How can not be afraid to jump?

Question

I've been skating for nine years and I've been able to land my jumps up to my double lutz. In the past year, however, I've been growing increasingly more afraid to jump. I'm afraid of falling and such. Doing off ice jumping helps a little, but once I get on the ice, the fear is back. It is not on all of my jumps, mostly just on the double toe, double flip, and double lutz. My parents say that if I can't do these jumps soon, like VERY soon, I'll have to quit skating. I really, really don't want to have to quit. How can I get over this fear?

Answer 1

I HAD EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. a few months ago in a lesson i suddenly found myself chickening out at the last minute while jumping. it was so weird, i was such a confident jumper like jumping was my thing and i enjoyed it and i was good at it. and then one day, i was scared of it. insted of just trying to do them i asked my coach to practise spins that day instead and so the fear got worse. after a week or so i realised i wasnt jumping any more. so i took my skates off and practised the jumps off ice at the side of the rink. pretty sure that i had got my confidence back i went back on to the ice and prepared for double toe. and again at the last minute i just chickened out. but someone told me the best piece of advice ive ever been given. they said "if you tell yourself you are going to do a jump, you do it, or you fall doing it" and first i thought oh yeah great help but it did. i did all my singles and then thought i am going to do a double toe and without thinking about it for too long i just went for it, i didnt fall i landed well as i used to be able to, the confidence came back am i spent an hour doing them over and over until i started thinking about my other jumps. now im back to usual. i think one bad experience, a fall, or jump being scared to do it scares us more. and we get it into our heads that jumping is scary, however if you use that advice about doing it or falling and take it slowly jump by jump starting with the singles. you know you can do it, something has made you afraid but landing one jump or even making yourself try it even if you fall helps the confidence come back. i hope this helps loads of luck i know how it feels =D xox

Answer 2

You sound like a clone of me! At age 11, I was able to do all of my jumps and was 4'9, now at 15 i am 5'7 and still growing! I am extremely afraid of doing double lutz's, and any jump above that. It is so frustrating too because I pop a lot, but know that I can really do the jump because when I go for it.. I land it. What sometimes works for me is first calming myself down (it can be so frustrating), realizing that yes, I may fall but what's the worst that could happen? I get a bruise on my tail bone.. alright. lol, then I just don't think about it. Too much thinking doesn't work very well. It is hard to make someone not be afraid to jump because figure skating is pretty much all mental. It also works if you move on, and then come back to it. Try motivating yourself to do it also. Example: the zamboni is coming out and if you don't go for one more before you have to get off, you can't try any more for the rest of the day. Now if you truely are a figure skater and don't go for that jump, it will kill you because everyone in this sport aims for perfection.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Its something about the lutz....it makes me scared too. Have you ever heard of a harness? For ice skating they put you in a harness (on ice) and when you jump your coach pulls the other end so your in the air longer and you can control the jump and control the landing. It helps with all the jumps...and I think that it will make you feel like you can do your jumps confidently on the ice. What you do is, do your jumps on the harness for a week or so and after try them without the harness, because you will know what it feels like to nail the jump. And if that doesn't work, wear knee pads, elbow pads, butt pads, and anything else to protect you when you fall. And don't worry about how you look...tons of girls at my rink wear all the gear for doubles and triples. Good Luck!

Answer 4

I would try working on the belt or harness for skating that way when you fall you learn that falling isn't as painful as you think. Crash pants also might make you feel a little more comfortable while skating because when you fall it doesn't hurt nearly as bad. I figured that out right after I got my crash pants :) Don't think about falling when you are getting ready to go into the jump, and tell yourself that you are going to do it and learned the jump perfectly. It should help. I remember being afraid to fall after I had fallen and hit my head while doing backward crossovers. I had to learn to not think about falling while I did anything on ice for a long time, it helped me a lot.

Answer 5

I was scared the first time I tried to do a waltz jump in motion. What I did was this. First, I practined moving and jumping backwards both feet. As I did this, I pitured myself landing the jumps prefectly. When I tried it, I didn't do it perfectly, but I kept trying. Now I can do it pretty well. What you got to do is the same. Focus on the good, not the bad. Picture yourself landing the jumps perfectly, and try not to worry. Chances are, you probably will fall a couple of times, but you just got to keep trying.

Answer 6

the reason u r probably afraid to jump is becuase you are afraid of failure or falling. here is what i wrote for another girl who was afraid of falling:
well, i only have one thing to say. fall. then ull get over it. dont worry, i am afraid too! BUT U CANT LET FEAR GET THE BEST OF YOU> DEFEAT IT> BEAT IT TO A PULP! SHOWEM THAT UR BETTER> FALL DOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES, HURT URSELF A TEENSY BIT and inside youll think, hey that wasnt so bad. And then youll become better and better, and teh nyou wont need to fall because you will be concentrating on not falling because falling isnt a problem for you. Go getem girl, youll do great just dont think about it

get a crash pad, itll help u stay warm and they sure are comfy. they look funny though. wear warm clothing, and wear gloves so that ur hands dont get cold. just dont think about. if it helps- watch video clips of skaters falling and recovering. for example- when emily hughes fell on her triple flip. she got up and kept skating with 100% shiny smile. now you go do that- and ull skate better than ever

Answer 7

Well think of something you like try not to think about jumping picture urself going around in circles or something im not really sure I guess I've never had that problem just think the worst that happens is u fall and if u fall ya you might get a bruise but you'll know not to do that again and you won't fall again see so if u fall then you'll correct ur mistakes and u wont fall again

Answer 8

Jump visualization can be a powerful tool off the ice and jump harnesses are great too. But, if this doesn't work and you have the means, you may want to speak with a sports pyschologist. They may have some great suggestions for you.

Answer 9

piture yourself landing it and remeber to stay straight in the air as you go into you jump. you are not alone, we all go through similar things once in a while. rember to focus on other ascpets of your skating, spins, sprals footwork, presention, not just your jumps. Sometimes, after a hard session of trying so hard to land a jumo it's good to remeber that skating isn't all jumping and work on your extentioin or try out a new spin.

good luck girl!!

Answer 10

wow thats a lot of pressure... not cool... but honestly i dont think its a problem of being affraid to fall or that fear would have stopped you in the past and you definetely would have not gotten the jumps you have.. i think you are just playing mind games with yourself.. youre probably doubting yourself and are affraid of failure or disapointing your parents and through such are just bailing... really the best advice i can give you is just go for it! cause you clearly can do it!