First of all, gymnasts need to understand that frustration is a natural part of all learning in and out of the gym. Surely in school many young people have had the same kind of feelings about certain subjects, teachers, or homework assignments. Some psychologists believe that frustration is the basic reason that learning begins in the first place. When a baby cries it is a first expression of frustration. The crying is usually happening when the baby has a need that isn't being met and, because it has no language in the early years, the crying is how it makes its feelings known.
Some people get upset when frustrated and can display very bad tempers or bursts of anger.
When this happens they usually lose their ability to think clearly and things often get worse. Other people get down in the dumps when frustration comes their way and this depression makes it hard for them to continue in the activity they are doing with much success. Still other individuals find that frustration helps them work even harder and spurs them on with an increased effort. As with most things in life, it's an individual matter and depends in part on how such frustrating situations were handled when they were growing up. What is important for coaches is to validate the gymnast's feelings and to remind them that frustration is as natural in life as breathing itself.