“This practice is dumb.”
We’ve
all heard it in one form or another. We’re at practice listening to the trainer
explain the drill, and someone says that it’s dumb or they have already
perfected the concept.
This
can be frustrating for us freshies. We need to learn to let go of the negative
comments in practices. Even for veteran skaters, comments like these don’t
leave room for improvement.
I’ve
noticed that skaters tend to say a drill is dumb for one of two reasons: the
skater does not know how to execute the skill, or the skater feels that they
are above the skill. In either case, I would (respectfully) like to say the
skater is wrong.
In the
first case, the skater is trying to deny that they have not learned a skill.
I’ve personally felt that I hate certain drills because I can’t execute the
skills. Trying to stay positive about the practice is hard, but not impossible.
Make sure you aren’t the negativity in the air; it can seem off-putting to
coaches and other skaters. You don’t actually believe that the skill is stupid;
you believe that you are stupid for not being able to do it. Realizing that
there’s a reason to practice, and that it’s
okay to still be learning, will really help you be able to push through.
Otherwise, this mindset can be debilitating.
If it’s
the latter, however, it might be harder to change mind sets. Veteran skaters
don’t often want to be told to practice a skill over and over that they feel
they’ve mastered. My suggestion, if you are that veteran skater, is to challenge yourself. If you’re sick of
snow plows, try to do them faster or vary the size of your plow. By changing up
your skillset you add to your toolbox and become an even fiercer skater.
The key
to overcoming this issue is to try to push through the feeling and acknowledge WHY you think the drill is
dumb. Take a moment to reset your thinking. How are my actions and words being
perceived? How does this affect MY skating? Am I a better skater for acting
this way? How does this affect my teammates or new skaters?
You take away as much from practice as you
put into it. Be the positive force in the air. I have a habit
of diffusing my teammates’ issues of “I can’t do this!!!” sentiment by telling
them “Yet.” It doesn’t mean you never will, or that you should give up because
you’re not perfect. You have potential. Tap into it, keep skating, and level
up.
Happy
Skating!
Bitter
Sweets <3
Practice, practice, practice. Listen, Learn, Do.
