some mishaps may happen along the way such as being stuck in traffic, but make the most of a warm-up to prepare your mind and body for the meet. If you arrive late with little time to prepare, you may easily feel flustered and more nervous than you should be compared to arriving on time. Just remember this tip as well: To arrive early is to be on time.
Snowflake Designs wishes all athletes the best of luck at their competitions!
