Understanding this struggle for progress becomes extremely important as meet season approaches. Sometimes the best method is taking one giant step back so you can look at your progress over a long period of time. Immediate progress is often short lived, whereas true progress can be seen by looking at the bigger picture.
When I entered my team meeting this fall, I was in the middle of struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, particularly with my level 4 group. They are an extremely talented group of gymnasts. They are physically gifted and come in with an exceptional work ethic every single day. I couldn't ask for a better group to coach. However, like all teams, they have their days when I feel like we are not accomplishing enough, nothing is sticking, and I need to re-think my goals. Days when the floor routine goes anywhere but in a pattern, body waves look like bad dance moves, and glide kips land on the ground more often then they land on top of the bar.
Here we are now, 6 weeks removed from the team meeting, and 4 weeks away from our first competition and there is light! Floor routines are not only moving in pattern, but making me smile with the level of presentation the girls are showing during their dance. Glide kips? Yes, we all have those now. And they are becoming more consistent each day. Gymnastics takes consistent and frequent preparation. Preparation from both coach and athlete. By putting in this effort, we can hold on to the hope that the girls' gymnastics will start to look better and improve. Not just on any one given day, but a little bit each day that builds to the Pinnacle at the end of the season.
So even when we take steps in the wrong direction, at least we are moving. United with our end goal in sight. I can't wait to compete this season!