Expert: Katlin - 11/20/2006

Question
My daughter is in competitive cheerleading.  She is 8 years old and can throw a standing backhandspring.  She used to be able to do a roundoff backhandspring but lost it about 6 mos ago.  She does experience mental blocks QUITE OFTEN including now.  A week ago she was the star of the gym, throwing a "perfect" standing backhandspring and today she won't even do it with a spot!  I'm scared that she is going to be stuck here just like her roundoff backhandsping and never get it back.  She has been trying to get that roundoff backhandspring back for 6 mos and won't do that will a spot either.  Is she doomed for failure now on that standing tumbling too?

Answer
Hi Samantha,
    SHE IS NOT DOOMED FOR FAILURE .. I had a lot of mental blocks also and sometimes i get them now .. but it takes me 10min. to get over them now .. where as it use to take me months .. i always and still now have to say what i am doing in my head as i am doing it so i won't mess up .. i tell myself what i am doing, then i take a deep breath and begin .. my coaches would punish me if i didn't go for what i was supposed to especially when they were there to spot me .. tell her coaches tht each time she doesn't try they make her do push-ups of sit up or abs, or even something on the tramp like 10 standing backs or backhandsprings if she doesn't throw it also have her coaches just throw her over so she doesit anyway .. she is 8 years old she is very young and sometimes maybe needs a break i started competitive cheer when i was 4 years old and i think that is why i had a lot of tumbing block when i was younger .. be cause by  the time i was 7i had a layout standing and running by the time i was 10 i had a full .. i took 2 years off tumbling and lost everything so just make sure she is having funn and you aren't constantly pushing her ..
LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES GOOD LUCK!!
Sincerly,
  Katlin <3