Expert: Jessica Bugg - 11/15/2006

Question
HI
My daughter has been doing gymnastics for about 5 years and she is in her second year of competitive cheerleading. She is 10 years old. Last year she was doing an excellent job of tumbling (her coaches say: when she throws her tumbling it is perfect & she is one of the best tumbler's on the team) - during one of her warm up RO BHS, she flexed her hand too much and broke her knuckes in her hand - she was casted and recovered fine (physically)! Before this happened she had her RO BHS (double), RO BHS Tuck and standing BHS (double) - after she recovered her tumbling was all over the place - some days she would throw it and other times she would completely freeze up!

About 3 weeks ago she was doing an excellent job of tumbling again (RO BHS (doubles) with a tuck and standing BHS (up to 4 in a row) - and for no apparent reason she just stopped throwing it - a week before competition - she worked steadily with her coach that week and she did throw a single standing BHS and a RO paused BHS in competition - this is soooo frustrating - for my daughter, me, her coaches and her team mates - What can we do to make this mental block go away PERMANTELY! I have even talked to her about quitting cheer - I am so afraid that if she continues to get frustrated with the tumbling that cheer will no longer be fun.

Desperately looking for help!

Answer
Hi Teresa,

I definitely understand the frustration both you and your daughter are having with this situation.  I have had to work through a mental block, I have had teammates with mental blocks, and currently I am working with three girls to overcome their mental blocks.

My biggest recommendation is to not make a big deal about it.  I know this sounds crazy but the more pressure that is being put on your daughter to perform these skills the less likely she is to get over the mental block quickly.  

Also, the more repitition your daughter has with these skills the more comfortable she will become so the more lessons she can take, the more time in the gym, the better.  

It sounds like she can perform standing tumbling with little problem.  As far as her running tumbling, have her coach do a drill with her, where she does a running round off and lands with her hands in the air and her arms up by her ears, with her chest up.  After she does this about 7-8 times, then have her throw the roundoff backhandspring.  Tell her as soon as you feel your feet on the floor when you do your roundoff just jump and keep looking at your hands.  This should work.  Also, make sure she is using alot of power in her roundoff.  The work for running tumbling is completed primarily in the roundoff phase.

Another thing I have heard of some athletes doing is hypnosis for getting over a mental block.  I think that is a little extreme but I have heard that it works.  Also, have your daughter visualize performing her tumbling perfect everytime.  Visualization is a big part of getting over her mental block.

I hope this helps and please keep me updated,

Jessica Bugg