Understand that real progress is made by:
- Doing
- Viewing (reflecting on the doing.)
- Doing, again.
The only beneficial practice is correct practice. As an athlete, work for efficiency of motion in your sport: Minimum movement for maximum output--with all energy moving in the same direction. This is accomplished by understanding and using the natural movement patterns of the sport. The coach’s job is to break down the movement patterns, so that the competitor can understand it. The competitor’s job is to execute the natural movement patterns, by repeating the correct movement pattern until it is imprinted on the nervous system. Repetition: doing--viewing--doing.
Develop correct movement patterns through muscle memory. This allows the athlete to have spare capacity. For example: With concentration the athlete can move on to tactics, because the correct technical movement patterns have become second nature.
Mistakes are going to happen. Nothing is carved in stone, especially, not a movement pattern where speed and ski edging adjustments are made on a hard surface. So, allow yourself some mistakes. Concentrate on the corrections, not the mistakes! Why, because you are the owner of the natural movement patterns in your sport. These will not ‘go away’. This is when your coach comes to the front in order to assist you with specifics that need technical fine-tuning.