Eyes On The Prize: Tips To Stay Focused

In a physically demanding sport such as rhythmic gymnastics, staying focused is very important, especially during the performance of a routine. As parents of kids who are participating in this sport, we must know that gymnastics requires our kids to become totally involved in what they are doing, or they will end up failing to deliver their move properly.

When an athlete becomes so focused on what they’re doing, they will start to ignore what else is happening in their surroundings and instead shifts their attention to their performance. This is what they call being “in the zone,” and we need to help keep our kids in that state to succeed in their competitions.

Focus is one of the most important skills an athlete should nurture to be successful in any sport, really. However, in a world full of distractions, maintaining a strong focus is a very difficult task to accomplish. But hey, it’s achievable! With the right mindset and attitude, keeping a strong focus will just be a piece of a cake!

The following are some of the tips we can introduce to our kids that they could follow as these might help them improve their focus in a routine.

Why or When They Lose Focus

It’s pretty normal to get distracted sometimes, especially for kids as their attention spans are considerably shorter than those of adults’. Their mind is constantly flooded with thoughts, but they should learn to control them, especially when they are about to present in a competition. Even in training, focus is important, because if they are not aware of what they are doing to their body, they might get injured. Their safety must be ensured. When distraction takes place while they are in the middle of a game or performance, that is where the problem occurs.

When their mind is full of distraction such as negative thoughts, doubts, worries, and other things, it will be a lot more difficult for them to properly deliver their routine. Even a simple worry that their routines might not work together could be a cause of a loss of focus.

That is why it’s important to learn to address this kind of issue. During the game or performance, our kids should learn to cast away these thoughts and set them aside until after the game. That way, they will be left with a clear mind and will be able to do well in their sport.

Refocus To Their Goals

It’s easy for our kids to lose focus when they are unsure of what they are trying to achieve. Sometimes, it’s easy for us humans, not just adults but even kids, to shift away from our long term but more rewarding goals in exchange for easily-achieved but less rewarding goals. For example, our kids’ goal is to build a lean, muscular body. At first, it would be easy for us to track their diet and workout programs. But once they are offered a delicious meal or a sweet snack and we are not around to tell them not to take it, they tend to fall victim to these temptations and start to forget what their real goal is.

Luckily, they can counter this by shifting their focus back to their goals. An easy way to do it is to cut their goal into smaller chunks. For example, if their goal is to lose 2 pounds of body weight every month, they could cut it down by setting a goal of losing 0.5 pounds every week. That way, they would feel more rewarded and will be more motivated to achieve their goals.

Sleep and Dehydration

Sleep and dehydration plays a big role in maintaining a strong focus towards sports. When our kids are sleep-deprived, they will have a harder time keeping their focus towards what they’re doing. That is why it’s important to make sure that they are always getting a good quality of sleep each night so they will feel refreshed and focused. Add to that the fact that they are still growing and enough sleep also helps with their growth.

Same goes for dehydration. As discussed in a previous article I wrote, even just a “slight” amount of dehydration can have adverse effects towards an individual’s focus and athletic performance. Make sure that they are getting enough fluids before, during and after their performance, so that they will always be in the best condition to focus towards their goals.

We at BPSAA hope that these tips to stay focused would help your kids to improve their focus in sports. Should you wish to read more gymnastics related articles, you could visit our official Facebook Page. Experience a fun and exciting gymnastics training. Enroll today at Bianka Panova Sport and Art Academy and learn gymnastics for kids with us.