So, after Z's last meet, she was down and a bit dejected. We had two weeks to prepare for her next competition, which was being hosted at our gym. I know she was very nervous, especially since her old team mates from her old gym would be coming to this competition.
Z normally had practice on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Occasionally, if she needed to make up a class, she would go on Thursdays. We had done that after she took a week off for camp during the summer.
In any event, the week before the competition, when I picked her up on Tuesday, she seemed really down. I asked what was wrong and she said that she wasn't ready for competition and really wanted another day of practice. I told her that we could ask the coach, but it was really up to her. So we went and met with the coach.
When I asked if she could squeeze in another day of practice, the coach asked if we needed to make up a practice and I said no, it was just that Z didn't feel ready. At that point, the coach got down on Z's level and told her that she believed that she was ready. While she agreed that she picks on her a bit and has her do things over and over, it is only because she knows that Z is capable of doing the skill. She told Z that she wouldn't work her as hard as she does if she didn't feel that Z could do it. The coach also brought up her first meet and how well she had done. She then asked how she had done last season, and I explained that she hadn't actually competed the prior season, that she had only had the two meets. The coach then told Z that what she did at her first competition was amazing--especially since it was her first. Z then said that she didn't do as well at the second competition. I pointed out that the all around score was not that different, but that Z only placed in three events and lost some of her confidence.
The coach then took Z over to the Level 6-9 girls and asked them to stop practicing for a minute. She asked Z if she thought these girls were good gymnasts and Z nodded her head. She then asked the girls how many of them had had an off meet. They all raised their hands. She then asked how many of them had had more off meets than on meets. They again all raised their hands. She then asked them what they did when they had an off meet. They said that they looked at what went wrong and tried to work on those corrections. The coach then asked Z if she thought any less of the girls now that she knew they don't always have great meets. Z said no. She also reminded Z that there are gymnasts at the Olympics who fall or have bad meets. It happens and you need to learn from it, forget the bad meet and move on. She said that meet is over and now you need to look forward for the next meet and what you need to do.
She ended the meeting by telling Z that she is a great gymnast and has a lot of potential. She said that she didn't see any need for another practice, the things that she has been working on are little corrections and that she would be fine.
After the meeting, Z seemed to be in better spirits. What I loved is that the coach took the time to get down on Z's level--looking her in the eyes. She involved the older, more experienced girls, and told Z how well she is doing. I felt better, Z felt better, and I could see her confidence growing again.
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