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Cheerleading/Questions Answered by Expert Pamela Enders
| Subject | Date Asked |
| tryout competition | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: My tryouts are in a month. And I feel really discouraged. I have a really great coach and I also am ... A: Please check out my blog which has lots of articles about how to prepare for tryouts. Or consider ... | |
| Growth spurts | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: My daughter that is 14 is having a mental block in tumbling,she seems to do this when she is having ... A: Growth spurt problems are very common. The athlete feel different when she attempts a skill and so ... | |
| Mental Blocks | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I have been a cheerleader for almost 9 years now and i use to be a great tumbler, but i have had two ... A: It can be so frustrating and disappointing to go through this! It sounds like your injuries have ... | |
| I dont feel confident ? | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: heyy. (: cheerleading tryouts are coming up , but i dont feel confident enough . i don't think ill ... A: First, let me clarify something. I am a mental game coach and my area of expertise is all about the ... | |
| cheerleading help | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Hey, I am 5 foot 3.75 and i weigh 115 pounds. i know i am not heavy but i wish i was lighter, that ... A: If you are almost 5’ 4” tall and weigh 115 lbs., then you are at an excellent weight! You really ... | |
| Tumbling Mental Block | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a 14 year old daughter who has been cheering for many years. She learned her back tuck when ... A: Your daughter is very lucky to have a mom who cares about her so much! Mental blocks are indeed ... | |
| Mental block | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: So I've been doing cheerleading for 3 years now I started tumbling about a month ago. I got my ... A: I can see you are extremely frustrated; mental blocks are a pain but they are also quite common so ... | |
| fear | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: i made the 8th grade cheer team and im a flyer. I love it except the only problem is that i am ... A: Congratulations for making the cheer team! Fear such as you describe is really quite common in ... | |
| back layouts | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: My daughter can do a standing back tuck and a round off back handspring tuck. They are beautiful, ... A: As a psychologist and a mental game coach, I cannot offer technical advice. For that, I would ... | |
| tryouts. sophmore varsity returner | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: i am a rising sophmore and last year as a freshman i was on varsity. i am trying out for varsity and ... A: It’s good that you’re stretching and practicing. Don’t over-do on the abs work – you don’t want to ... | |
| stunting! | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: This is my third year of cheerleading and my season just finished. Last year I was a top/flyer and I ... A: Good for you for your commitment to improving your strength and flexibility! When it comes to ... | |
| wrist | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: why do my wrist hurt after doing a back handspring? A: As a mental game coach, I am not qualified to answer this question. I suggest you contact one of the ... | |
| I'm afraid to tumble | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Ever since fourth grade I've been afraid to tumble. (I'm currently in eigth grade.) Usually I'm a ... A: What follows is a very long answer with lots of info. So...patience! It's a lot of info but I ... | |
| I'm afraid to tumble | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: Ever since fourth grade I've been afraid to tumble. (I'm currently in eigth grade.) Usually I'm a ... A: In order for me to help you best, please answer a few questions, ok? Here goes: What have you ... | |
| tumbling | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: well I have been a cheerleader for about 7 years and I have been doing tumbling classes and ... A: My first reaction to your letter is to advise you NOT to cheer until your hamstring problem is ... | |
| Twist downs | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I've been working on twist downs since I was 11 years old. For 7 years now I've struggled with my ... A: First of all, please do not refer to yourself as a “mental case.” That pejorative comment is ... | |
| my mental block | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I am 13 years old and my head is absolutly screwed up and im really getting so frustrated and ... A: I can reassure you that the challenges you are facing are quite common. I realize that this doesn't ... | |
| Why isn't my coach choosing me?! | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: During the summer of 2009 I started attending tumbling classes at this allstar team and in November ... A: It can really hurt when you are not chosen for what you want most – especially if you think it is ... | |
| mental block | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: i have a 11 year old daughter that is on a competitive cheer tam she has a tumbling mental block she ... A: In order for me to be most helpful, please answer some questions for me. Once you do so, I will ... | |
| Auditions. | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: Hey, I'm auditioning for my national squad who compete in worlds every year. The 3 categories of ... A: First, I’d like to clarify my area of expertise – I am a sport psychology coach and an expert on the ... | |
| 8 yr old's abrupt change of heart | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My 8 year old daughter has cheered for 3 years on Pop Warner and loves it. She is now cheering on a ... A: I can see how you want the best for your girl and that you don’t want to be experienced as the ... | |
| lots of things | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: :) I'm Micki, i am 14 and a freshman trying out for the first time. i used to be a level 7 gymnast ... A: I'm a mental game coach and not a cheer coach per se so I can't help you in the same way that a ... | |
| Mental Blocks | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I have had my punch front for a while now, and recently I have had a mental block on them. I can do ... A: Please contact me directly at info@pamelaenders.com and provide me with he following info: 1. your ... | |
| Mental Block | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I made the elite senior team at my gym back in April and I almost had my backhandspring. In June at ... A: Mental blocks are much more common than you think. Still, they are frustrating and painful to ... | |
| College Cheer Tryouts | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: This upcoming spring I am going to try out for a college cheerleading squad. I used to be a varsity ... A: Good for you for wanting to tryout for a college squad! I actually have written a good deal about ... | |
| My 16-year-old son has taken up cheerleading... not worrying me, but rather his peers | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: My 18-year-old son told me last night he'd signed up for cheerleading in university (here in the ... A: A young man wearing a female cheerleading uniform is setting himself up to be harrassed. So, yes - ... | |
| flying and tumbling | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: for cheerleading this year, we only have one stunt group. this is my first year flying and shelby ... A: I can help you with part of your question but not all of t. I am a mental game coach and so I ... | |
| coaching | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been asked to coach cheerleading for next season. What certifications must I have to become a ... A: As a mental game coach I am not familiar with what certifications you might need but I would suggest ... | |
| flier | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: i want to be a flier for next years cheerleading but my friend who has done cheerleading before me ... A: First, just because your friend says she is going to be the flier doesn’t mean that she will! ... | |
| Starting your own team | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: A friend and I are coaching a pee-wee rec cheering squad. First and foremost we are moms who took ... A: First, congratulations on your success in growing the squad and in finding good coaches! Your girls ... | |
| tumbling | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I have been cheerleading for 7 years and I have always struggled with tumbling. I can do a round off ... A: I’m glad you wrote to me! You may or may not know this but lots of cheerleaders struggle with ... | |
| flyer. | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: i'm a flyer on my high school's varsity cheer team. i did competitive gymnastics for 8 years before ... A: First, please accept my apology for my delay in responding to you. We had a family medical emergency ... | |
| Mental Block on tumbling | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I've been in cheerleading since 3rd grade and now I'm in 10th grade. I was such a great tumbler in ... A: What a great insight! Yes – it is quite common for this to happen. Sometimes a cheerleader will ... | |
| Mental Block on tumbling | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I've been in cheerleading since 3rd grade and now I'm in 10th grade. I was such a great tumbler in ... A: Based on what you said, it sounds like the problem is with the way you are thinking about the ... | |
| Mental Block on tumbling | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: I've been in cheerleading since 3rd grade and now I'm in 10th grade. I was such a great tumbler in ... A: It would be helpful to know a bit more. When you say you've tried "everything" what do you mean? ... | |
| try outs | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: hey. i have a question about cheerleading. i tried out for my high school cheerleading team last ... A: Please don’t give up on your dream. Instead, let’s put it into perspective, ok? You say you didn’t ... | |
| Fulls | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: I have been working on late twisting fulls in the pit for a while and I can do them in the pit well ... A: I'm in the middle of getting ready to go out of town for a few days vacation so I don't have time to ... | |
| cheerleading and loseing weight | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: i need help losing weight for cheerleading because they probably cant lift me in the air and i want ... A: Before I can answer your question, I have some questions of my own! Please answer these and then I ... | |
| Coed Partner Stunts | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I have been a cheerleader for 6 years and have been a flyer almost the whole time. I have no fear ... A: You are right – it is a complete mind game! You have spooked yourself out and now you must find a ... | |
| Psychology in Cheerleading | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Can you name some significant things in relation to the psychology of cheerleading and ... A: Hmmmm...I don't know about any studies that have been done on this topic. Anything available would ... | |
| Tumble Block for 3 years | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has been a flyer in All Star cheerleading for 6 years (she just turned 11). Her ... A: It's so painful to see your child in such distress, isn't it? Not knowing your daughter, it's a ... | |
| i have terrible mental blocks | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: okay tumbling has always been my thing when it came to cheerleading, but at cheersport i fell on my ... A: I’m glad you did. First, the fact that you fell on your head is no small matter. When an athlete ... | |
| tumbling | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: my daughter tumbles but when she goes for her running tumbling she bail out and she don't know why ... A: I'm not sure from what you wrote what your question is. Are you wondering how to help your ... | |
| Mental Block on Tumbling | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I have been tumbling since I was 3. I am now in High School. I could do Running multiple ... A: Sometimes the questions I get generate more questions for me! For you, I’m wondering what kept you ... | |
| tumbling | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm 12 years old and have been cheering for 6 years and tumbling for 4 years. I'm working on my ... A: Believe it or not, it’s not unusual to develop a mental block. I get lots of questions about this. ... | |
| tumbling block | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I am on an all-star cheerleading team and I used to be able to do a triple toe back, full, working ... A: Hmmmm…sounds like you’ve tried a lot! Frankly, your question raises questions for me and given ... | |
| mini cheer tumble pass for All Star comp. | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: What does a strong tumble pass look like in an all star individual mini cheer tumble pass comp.? My ... A: I think you would be better off asking one of the other experts this question. I am a mental game ... | |
| TRYOUTS | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: Hey! I'm really sad because this year I had to miss tryouts because I;m really sick! And next year ... A: I’m sorry you’re sad and that you had to miss tryouts. I can see why you are worried they won’t ... | |
| Jumps | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: i am not your average size cheerleader but i am one of the best that we have. the only problem is my ... A: I’m a mental game coach and not a typical cheer coach with technical knowledge. You might consider ... | |
| Tumbling | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: my name is lindsey and i have done competition cheerleading for about 4 or 5 years total. i havent ... A: How wonderful that you found a cheer team that you can tryout for! And good for you for planning ... | |
| full twist downs | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: any tips for a flyer learning a full twist down? my young daughter just started learning this for ... A: It would be helpful to have a little more information. How old is your daughter? How long has she ... | |
| cheer high school | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: ok i have cheered for 3 years at my middle school and for high school u r suppose 2 have ... A: Ok, so if the coach told you that everyone last year had a toe touch bhs, he probably would like it ... | |
| cheer high school | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: ok i have cheered for 3 years at my middle school and for high school u r suppose 2 have ... A: Hmmm…let me see if I understand what you are saying. You are flexible, you are an awesome flyer, ... | |
| flying | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: i am a very flexible flyer and have had many goals with flying on my allstar and highschool teams, ... A: Ok, so I understand that your body shakes, mainly in your legs, when you are about to fly or are ... | |
| flying | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: i am a very flexible flyer and have had many goals with flying on my allstar and highschool teams, ... A: Hmmm...when you say you shake, do you mean you are unsteady or that your whole body is literally ... | |
| cheerleading? | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: heyy, im jacqueline. im 14 and until now i have been a competitive gymnast. i can do like layouts ... A: In some ways I'm not qualified to answer this question. I can respond to it but you might also want ... | |
| Help!! | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I'm having cheerleading tryouts this Friday and we have practice Monday through Thursday. Today at ... A: Remember that practice is just that - it's practice! You aren’t expected to know the cheer yet ... | |
| I've been cheering for 7 years, should I quit? | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm nearly 13 and I've been cheering since I was 6. I live in the UK but the competition rules are ... A: It sounds like there’s a lot going on for you! Cheerleading is hard work but it should also be fun! ... | |
| Cheer | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Hey i am 13 years old I've tried out for cheerleading in the the grade and i did not make it because ... A: It sounds like you are having some really big feelings! When this happens, it can be overwhelming ... | |
| Tryouts!! | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I am trying out for cheer tonight and I always forget one step in the dance and then I can't ... A: Tonight? Wow...that's soon but okay...try this: 1. If you can, find a private space and set up ... | |
| tumbling fear! | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: i can do a standing back handspring and its totally fine but i can only do them on a crash mat. i ... A: It sure is frustrating to feel so scared especially because you know you are perfectly capable of ... | |
Pamela Enders
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer all questions related to the mental game of cheerleading including how to manage or eliminate mental blocks; how to mentally prepare for tryouts and competitions; how to understand and manage conflict on on squads; anything related to the psychology of cheerleading and coaching.
Experience
I am a sports psychology coach and have been a psychologist for 30 years. I am on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. I have a blog called www.confidentcheerleadingblog.com. I have created a training program called The Mental Game of Cheerleading: Training for Competitions and I am working on several other programs and a book. I will be a featured presenter at the CheerCon Conference in May, 2009.
Education/Credentials
I have a Ph.D. in psychology and have been a psychologist for 30 years.
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