Ideally, the gymnast should perform routines that are well learned and well within the abilities of the gymnast. There have been numerous anecdotal reports of observations of foreign gymnasts using the same routines for several years, and of gymnasts being capable of doing skills considerably more difficult than the skills they actually competed. Perhaps the biggest asset to self-confidence is performing skills that the gymnast perceives as easy. Often, as the competition approaches, the coach begins to portray as much or more anxiety than the gymnast. The coach should portray an image of calm readiness.
Gymnasts can sense the anxiety of the coach and begin to assume that anxiety themselves.
One way of using the last several days prior to a competition productively is to rehearse various aspects of the competition. Assuming the athlete's routines are adequately prepared and the athlete is fit enough to perform the routines without much anxiety, then the final week prior to the competition can be used to make last minute adjustments and prepare the athlete for any contingencies present at the specific competition. The tasks of the final week prior to the competition consist of perfecting skills and routines, and preparing for the specific demands of the competition. The coach and athlete should attempt to model some aspects of the specific competition so that the athlete is merely familiar with the specific tasks to be accomplished. For example, using a timed warm up prior to routine practice is a good way of getting the athlete accustomed to the constrained time that is available for skill rehearsal and preparation.