How to Prepare Your Athlete for Competitions

Your young gymnast is getting ready for her first competition! This is an exciting milestone in her life as she moves into the world of competitive teams and it deserves some special recognition. And—let’s face it—this is an exciting moment for you as her parent. While you should leave the technical training to the coach, you also have an important role to play in preparing her for this big day. Breaking down the help your athlete needs from you into a couple of categories—physical and logistical—will help you stay organized.

Physical Prep:

As noted above, leave the training to your gymnast’s coach. Your focus should be on keeping your athlete healthy.

• Provide a balanced diet. Of course, you’re doing this anyway, right? So just continue to offer him an assortment of lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Breakfast on competition days can be low-fat yogurt and granola or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk. Be sure to add some fruit like a banana, strawberries, or blueberries.
• Make sure your athlete gets a good night’s rest before the competition. This is not a time for sleepovers or parties.

Logistical Prep:

Preparing for a competition requires organization, especially if your athlete is new to competitive teams. As she becomes more experienced, she’ll be able to do some of the preparation herself, but she’ll still need your help with other matters.

• Pack the gym bag the night before the competition. Use a checklist to make sure your gymnast has everything needed for the day, including healthy snacks and plenty of water.
• Double-check the bag’s contents against the checklist.
• Allow plenty of time to get to the competition venue or team meeting place. It’s a good idea to check the route a day or two before the meet so you know how to get there.
• Make as many decisions ahead of time as possible.  The day of competition, your athlete should be focused on his routine and doing his best.

Finally, help your gymnast relax the night before. Serve a favorite dinner and watch an inspiring movie together. Then stick to that early bedtime. Both of you will need a good night’s sleep before the big day.