Expert: Tessa Denen - 8/4/2009

Question
Hey, so i've been cheering and tumbling for 5 years now and am now sixteen. I got my full about a year and a half ago and in February I started working on doubles. But then in April or May I began to be afraid to do my running full and my standing BHS full. A few weeks later i couldn't even do a roundoff BHS tuck so i knew i had a mental block. I had one before a few months before but it was only on my full so this was way worse. I eventually got all of my skills back except for anything twisting. Now I'll do it with a spot but sometimes even then I'll bail and am always so afraid to do it. I've realized that i'm not afraid to do my full because every time i actually go for it and throw it I'll land, but I'm really just afraid of bailing out and hurting myself. I always tell myself to not think about it and I've tried talking to my friends as I'm going, or being surprised that it's my turn before i go, and sometimes these attempts work with a spot but never without one. Please help me, it's my senior year and I don't want to let my team, myself, or my coaches down!!

Answer
I'm sorry to hear about your mental block. Those are tough!!!  This obviously isn't your body telling you that you can't do it, it is your mind saying it doesn't want to. To get past this you have to make your body do it. Start out in ways that make you feel safe, for example with two spotters, into a foam pit, or on a tramp. This way you regain your confidence by going through the motions. Keep doing everything else that you can do so that everything is not about your full. You need to show yourself that you are good at what you do.  Fulls are just one trick.  While you can't make fulls the only thing you work on in practice, you do still need to work on them with a spot until you feel comfortable. Before you throw it, close your eyes and picture yourself doing it in your head and say what you need to do... "Ok Kiley, you're going to set, pull your toes,wrap and pull your hip." (Or however you were taught) Keep talking yourself through it and picturing yourself doing it until you realize it is not as big of a deal as your mind is making it and then show your mind who is boss!!! :). The first couple of times are scary and you might reach for the ground but that's ok!  Just make yourself do it. You'll be fine. Almost all gymnasts and cheerleaders go through this at some point. Good luck!!!