PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

Injuries and mental blocks can feel scary and isolating for gymnasts and parents. In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast I sit down with PerformHappy coach Stephanie Gaumer  to talk about confidence, fear, perfectionism, and what it really takes to come back when the sport suddenly feels harder than it used to.
One of the biggest challenges gymnasts face is the mental side of the sport. Even athletes who look confident on the outside can struggle with fear, overthinking, and self doubt. Stephanie shares how she would sometimes go into practice and suddenly feel unsure of skills she had done for years. After a major ankle injury in high school, she also had to work through fear of reinjury and the frustration of not being where she used to be.
Instead of letting those challenges stop her, Stephanie leaned into mindset and support. Staying connected to her team during recovery helped her push through the isolation that injuries can bring. She also worked with a sports psychologist who helped her focus on what she could control and build the mental tools she needed to come back stronger.
We also talk about perfectionism and comparison, which are common struggles in gymnastics. When athletes feel like they have to be perfect, the sport can stop feeling fun and start feeling stressful. Stephanie helps athletes shift their mindset, focus on small wins, and find ways to relax in high pressure moments so they can perform with more confidence.
Stephanie and I also talk about what athletes really need from their parents during tough times. Most athletes are not looking for advice or corrections. They want support, encouragement, and a safe space to share how they feel. When parents focus on connection instead of performance, it helps athletes feel more confident and less alone.
In this episode you will hear
Why even high level gymnasts struggle with confidence and fear
 How injuries can impact athletes mentally and emotionally
 The role of mindset in coming back from setbacks
 Why perfectionism and comparison can hold athletes back
 What athletes actually need from their parents
 Simple ways to bring fun back into the sport
In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast Stephanie Gaumer and I share how gymnasts can navigate fear, rebuild confidence, and feel supported so they can keep growing and enjoying the sport.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Post season can feel exciting but it can also be stressful for gymnasts and parents. In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast I sit down with Briley Casanova to talk about how parents can support their athletes without adding extra pressure.
One of the biggest challenges is pressure. As meets get closer, athletes and parents start thinking about scores, results, and qualifying. This can make gymnasts tense, overthink skills, or even freeze during routines. The more we try to push or correct at this stage, the worse it can feel.
Instead, I share the 24 hour meet rule. In the 24 hours before a competition parents should keep conversations calm and avoid talking about scores or results. After the meet the focus should be on connection and support rather than analyzing performance. Let coaches handle corrections and focus on being a steady, supportive presence.
Briley and I also talk about how athletes who handle pressure well keep simple routines, focus on one cue at a time, and have a reset plan if something goes wrong. When parents show love and support that is not tied to outcomes kids feel safer and more confident performing.
In this episode you will hear
Why pressure can make gymnasts tense during competitions
 What happens in the brain when athletes compete under stress
 The 24 hour meet rule for parents
 How athletes stay focused under pressure
 Simple ways parents can support their gymnast
In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast Briley Casanova and I share small ways parents can help gymnasts feel calm, safe, and confident so they can perform their best.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Consistency in gymnastics can look so calm from the outside. But if you are the parent in the viewing room or in the car after practice, it often feels anything but calm. In this episode, I sit down with Asia Mape, four time Emmy winning sports producer and founder of I Love to Watch You Play, to talk about how parents can support their gymnasts without adding extra pressure.
Asia’s whole mission comes from one simple line. I love to watch you play. Gymnasts are not asking for more corrections from their parents. They want you to feed them, be normal, clap, and then tell them you love them. That is it. When we actually ask athletes what they want, the answers are simple. The problem is that parents are often caught in fear about levels, scores, and the future.
Asia explains why it is so easy for gym parents to slide into over coaching and stress. We spend money on meets, leotards, and privates. We drive long hours to and from the gym. We care deeply about their dreams. That mix can turn into car lectures, sideline tension, and constant talk about results. Over time, that pressure can feed fear, mental blocks, burnout, and even injuries.
We also talk about what to do instead. Asia shares how to ask your gymnast what she actually wants from you, how to remember the little girl who just loved to flip on the bed, and how to calm yourself in the stands so you do not make it about you. She also introduces the idea of positive gossip, using your words to quietly spread good news about coaches and kids in the gym, instead of complaints.
If you are a gymnastics parent who has ever walked away from a meet thinking, I talked too much or I was too intense, this conversation will help you reset and show up in a way that protects your gymnast’s joy and confidence.
In this episode, you will hear
• Why “I love to watch you play” is often the only message your gymnast really needs
• What gymnasts say they actually want from their parents before and after meets
• How pressure, money, and fear around levels can hurt your gymnast’s mental health
• Simple ways for parents to calm down in the viewing room and in the car
• How positive gossip can change the mood on your team in a real way
In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, Asia Mape shares how small changes in your words and energy can help your gymnast feel safe, supported, and free to love her sport again.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Fear and mental blocks can make it feel like your athlete is going backward. You see her working hard. You see her trying. And still, the skills are not sticking.
If you are in that spot, you are not alone.
When blocks seem to get worse, it usually means she is still in the awareness phase. She has not fully learned what her brain needs yet. Instead of asking why this is happening, start asking what it is teaching her. The hard days are full of clues. Have her reflect on what went well, what did not go well, and what she learned. That is where growth starts.
When she hesitates or pulls back on a skill, that is her brain trying to protect her. You cannot force safety. Instead, ask one simple question. What can I do? Maybe that means a lower beam. Maybe it means a spot. Maybe it means going back a step and getting more safe reps. Confidence builds through repeated success, not pressure.
Think of confidence like a bank account. Every small win adds to it. Every forced attempt that ends in fear takes away from it. Protect that bank. Praise effort. Celebrate tiny progress. Even if it feels small to you, it matters to her brain.
Trust takes time. She has to build a better relationship with herself. That means patience. That means kinder self talk. The more she shows up for herself, the more self trust will grow.
If you are stuck focusing on getting the skill back right now, try shifting your focus to effort and learning. When the pressure to reach the outcome drops, progress often follows.
In this episode, you will hear
 • Why blocks can feel worse before they get better
 • How asking “What can I do?” rebuilds confidence
 • Why safe repetitions matter more than forcing skills
 • How shifting away from outcome focus helps skills stick
In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I share how awareness, patience, and small daily wins can help your athlete rebuild confidence and trust herself again.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Consistency under pressure can look effortless from the outside. But if you’ve ever stood there waiting to salute, you know it rarely feels that way. In this episode, I sit down with LSU freshman Haley Mustari to break down what actually creates that calm, confident performance.
After watching her stick her first collegiate bar routine, I wanted to know what was going on in her mind. Her answer was simple: “Do your normal.” She is not trying to be extraordinary in the moment. She is trusting the reps she has already done.
We talk about how visualization became part of her daily routine, not just something she turns on at meets. When mental skills are practiced every day, they feel natural under pressure. She also shares how she uses short, clear cues to stay focused one skill at a time, instead of letting her thoughts spiral.
We explore failure, too. From a Level 9 bar routine that ended in a fall and a score of 1, to years of repetition that built real awareness, Haley shows how mistakes become information. Frustration, for her, sharpens focus instead of creating drama.
If you struggle with overthinking or carrying mistakes from one event to the next, this conversation will help you reset. Confidence is not about being perfect. It is about trusting your preparation and narrowing your focus to what you can control right now.
In this episode, you will hear
 • Why “do your normal” is a powerful competition mindset
 • How daily visualization builds trust under pressure
 • How to turn frustration into focus
 • Why failure is part of long-term confidence
In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I share how trusting your training and simplifying your mindset can help you compete with more calm, clarity, and confidence.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com