Expert: Kelly Fitzpatrick - 9/27/2006

Question
Hi, I'm Megan.. I'm 14 and I'm on a JV cheerleading squad in New Jersey. Lately, I have been SO frustrated with my tumbling. At tryouts (back in May) I threw my standing back handspring, standing tuck, roundoff double hand spring, and roundoff tuck. I've always had a bit of trouble with my muscles so after tryouts, practice didn't start for another month... so basically I didn't cheer/go to gymnastics during that time. After cheering started, I didn't go back to gymnastics and I just kept throwing my standing bhs/ roundoff bhs since I had them pretty solid.

Its now the end of September and I just started gymnastics again. My backhandspring is now pretty shakey (I became afraid to do it when we started thowing them on the track around the football field.. IT HURTS!) and so is my roundoff handspring! I can barely even do my tuck stunts with a heavy spot! I'm so devastated! It took me 4 years to overcome my tumbling fear, and now its back again! I got my  standing/roundoff bhs/back tuck all within 5 months.. I'm wondering if it all went away too. I'm not going to lie.. my tumbling that I had was awesome and very powerful.

Basically, My arms are too wide in my backhandspring causing them to bend and not support me also leading to the problem of not being able to spring off them, also I'm undercutting. My rotation in my standing tuck is horrific! I have a very high set, but I'm not really sure where to pull (front or back.. which part of my leg, I've heard all different types of advice.) Orginally, I pulled the front of my shins, but now when I set I come back down for them (I think my stomach muscles may be too weak to pull my legs up to my chest.) My r/o tuck is seriously MESSED UP. I have an awesome roundbound, but like in my standing tuck, I come back down for my knees to grab and I throw my head back.

I really, really need help, do you have any suggestions for doing these skills? Also, do you have any tips or tricks that can help me become confident in my tumbling again?
Also, I've made a list of goals, they are as follows:
Round-off double handspring - Wednesday, October 4th
Round-off tuck - Saturday, October 23rd
Round-off hand-spring tuck - Wednesday, November 15th
Standing tuck - Wednesday, December 20th
Lay-out - New Year's Resolution

I know they are in pretty rapid secession, but I got all my skills I had back in May rather quickly once I conquered my fear. I truly believe that I can throw these stunts with lots of hard work, teachnique, your help, and prayer.

Thank you for your time! :]


Answer
Megan,
Sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you! I've been busy teaching a competition routine camp to a group of cheerleaders in my area.

First let me tell you about standing tucks. You can perform a standing tuck well by grabbing both the shins or back of legs. It all depends on what you feel more comfortable with. As a gymnastics and cheerleading coach, I find that many gymnasts pull from shins and cheerleaders pull from behind the legs. As a former gymnast myself (before i began cheering), I prefer pulling from my shins. I think it is easier to get around and it looks better because you have a less chance of "cowboying" or seperating your legs.

As far as your tumbling going down hil...it sounds to me like you have a bit of a mental block here. In cheerleading, it is important to know that every cheerleader will fall (be it tumbling or a stunt) at least once in their cheer career. The important thing is that you know how to fall correctly. If you know how to fall correctly then there should be no fear for you when tumbling! Performing a safety roll is the best way to prevent injury when falling out of a tumbling pass. A safety roll is when you hug your arms across your chest and roll to your back. This helps to not put an arm back when you fall and try and catch yourself. If you try to catch yourself out of a fall it is more likely to break an arm or wrist. Afterall your back is alot stronger than an arm. Also you have to know that your body already knows how to perform the skills, you just have to make your mind cooperate with your body. A good drill for fear of tumbling is to start by running in place and then when your coach yells go, you must immediately stop running in place and either begin your tumbling pass or throw your standing tumbling. This helps to get your mind off of the skill before you have to throw it.

Good luck!