PERFORMANCE ROUTINE
DIVER PERFORMANCE ROUTINE:
She was one of the most impressive competitors I ever coached and she followed a specific routine prior to performing a competition dive:
Sit in a secluded spot
Listen to her preferred music
Monitor and control her energy level & breathing
Talk with her coach
Engage in self-talk & nod her head
Physically rehearse the dive
Close her eyes & visualize the dive
Get on the board early
Set the fulcrum and place her feet
Remind herself of one or two key actions
Repeat her anchoring positive self-statement
Focus on the end of the board (Quiet Eye)
Take a shallow breath and start her approach
Notice that her routine includes the 5 pillars of mental skills: Visualization, self-talk, energy management, cognitive restructuring, and self-monitoring.
Pre-performance routines help divers get to that place where they are ready to perform at their best. Every elite athlete in every sport has a consciously developed and well-practiced pre-performance routine. Help your divers develop a personal pre-performance routine that fits their needs and works best for them. Have them use it regularly in practice so it becomes natural, comfortable, and automatic—especially in critical competition moments.