
Mind-set coach Ariana LeBlanc, on strategies to help you compete your best this season.
As we hit the peak of competition season, I want to share my top six tips to help you perform your best when it matters most. So many gymnasts I work with struggle to compete as well as they practice. This often comes from high expectations, fear of failure, worrying about what others think, and mental distractions.
To compete at your highest level, physical preparation isn’t enough – you also need to be mentally ready. These six strategies will help you stay focused, confident, and in control so you can have your best season yet!

Six strategies to help you stay focused, confident and in control this meet season.
1. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Instead of obsessing over scores, placements, or just “hitting” your routine, shift your focus to the process and your mental cues. Thinking about not falling or getting a 9.0 won’t help you perform well. But focusing on what you need to do in each moment will. Anchor your mind to the present by using simple mental cues that guide you through your routine.
2. Give Yourself Permission to Make Mistakes
No one wants to make mistakes, but fearing them only makes them more likely. When you compete with the mindset of “I can’t mess up,” your body becomes tense, and your focus shifts to avoiding failure rather than executing your skills. Instead, remind yourself that mistakes are part of the process. When you release the fear of mistakes, you free yourself to compete with confidence and trust in your training.

It is important to remember that mistakes are part of the process.
3. Control What You Can, Let Go of What You Can’t
It’s easy to get caught up in scores, lineup order, equipment, judges, or competitors – but those things are not in your control. When you notice yourself worrying about these things, shift your focus back to what you CAN control:
✅ Your attitude
✅ Your focus
✅ Your mental cues
✅ Your body language
The more you focus on what’s in your power, the more confident and in control you’ll feel.

Judges and scores are not within your control. Instead, try shifting your focus to things you can control.
4. Learn to Move On Quickly from Mistakes
Mistakes will happen – it’s how you respond that matters most. The key is to move on quickly instead of letting one mistake ruin your routine (or your whole meet).
One way to do this is by using a “Move-On Statement” – a short phrase that helps you reset after a mistake. Some examples include:
➡️ “Next skill, next turn.”
➡️ “No one is perfect.”

Use ‘move-on’ statements to regain control of your routine after a mistake.
5. Use Mental Choreography to Stay Focused
Many competition mistakes happen because our focus is in the wrong place at the wrong time – on our last turn, on the judge’s table, or on what others are doing. A split-second distraction can cause a misstep or wobble.

Writing down skills and dance in your routine can be a form of ‘mental choreography’ to guide you through your routine.
To avoid this, create mental choreography – a set of mental cues that guide you through your routine. Here’s how:
✔️ Write down each skill and dance move in your routine.
✔️ Assign a short cue word to each section (e.g., “Square,” “Set,” “Breathe,” “Go hard”).
✔️ Memorize your mental choreography and use it every time you do your routine – in practice and at meets.
This helps anchor your mind to the present and reduces the chances of distractions leading to mistakes.
6. Most Importantly – HAVE FUN!

Remind yourself why you love the sport.
Ariana LeBlanc LMHC, MS, BS is a mind-set coach and former elite gymnast.