ABSTRACT
Mental fitness ensures athletes have empowering and fulfilling skating experiences, as well as aligns performance outcomes with capabilities. Mental fitness skills fall into three categories: coping strategies, debriefing strategies, and relaxing strategies. Coping strategies are ways to reduce the amount of stress/arousal that subsequently enables an athlete to perform under pressure. Achieving consistency during training and competition can be developed with strategies that help the athlete to find perspective, identify what is important, accept imperfect feelings, and nurture self-confidence. Debriefing practices and performances allow athletes and coaches to monitor changes in physical and emotional states. There are numerous methods to practice relaxation and improve the ability to make a mind–body connection. It is important for athletes to have friends and hobbies that provide recovery time from the demands of the sport. Proactively incorporating mental skill strategies into an athlete's training can be empowering as they confront the stresses inherent within figure skating.
