| 90% Mental and 10% Physical | | | | scientific evidence that a positive mental environment |
| It is often said that gymnastics is 90% mental and 10% | | | | is a prime basis for training and competitive success, |
| physical. If that is true, it certainly follows that there | | | | especially for girls in gymnastics and other sports. In |
| should be some percentage of training time devoted | | | | spite of this, it seems the typical gymnastics coach is |
| to the mental aspects of the sport and psychological | | | | more apt to follow the Bela Karolyi School of Yelling, |
| training tools. In spite of this reasoning, it appears that | | | | Screaming and Negative Feedback. Perhaps his |
| even among those coaches who believe in mental | | | | "screaming" success in the sport has led other |
| training, there is more verbal support than actual training | | | | coaches to believe that his success is a result of that |
| going on. | | | | screaming, instead of in spite of it. |
| The USA National Gymnastics Team Uses a Sports | | | | Emphasize the Positive |
| Psychologist | | | | Elite gymnasts tend to have particular traits that include |
| The U.S. National Gymnastics Team has been | | | | intelligence, perfectionism and careful attention to detail. |
| seriously working with sports psychologists since at | | | | A well-designed mental training program would include |
| least 1992, after the Barcelona Olympics, dealing with | | | | methods of accentuating a gymnast's positive traits |
| problems such as overly high expectations, pressure | | | | and minimizing their negative traits. A variety of mental |
| and stress management. In the areas the mental | | | | programs could and should be utilized to build |
| training program has utilized, there seems to be | | | | confidence levels. |
| credible evidence that this program has been a | | | | Goal-Setting is a Prime Motivational Tool |
| success and contributed to the success of the United | | | | It is a well-established principle that that the |
| States in International competition. | | | | establishment and daily regular review of written goals |
| Self-Esteem vs. Scream | | | | can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is as true in |
| One of the most important aspects for a mental | | | | gymnastics training as it is in any other area of |
| training program is the creation of a positive | | | | endeavor. |
| gymnastics environment. There is overwhelming | | | | |