Expert: Kelly Fitzpatrick - 10/26/2006

Question
Hi!
I have had a problem for a little over a year now.  Last September I broke my ankle on the trampoline doing a back handspring.  I was out of gymnastics and cheerleading for 6 months.  It was a huge set back.  I am now back in gymnastics and I am also cheerleading on my high schools JV squad.  To be on varsity you have to have a clean standing back handspring.  This is where my problem comes in.  Ever since I broke my ankle I have a huge mental block when i go to gymnastics about back handsprings.  Some times i won't even do 1 in the private lesson's I take.  This is setting me back so much and it really bothers me.  If you could help me that would be awesome!  I just would really like to be on varsity before I'm a senior. because i am a sophomore now and i want to have atleast some time on varsity soon.  Please help me.  Thanks SO much and I hope to hear from you soon!

Answer
Hi Mallory!

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond, I've been very busy lately getting my all-star cheerleaders ready for competition!

Anyway, The main thing that every cheerleader who has a mental block must know is that "Your body knows how to do the skill, now you just have to make your mind cooperate!"

Start back handsprings back on a cheese mat if you have access to one. Usually cheerleaders are more comfortable throwing their back handsprings on that rather than the hard floor. Once you have gotten it easily on the cheese, move to a sting mat on the floor. Then when you feel comfortable on that, remove the mat a perform it on the floor!

A good drill for mental blocks is the "running drill" The is performed by running in place before your skill or tumbling pass that you are afraid of. In your case, run in place before throwing your standing back handspring, then as soon as a coach or teammate yells "GO" you must immediately stop running and throw your standing back handspring. This helps due to the fact that your mind doesn't have as much time to think about the fear of throwing the skill, therefor your body can perform the skill that you know how to do!

Good luck!
Kelly