Leave it on the Landing Area: Meet Debriefs

Competition debriefs are different from your standard training debriefs. Why are they different? How are they different? And what should you implement? Let’s peek at the most common principles so you can implement them before your team’s next big competition.

Why meet debriefs differ

In training, you can jump and repeat, polish every little detail, and glean all the learning for each and every point. But in a meet, every block and random is a one-shot deal. Once that block’s done, it’s gone—no time for digging into improvement opportunities that block right now.
So, what’s the point of a meet debrief? It’s about mining the information that will help you excel in the next rounds. Forget obsessing over every tiny mistake or technical issue (unless it’s an exit you’ll repeat or a similar maneuver coming up). Save the deep dives for when the meet’s over.

Big picture, not nit-picky

What DO we want to talk about? The big picture stuff: Was it calm enough? Were we looking? Were we skydiving boldly? Remember, each person might feel differently about the same jump, so share those perspectives.

Letting go of mistakes

Some of my most meaningful skydiving moments came from messing up at a competition and my team having my back. I remember on Fury, I keyed the bottom of an incomplete 20, and that 2/10 of a second was the longest of my life. Landing, I felt terrible, but my teammates were fully supportive and helped me shake it off with positive comments. That builds trust and fellowship, and this trust is worth more than any perfect jump.
A meet debrief is the worst time to start a blame game. If talking about a mistake helps the team move forward, go for it. But don’t turn it into a confessional booth. This is about shaking it off and getting ready for the next one.

Your no-fuss debrief plan

So, how do we DO this debrief thing? Quick, positive, effective. Everyone gets a turn to share their thoughts. Highlight the good stuff. Keep it short and sweet. Do it before you get too deep into prepping for the next jump. Address improvements and attitude in big-picture terms, and make sure it stays relevant.
Don’t wait until the big meet to figure this out. Practice your debriefs in training and at local meets. When Nationals roll around, you will know what works for your team.

Conclusion

Meet debriefs aren’t just a post-jump chat, they will drive your team to perform their best. Master the art of quick, positive, and effective debriefs, and watch your team have a kick-ass meet. Remember, it’s not about dwelling on the past; it’s about harnessing focused lessons to fuel your future jumps!
Ready to see the difference effective debriefs can make? Sign up for the next SoCal SkyQuest meet and experience it firsthand!

For more insights on meet preparation and training strategies, check out:

Train for nationals from day 1

How to Train Just Before Nationals