Question for All? there's no crying in gymnastics.. right??

Patrithang · #1 07-30-2009, 04:54 PM

Hi so I have this bad habit where i am a major perfectionist and if I don't get something right the first few times, I am at the edge of tears. I am 14 and I can not cry at gymnastics because that would be one of the most embarrassing things ever! i cried a bit yesterday ( in private) because I couldn't get my front tuck on the tumbletrak, plus my family came to watch me for the first time. I use to tell myself whenever I felt like crying, " there is no crying in gymnastics" but it would just make me cry more. So now I just have to focus on something else. =/

What are you tears stories at gym? Close to tears or full out tears?

gymfan4ever95 · #2 07-30-2009, 05:55 PM

The only times i have cried at gymnastics was when twice when i was injured, and maybe once or twice for being frustrated. But i get close to tears alot, like today! I am TERRIFIED of tumbling into the pit. We had to do 50 pushups if we didn't do at least a back tuck, and after like, a million bail-outs, i finally did it. But like, i was sooo close to just breaking down, just because i hate it when coaches get mad or frustrated with me, and i just can't help almost crying! But i just look away for a minute and tell myself, i am 14 and i can't be crying. The only way to fix it for me is just to do the skill that i am getting upset over.

gymgirl_60 · #3 07-30-2009, 05:58 PM

normally,i can stop myself from crying. but if its just one of those days, then sometimes i cant help it. anyway i have had many tears on my backhandspring on beam. some times worse than others. mostly i will cry some when i get very frustrated. if i feel tears coming i will ask to go to the bathroom or lockeroom and just take a minute

Linsul · #4 07-30-2009, 06:18 PM

I had a coach tell me that skills aren't worth tears. Skills will be yours if you keep at practice, save tears for boys

Made sense to me, you learn, practice, and then you achieve and nobody ever gives you a date you'll have 'xxx' skill. It makes sense in a purely logical don't waste time hating the process kind of way.

minfriendz · #5 07-30-2009, 06:18 PM

I used to cry out of frustration because i would work soo hard to get a skill but it never worked out. I learned very late that you sometimes just have to step back and look at the bigger picture, you've learned soo much from gymnastics. Don't let one bad day ruin everything.

and its okay to have fun in gymnastics too, don't always focus on getting better. Focus on enjoying yourself in the gym because you want to learn about the sport, not because you want to have all those flashy tricks or the best routine. Those come with having fun

Don't worry, i think i cried at least twice a week and i was in high school!! (yeah its embarrasing :P)

ryantroop · #6 07-30-2009, 06:34 PM

Sometimes, its all about finding the right person to listen. Then, its ok to cry.

Even as a coach, there are times when a kid gets hurt, or you watch one crash ruin a year of training... We feel your frustration and anger and anxiety right along with you - but we keep it in check because we need to keep you safe.

We understand the big ones coming out uncontrollably. Just keep the rest in check like we do, and keep yourself safe.

Ryan

T.Gymnastics · #7 07-30-2009, 06:48 PM

i only cried twice. once when my coach pulled my leg out so i was all the way out in my straddle split.(which is normally a mountian). and i teared when we had to do this crazy conditioning. one girl almost threw up and another felt like she was gonna pass out.

but i would say that you should just think about something you did well that day instaed of what you didnt do.

T.Gymnastics · #8 07-30-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linsul

I had a coach tell me that skills aren't worth tears. Skills will be yours if you keep at practice, save tears for boys

Made sense to me, you learn, practice, and then you achieve and nobody ever gives you a date you'll have 'xxx' skill. It makes sense in a purely logical don't waste time hating the process kind of way.

wonderful!

tumblerK · #9 07-30-2009, 07:25 PM

Crying once in a while is okay; we have all been there and felt the frustration and pressure. But if you cry over little things because you are a perfectionist the time you spend crying is time you could be using to get the skill. Crying at practice should be a rarity. Don't let the tears get in the way of your practice.

lifesentencegymmie · #10 07-30-2009, 08:03 PM

I pretty much only cry at gym when i get hurt...now. But a couple years ago I cried like every day during conditioning...and believe me crying is not as embarassing as it gets! When I hurt my knee this year I screamed and then fell over and literally started chewing on the mat...(and I'm 17!!) I don't even know why!! But that was pretty awkward...one time I read in a magazine that you can stop yourself from crying by squeezing the muscle between your thumb and your index finger, or by sucking on the roof of your mouth...the thumb one actually works!!