...by my nerves!

I REALLY wanted to be a test skater. Competition isn't really my goal- I wanted to test as high as I'd be able to. I was excited about it- it is a great way to measure progress, and is concrete against an exact standard, not just a "better than/worse than the others who showed up that day"

But my first MITF test was a disaster- my nerves went crazy, even though I didn't think I was nervous.

No big deal, I say. It was my first test.

Well, I just got the schedule for my Freeskate test- and my heart is pounding, legs are shaking just LOOKING at the schedule.

OH NO

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

My sympathies, I have experienced the same thing. The only remedy is to keep testing and even competing if for nothing else but more experience being in front of people and judges.

I find that to test, I still need to be WAY WAY better than passable so that when my skating deteriorates due to nerves, it's still good enough.

j

Yep- I think that's the only way I managed to get through my moves. (And also why I was so upset with them- for ME they were terrible, for the judge, they were passable.)


In High School I used to take beta-blockers for performance and test anxiety, but 1) I don't have the prescription anymore and 2) I think they might be considered performance enhancing drugs.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

You can do it, Jessi! Overcoming nerves has always been my biggest problem, too. A couple things that have helped are trying to skate through my test before I'm totally warmed up, because it sort of mimics how it feels when your legs are acting all weird. Just give yourself a five-minute warmup, then run the test. You can do whatever off-ice warmups you normally do, because you would do those before the test anyway. Also, try having people watch you skate through your test - doesn't have to be your coach, anybody will do. You want to put a little "audience pressure" on yourself. I find I skate differently even if I just ask my daughter to watch. Beyond that, trust that you've put in your preparation, and remember to breathe! Good luck! How long do you have until test day?

I too am a nervous tester/competitor. I've learned a few things that might help you:

1. Test as often as possible, even if your test may be marginal. I'm not saying to go out there & make a fool of yourself, but it you & coach think it's *possible* something will pass, put it out. Mainly because, I've found that the more often I'm out there, the more it becomes and 'everyday, just another test' sort of thing, and less a major event. Last March I tested for the first time in 1.5 years, and I totally fell apart! Before that when I'd been doing it at least a few times a year, I was much more calm.

2. Do a HUGE off-ice warmup before putting your dress/skates on. I put on my ipod & dance around for awhile (you want to work up a good sweat), then spend a good 10 minutes stretching. Then you'll be ready to get on your dress & skates, & go out for your on-ice warmup. The 4 minutes on ice just isn't enough to get your body/mind talking to each other when you're nervous.

3. Remember that the judges really want you to skate well & they're rooting (sp?) for you

4. Something my ballroom teacher told me once when I was nervous about a show: "This is your chance to share your dancing with other people--so go out there & show them how much you love to dance." I use that a lot--it helped a lot. I try to focus on the fact that I just want everyone to see how much I love to skate.

I can sympathize with you. I've been skating for 13 years and used to compete, but quit at 13 years old to focus solely on testing. I've passed my Senior MIF back in 2005 and I'm working on getting through my Pre-Gold/Gold dances, but I'm hung up on my Intermediate FS, which I attribute a great deal of to my nerves that often get the better of me.

For me, testing dance doesn't bother me at all, I never got nervous when I was working on getting through my MIF or when I compete with my synchro team, but whenever it comes to freestyle, I get that horrible stiffness throughout my body and end up picturing the worst "what-if" scenarios, which I realize is a lot of my problem. That usually leads to the most wretched nauseous feeling that hits me about halfway through my program (don't ask, I don't know why it takes me that long to get nauseous...).

The thing is, if you don't learn to calm your nerves down, they're going to get the better of you. One thing I've found that helps me out is to smile. That kind of forces your body to relax and believe it or not, helps put the judges at ease. I mean, if you're out there looking like a nervous wreck and completely unsure of your ability, how do you think the judges are going to feel? They're also going to get that 'Oh, my Gosh...she's making me nervous too' look on their faces and you're inevitably going to see that when you look at them, which definitely won't calm you down any, as you're left to wonder what's wrong with you.

Also, I try to tell myself to just go out there and have fun because this could be the last time I have to take (insert test leve here). Do you really want the last time you take your first freestyle test to be a terrible experience that you wish you could do over all because your nerves go to you? Some of my best tests grew out of this mindset, and it's something I try to instill in my students.

Another thing you can do is force yourself to compete or do exhibitions at least a couple of times a year. This will force you to get out there in front of people, something you're going to have to get over if you want to be successful in this sport. Although I quit competing in 1999 after having a pretty good run as a competitive skater, my nerves ultimately got the best of me and I ended it. I continued skating all throughout middle school, high school, and now in college where I'm a member of my university's intercollegiate synchronized skating team. We do tons of competitions and exhibitions each season, and since I'm part of the intercollegiate team (singles skating, like freestyle, dance, etc. rather than synchro) I am required to compete in at least a few events to help my university's intercollegiate team earn points. This past February was my first time back on the ice as a singles competitive skater, which was actually a good thing for me because I competed my Intermediate FS, Junior dance, and on a manuever team. Knowing that my teammates were relying on me to hold it together and place well so that we can rack up those points really motivated me to stay calm, smile, and just try my best.

This season I'm going to be competing a lot more for my team, including travelling to places like Colorado, Boston, Delaware, and Michigan and I now know those little tricks that can really make a big difference in keeping cool, which will help prepare me to tackle that Intermediate freestyle!

Your FIRST MIF test, is not necessarily a prediction for the future. It's like public speaking, the first time is scary, after that you kinda get used to it. The second time of testing I did I was calmer than the first time.

To quote the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy: don't panick! (just yet)

Otherwise, I dunno - is valeriana allowed? Try valeriana tea to calm you down a little bit.
And ask your coach maybe to run a fake test session? Our coaches at the club do it for everybody standard, when they figure out the group is ready to test, they have a testing session. The outcome of which determines whether you get to test or not. So that's a nerve event too. Basically if you get to test, you're passable even with nerves. Knowing that gives lots of confidence for the real thing.

I've used Bach's Rescue Remedy (thank to Mrs. Redboots for that tip). It did seem to help.

Rescue Remedy is marvellous stuff, although I always worry my breath will smell of alcohol after! It tastes vile but some how it works for me even if it has just become part of the calming down routine now.

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/tellie_x

I don't know what it is about MITF tests, but they completely freak me out! I'm generally fine competing, generally fine testing FS and dance, but MITF are nerve wracking!

The best thing you can do, like others said, is be very warmed up. Run through the moves on the ground in order, listen to music, stretch, etc. You'll have to find what works for you. I don't mind talking to people and joking around, some people cannot say a word to anyone else.

Also, it was your first test. You only did MITF. You don't know how FS will be as you haven't taken it yet. It may be fine, it may be just as bad. Who knows! But, take a deep breath and do everything you can to prepare and you'll likely be fine.

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"Without a struggle, there can be no progress" ~ Frederick Douglass

Thank you all for the advice.

My coach gave me a vote of confidence today when I emailed him the schedule saying he could make it, but that he was confident I'd pass without him there if I wanted to save the money (YES! It's tight!- it will also save him having to hang around eastern iowa all day.) Since he saw my trainwreck of a moves test, this is a big deal that he's okay with not coming.

So Wednesday lesson will be a "here's exactly what to do in your warmup" lesson- and hopefully the test will be okay.

Maybe it's better I'm nervous about this one now, get it all out! The last one I wasn't nervous at all, and could barely stand once I got onto the ice.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

The first time I tested it was on the Bronze FS test. (WAAAAY back when they didn't have the moves requirement then...) I couldn't sleep and I had a nasty congestion from my allergies (darn cypress trees. ) So...to get me to at least not be congested, I took Nyquil and well, it was enough to make me sleepy enough to sleep. Got up at the time I was supposed to get up, went to the rink and had a NASTY headache but was too nervous to think about it. I was SOOOO out of it that when I was looking for my coach, I didn't even realized that he was standing right in front of me next to the person I was asking where my coach was. The week before I had lost my salchow, so I tested with a waltz and toe loop. Oh, and my coach had to tell me then that I was the VERY FIRST student he put out on a test session too!!! (Fine time to tell me THAT!!!)

Yes, I DID passed the test! Even though I was so out of it (nervous, hungover, half asleep, etc) and my salchow disappeared, I managed an easy pass! It was very much "Go in, test, get off ice, pass, read test papers, go home, go to bed, CRASH!!!"

Jess...I've seen your video clips... You'll do okay! Trust me.

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Maybe you need a distraction. My daughter was very nervous about her first out of rink competition. Then the announcer mixed up her name, and she got so mad at him that she forgot all about being nervous and did so well she came in 2nd!

Well, my distraction for Sectionals was trying to channel my coach... in his Kwan getup back in 2002!

For my Bronze FS test, it was easy...it was right on my b-day! I was thinking "You know? I'm pretty much skating amongst friends and colleagues I've known for years. Go for it!!!" (This is my case of "the more you compete, the more you calm down and get used to it." You'll have to find yours...)

It also helped that the judge noticed that I was wearing a competition dress for the test and he said the dress looks lovely on me.

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

That's a great story.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Rescue Remedy, breathing exercises, and above all, remember that it isn't actually important if you get a retry. You've nothing to lose - if you get a retry, you'll be no worse off than you are now.

I saw your video of your Moves test - it was fine! Okay, you weren't happy with how you skated, but then, one never is.

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

That's exactly what I thought during my first test. "I'm totally ready, and who cares if I pass or not"- and then when I hit the ice my body changed it's mind about me thinking I was not nervous.

Maybe it's better this time that I'm going crazy. Everytime I open this thread my heart starts pounding- it's that scary thinking about this test. So maybe since I'm nervous now, I'll go take the test and be fine.

I know "there's nothing to lose" and that's mostly true- but man are these tests expensive, especially with guest fees added on! (Thankfully I save the coach fee this time around).

I KNOW I'm ready for it- I just can't believe the adreniline response just READING about it.

My goodness!

Maybe this test session will be better because I know lots of people testing and can distract myself watching them. In Des Moines, I didn't know anyone else there.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Hmmm actually it's good to freak out entirely before the real thing. Then during the real thing you don't.

Also remember - the prebronze free skate test is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY easier than the moves test. honestly, if I could pass that test ....just about anybody can.

j

My last test (Adult Silver FS) - i competed the very day before at the same rink in order to prepare my body and nerves. My program was awful, and when i saw it on video, i was melting down. But in practice the next day, a friend calmed my nerves and told me that the judges WANT to pass the adults, plus some other compliments. Well, the rink was SO much quieter without the crowd for the test, it felt so much more pleasurable, and i PASSED the Silver FS test.

But, the test i took months prior - SIlver MIF, i SMILED when i stumbled on the 8-step mohawk, and smiled the rest of the way, and know what? One of the judges even wrote on the test form "nice smile." (i was terrified it was over after the first blunder!)

So hope that helps a little bit. Just keep getting out there, my legs always shake, but i think it does get a little better each time, and get a great support group, and keep your legs warm an limber leading right up to your skating moment! DOn't quit!

I think that the better your skating is, and the more confident you become, and the more prepared you are for the test, like knowing what to do and what to expect, then the test becomes easier and easier. If you don't do so well at a test for the first time, then chances are that you'll do well next time - provided that you're allowed to take the tests again. One thing is, if you don't do so well, and your life doesn't depend on it, then don't worry too much about it. Just do whatever you can, no matter how it goes. Since if you have the time and money and effort etc, then you'll eventually get to where you want to go.

Anyone who stumbles on the 8-step Mohawk and smiles deserves to pass! I have a friend who laughs whenever she nearly falls. I mean a big, infectious laugh. It makes it seem like what she's really doing is entertaining us.

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Really? Performance enhancing drugs! They are for people with blood pressure and heart problems. Well, I have tried them, though not for skating. I used them for playing cello in an exam, and in some auditions. Far from being performance enhancing, they made me very sweaty, thirsty, but worse than that, I performed like a robot. Like I was trying to get to the end as fast as possible, with zero expression or flair.

Incidentally, it was my total melt-down in my first skating competition that was the beginning of my performance anxiety issues. They had to push me out on the ice while I was saying; "I don't want to do this".

Even now, I will be seriously considering taking 1/2 of a tablet prior to my upcoming comp, knowing how seriously nervous I get. It worries me that I might be breaking the rules by doing so.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Beta blockers are for blood pressure and heart problems but are prescripted frequently off label for performance anxiety. And yep- I actually researched them and they are banned in most competitive sports.

If you were being prescribed them for the issues they actually are meant to fix, then it's possible that's why they didn't help you with performance, however, for me, they slowed my heartbeat to a reasonable level, stopped the release of adreneline and generally prevented me from freaking out. I'm glad I did the research- as it definetly looks like it would not be allowed.

(I'm guessing if you need them for their on-label cause you would get some sort of official clearance? Or an athlete would have to find another drug to use that is approved? I don't think drug testing is an issue at MY level, but still, good to know.)

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

The reason you're anxious now is because of your bad memories of your last test - but it doesn't follow that you'll have the same experience when you take this test.

I had a similar thing with my first two competitions. I was fine before the first one, but I froze with nerves when I got onto the ice, and didn't skate anywhere near as well as I knew I should be capable of. With the second, a few months later, I was extremely stressed for weeks beforehand, anticipating the same thing. But it didn't happen. I won't say I felt normal, but that awful stomach-churning rigid-but-wobbling my-body-has-forgotten-how-to-do-this sensation wasn't there, and I skated quite well, and placed respectably. If the second comp had been as bad as the first, I'd probably never have competed again. As it was, I got hooked!

You can never quite predict what your nerves are going to do on the day, but they do get better with experience. And on the whole, it's better to be nervous beforehand than not - that way you acclimatise to them, and it's much less of a shock to the system than being hit by them when you step onto the ice.

Good luck with the test - I'm sure you'll be fine.

Fiona