Expert: Kelly Fitzpatrick - 10/3/2006

Question
Hi Kelly, I have been reading your answers on tumbling block, and have another question on the subject.  My daughter is ten, and has had a backhandspring for over two years.  In August, she was working on her tuck without spot, and the next day, hurt her finger and couldn't tumble for a week.  Since she came back, she can't tumble at all.  She can no longer do a backhandspring, not even standing on the floor.  She's afraid to work on the trampoline, and when working on the floor with instructors she "stutters" even with spot to do the backhandspring, starting and stopping several times before actually going over.  I've taken her to the hypnotist, and it did not help.  Do you have any advice?  Thanks in advance, Robin

Answer
Hi Robin!

I'm sorry to hear about yourt daughters injury!It's very common, however, for cheerleaders or gymnasts to fall at some point in their career. The only way to avoid injury is to fall correctly. Let your daughter know that if you learn how to fall correctly, then there should be no reason to be afraid. The proper way to fall if you bail on a tumbling pass is to do a safety roll. This is when you roll onto your back and cross your arms around your chest. Most cheerleaders will try to catch themselves when they fall and end up breaking an arm. A safety roll is a great way to prevent this. As far as taking her to a hypnotist goes, I don't think that is going to help her. A mental tumbling block is derived from thinking to much about the skill before you actually have to throw it. The only way for her to overcome this fear is by reducing her thiking time about the pass so she will have less time to become fearful. If you try the running drill which was mentioned in some of my other answers, I think that may help her. The running drill is performed by the cheerleader running in place until a coach yells "go" As soon as the cheerleader hears the word "go" she must immediately perform her standing or running tumbling pass. This usually helps to give the cheerleader less time to develop a mental block before tumbling! Good luck!

Kelly