Expert: Jessica Bugg - 11/16/2006

Question
My daughter is 8  years old, and has been cheering since she was 6.  She has had her back handspring for almost 2 years.  A few months ago, she developed a mental block, and would not tumble.  At the time this happened, she was able to do a back handspring series --- up to 5 at a time, and had just gotten her tuck.  It took about 2 months, but she worked through the block and was tumbling again.  Since that time, she achieved her tuck and layout by herself, and has been tumbling beautifully, even in competition.  All of a sudden, the block is back.  It started when a girl on her team fell on her tuck and hurt her wrist (not badly, she was back to tumbling a little while later that same day, even though it was sore).  And there's another girl at the same skill level as my daughter that has been battling a mental block.  I'm just not sure how to handle it -- she has a major competition in 2 weeks, and she's supposed to do her tumbling in the routine.  I certainly don't want to pressure her becasue I know it would only make it worse, but I don't want her to lose her tumbling spot either, because I know she'd be devastated.  One last thing I'll mention -- she's a flyer, and absolutely fearless in that area, even after she's fallen.  But for some reason, she gets these blocks on the tumbling.

Answer
Hi Kathy!

I am very impressed to hear about your daughter's tumbling skill at such a young age!  The problem she is having is very common but typically found in older athletes who begin tumbling at a later age.

My recommendations for her are to get as much extra tumbling practice as possible.  The more repition she has the more likely she is to overcome the mental block.  

I think you are doing the right thing by not pressuring her, that will only make the mental block worse.

Another technique that I highly recommend is called visualization.  Have your daughter close her eyes and envision herself performing her tumbling passes perfectly.  You will begin to see the mental block slowly disappear.

Let me know if this helps and if you have any further questions.

Jessica Bugg