Let me ask you a personal question: Have you ever wished for a tumbling pass?
You know what I’m talking about – the thought of having a magic lamp where a genie pops out, grants you any three tumbling skills you want, and POOF… you walk into practice the next day, and throw passes that leaves everyone’s jaw on the floor.
It’s ok, you don’t have to admit it out loud. But just know that you are not alone.
We’ve all been there.
Hell, to this day I still look at tumbling videos of some insanely talented individuals, and find myself going back into “wish” mode.
But the problem with the wish mode, as you can probably guess, is that it doesn’t help us at all.
In fact, it can actually hurt us.
Wishing Is For Victims
When you wish for something, you basically tell your brain that you aren’t good enough, or “talented” enough and what ends up happening is that you aren’t even willing to try and work for it.
Instead, you want it to fall on your lap by magic because obviously there is no other way. Right?
Wrong! There is a better way, and today you’re going to learn about it.
But first things first, you need to accept that tumbling is 70% mental and 30% physical. [Tweet this]
In fact, when you start to approach elite levels of tumbling (or in cheer lingo, skills that go beyond level 5), I would say the balance tips towards mentality even more, and it becomes 90% mental and 10% physical.
Anyone that tells you otherwise either hasn’t tumbled at a high level, has no clue what they’re talking about, or is outright lying to you.
Unfortunately, not many athletes or coaches know this fact and instead flip the script to work on the physical aspects only. Look… drills, progressions, corrections and conditioning is all great, but it will only get you so far.
If you want to be great, you also need to know how to train your mind – because that’s what controls your body. And if you’ve never trained your mind before, you first need to understand how your mind works.
You need to know how you learn and retain information. Basically, you need to learn how to learn.
Only then, will the magic formula will make any sense to you.
So how do you “learn how to learn”? Well there are 4 steps that your brain goes through in order to master a skill – any skill. Let’s go through these.
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Step 1: Unconscious Incompetence
Another way to put this is when you don’ t know, that you don’t know. So for example, if you’ve never done tumbling in your life, you don’t even know what tumbling is (unconscious), or that if you tried it, you would be horrible at it (incompetence).
My friend likes to call this stage, “you don’t even know that you suck.”
Fortunately, this is not where most cheerleaders start, but I had to include this step for completeness.
Step 2: Conscious Incompetence
Again, let’s simplify the big words. “Conscious” means you are aware, and “incompetence” means that you aren’t good at something. So basically, you know that you suck.
As you can guess, this is the usual starting point for all athletes – not just cheerleaders. I’ve been there, my students have been there, hell even Shawn Phelps was consciously incompetent at one point in his life, so don’t let it bring you down.
But keep in mind that this is the initial training stages where you learn your basics, try new things, and generally realize that you need more practice – which is good, because until you realize that you need to work, you’ll never get anywhere and just quit.
Step 3: Conscious Competence
Let me ask you something, if I told you to tie the shoe laces on your Nfinities, how much brain power would that require? In fact, would you even have to think about it, or would you just do it?
Unless you’re 10 and reading this (in which case, please go to bed) chances are that you wouldn’t have to think at all.
Now try and recall a tumbling skill you’ve just gotten recently – it could be anything. How much thinking do you do, before you do this new skill on the floor? Chances are quite a bit.
At the time of this writing, I’m working on landing my triple twist, and I can tell you that it requires are lot more brain power than a regular ‘ol full twist or layout.
This is why it’s called “conscious competence”. It means you’re good at something, but only if you concentrate. The problem with this learning step, is that most athletes think it’s the end of the line.
They think once they are consciously good at something, they can move on.
BIG MISTAKE.
If you truly want to reach mastery and become a world-level cheerleader with tumbling lines that amazes even the toughest of judges, there’s one last step that you need to reach…
Step 4: Unconscious Competence
You should probably be able to guess by now, that this step basically means “being good at something without thinking about it.”
Again, it’s like tying your shoe laces – a complex skill that you don’t really have to think about. Or how about giving someone your name? That’s another skill that you’re unconsciously competent at.
The key question is this: How do we reach Unconscious Competence?
Well, how did you learn to tie your shoe? Or do round offs?
The answer is repetition.
Repetition is the mother of all skill. [Tweet this]
But, there’s a catch. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong. So if you practice a back handspring with bent arms, and perform hundreds or thousands of those repetitions over many years, you’re going to become unconsciously competent at bent-arm back handsprings.
So the key thing to remember is that only perfect practice, makes perfect.
But we all know that practice and repetition takes time. Is there a way we can cheat the system? After all, I did say tumbling was 70% mental, right?
Well, of course there is. It’s called visualization. (Don’t worry, we’ll get to the magic formula soon)
The Power Of The Mind
There was a study done where they took three groups of basketball players, and trained them all differently for a few weeks to see if they could improve their free throw shots.
The first group wasn’t allowed to actually touch the balls and were just given verbal cues on how to perform a perfect shot. Basically a quick lecture and that was it.
The second group were allowed to actually practice doing the free throws but weren’t given any specific corrections. They just kept shooting for the sake of shooting.
The third group, just like the first, were also not allowed to touch the basketballs, but instead sat down, closed their eyes and visualized themselves making the perfect free throw shot, each and every time. They were never to visualize a miss – only perfection.
At the end of the few weeks they brought the groups in, and decided to see which had improved the most. Now what do you think happened?
Well the first group didn’t improve at all, obviously. But what’s interesting is that even though the second group got to actually practice with the equipment, they were beat out by the third group.
How?
Because when you visualize perfection, your brain can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination – it makes the mental connections it needs to get good at whatever repetitions you threw at it. The guys that were actually practicing weren’t getting corrections, so if they missed more shots than they made, they got good at missing. But the third group imagined only one thing – the ball going in the hoop.
And so whatever their mind believed, their body followed. So how can we apply this to tumbling? By using something I’ve been promising all along…
The Magic Formula
Visualization + Repetition + Corrections = Rapid Learning [Tweet This]
If you want to become good at tumbling (or any other skill) as fast as humanly possible, you can’t just go around throwing stuff. You need to train your mind, and your body and train it correctly.
I promise you that if you use this magic formula, there is not a skill in the world that you won’t be able to learn, and learn it quickly without making too many mistakes!
Now here’s what I’d like you to do: Go in the comment section below and tell me how you’re going to apply this formula to a tumbling skill that you’re having trouble with! Go ahead, don’t be shy. I’ll read every single one.
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For over 15 years, Coach Sahil has been on a mission to help athletes master their tumbling and acrobatic skills in the shortest amount of time possible without sacrificing safety or the quality of their technique. As a former Power Tumbler and Power Lifter himself, he fully understands the inner struggles of an athlete and how to help them get to the next level. To date, he has worked with thousands of athletes around the World and provided training to hundreds of coaches in almost every country you can imagine. He is also a Certified Gymnastics Coach, founder of Addicted To Tumbling, and former co-owner of a gym. He is also the author of the best-selling book The Cheer Diet.
OMG the amount of times I’ve said “i wish” is crazy. It’s like you read my mind haha!
And thanks for the article, I really learnt a lot.
No problem Becca. And mind reading is one of my other skills haha. Glad you learnt something.
Today I went to a tumble camp, and I keep practicing bent arms, bent knees round off back handspring. I always tell my mom that I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere anymore. By the way I’m ten. I really wanted a round off back handspring tuck but I don’t know how I will get it it in like ten years so when me and my mom were talking she came across your article and said read it. So of course I read it and you helped me. So now when I go tomorrow I won’t feel bad about myself because I will visualize myself doing it right. Thanks for the help
It’s my second year cheering at my school and last year we didn’t do a lot of tumbling and did other things. But this year my coach wanted us to start to learn tumbling. I am horrible at it because i do not know how to tumble at all. I can’t do anything and i feel really bad. i cant cartwheel, forward roll or do anything. Everyone can do it except me and i feel like there is so much pressure on me. and my coach inst helping because she mostly yells at me and doesn’t try to help me get better. i really want to learn do you have any tips?
same lol
I’m a gymnast trying to get my round off backhandspring layout to compete level 7 but first i need my tuck i’ve been trying but i just can’t get a high enough set i end up throwing my head back i keep wishing but i need to tell myself i can and my body will follow
I’m going to apply this to my back tuck. Visualise:
1. Jump frickin HIGH and STRAIGHT up with chest SLIGHTLY back. Fast arms and explode UP into the air.
2. Reach the top of the jump. Feel it. Make it an instinct.
3. Snap those knees and legs in. Use my hip flexors to thrust my hips over my head and around.
4. Hold the rotation, see the ground and then keep lifting the chest up to spot something in the distance. Land SOLID with SLIGHTLY bent legs (not a squat).
I can do this!
I am astonished by the amount of things I’ve learned just by reading this article! I’ve only been tumbling a year and I have a round off back hand spring and a standing back tuck and my mission now is to connect them resulting in a round off back handspring tuck. I feel like I’m going to get this skill in no time thanks to you! I don’t think anyone’s given such great advice!
If you wrote a book I would definitely buy it! I’m so glad I found this page and I just want to thank you so much!!!!
I need to learn to do my backhandspring. I’ve never tried but have not spot…
omg me too
I will film myself and I use my power word to practice and focus on how it feels! I be on it
I am straying to get a back handspring I tell myself you can do it but I find myself thinking about it to much so then I’m like what about if this happens I’m just so scared I don’t have a coach because I can’t afford one but I train at home everyday I thought myself how to back walkover and everything else but I can’t seem to be able to get this one I tried visualling my self do it but nothing seems to work
My coach makes me visualize skills all the time, now I know why! I just wish she had explained this to me at first so I didn’t give her so much grief and called it “stupid” lol.
This is why you should trust your coaches Amber. And also, you have to realize that maybe your coach didn’t know the exact reason how or why visualization works – just that it DOES work, which should be good enough to try it out.
I have a question. I bent my arms in my back handspring and im afraid that ive become “unconsciously competent” at it. HOW DO I FIX THIS?!
Please help. My coaches try and give me corrections but its been like this for over a year now and it looks hideous when i watch myself on video. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Well the simple answer is that you need to go through the steps and become unconsciously competent at doing them with straight arms.
I don’t know what yours looks like, but start with doing jump backs with straight arms for lots of reps. Because if you start wrong, you’ll most likely end wrong.
Then if your jump back starts off straight but your arms bend when they land, you might have a strength issue, so work straight arm snap downs and lots of handstand pops along with other upper body conditioning.
If you break it down like this and make sure your arms are straight through every phase, you’ll have it. Hope this helps!
My girls age 10 & 12 are strong level 4 tumblers, but there jumps are weak. Does this work with jumps too?
Absolutely Kris,
On the physical side, I’d suggest they work to get their hip flexors strong and focus on dynamic flexibility instead of static. On the mental side, being unconsciously competent at jumps gives a cheerleader a MASSIVE advantage because when you have to do a triple toe into a standing tuck, you shouldn’t be thinking about whether your toes are pointed, where your hands are, how high/low your chest position is, when to snap your feet during the landings etc.
It should just happen so all the drive can be put into the tuck.
Thank you so much for this article, i can already visualize my tumbling being a lot better lol ! I recently mastered or at least i thought i mastered my round off hand spring full on spring floor. I cheer in college, so theres no spring in the mat. My coach tells me to start throwing my full on the hard mat, so i did and i landed it (: so the next day i go to open gym to work on my round off handspring full some more and i go for it on the spring floor and i fall really bad and twist my ankle:( and ever since that a part of my mind is saying i lost my full and i cant do it anymore lol and the other part is saying yes you can , if you want to get a cheer scholarship you better get it together aha. Do you have any advice to overcome that fear of getting hurt again on a full. Ive never been the type to be scared in my tumbling, i usually just do it. But ever since i fell really bad for the first time, im starting to have second thought about my tumbling.
You didn’t lose your full – you just have to build your confidence back, and forcing yourself isn’t going to help. Spend some time on equipment you feel comfortable on (such as an Air Trak for example) and work it there. Then as you get comfortable, take it to a normal surface.
Also, you just have to accept that falling is part of this sport and a it doesn’t define your skill level.
Hello. Thanks so much. As one girl said, it’s like you read my mind! I will definitely use this!
I am not so good att tumbling, but this will make me better!
Thank you!
You’re welcome. Keep practising and one day you’ll be amazing!
Hi. My name is Malibu. I have been doing cheer a very long time. But I have a problem . A year and a half ago I through out a roundoff tuck… and now I’m kinda sacred to do it. Idont know why? When I rebound I jump nice and high and I know how to tuck. I am currently practicing standing tucks. I missed this time to practice because I had a child 6 months ago. My coach says that Monday I better be ready to give it my all and do it.so she can put it in our round three.. if I don’t do it Iwill miss my chance and beat myself up. What do Ido??
I’m going to tell you what I suggested to Amye above, and that is, “you just have to build your confidence back, and forcing yourself isn’t going to help”
Can you round off tuck ANYWHERE? like tumble trak, air trak or maybe into a pit? Find a surface where you are near 100% confident. Then from there work your way down instead of stressing out on floor. It seems you have your basics down, so also consider getting it spotted and recorded on video so you can see yourself and feel confident in your skill. Sometimes seeing yourself builds up that confidence you need.
Hope that helps!
Wow! This definitely gave me hope in getting my double full. I’m 14 years old and have had a full for two years now and I just want to have my double. It’s been one of my biggest goals for the longest time. I’ve had my double full on the tramp for a year now, and I’ve tried some doubles on the floor but only made it 1 1/2 times around then would face plant. so i decided I should stop doing it on the floor before i hurt myself trying( I had a coach while trying of course). I’ve been thinking lately that I’m never going to get my double. So, I pulled up this article. Within the first two paragraphs, I stopped reading, closed my eyes, and imagines myself doin the perfect double full. It felt so great! I felt the same feeling that I felt when I landed my single full for the first time. So I can only imagine what it’s going to feel like landing my double for the first time for real! do you have any advice with getting all the way around successfully on my double? And thanks so much for this article! It helped alot!
Baylee,
Glad the article helped. And you’re on the right path – keep visualizing it every day and you WILL get it. Now on the technical side of things, I’ll try my best to help you out.
1. IT seems your #1 problem is height since if you can double on tramp you obviously have the twisting part down. So whether you’re doing your double from a round off or a BHS, make sure you have a very aggressive block (chest down, legs behind you) which will throw you up.
2. Try doing a double down on tramp. So do a high layout, then wait. As your layout is coming down, sneak in that double twist. This will force you to set and twist faster.
3. Finally, put a mat on the tramp and try doing your doubles using about the same height you’d get on floor.
Do this and be patient. I promise it will come.
Thanks so much for all the great idea and advice! I see myself getting my double on my near future!
OMG
I am definitely going to use this!
I’m now starting double fulls and standing fulls. I had a problem with visualizing the wrong things like over rotating, falling on my neck, freaking out, etc.
if you have any tips for standing fulls and double fulls that would be AMAZING:)
Thanks for the tips!!!
Shawn, glad to see you enjoyed it. Below is my standing full tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufbySysDRLE
Hey i got my back tucks a few days ago, but i’ve manage to ”
perfect” it because i had a huge mental block so it was off and on, but now they are high and effortless, i kinda wanted to start working on backhalfs but i have no idea were to start
I’d spend more time on those tucks if they’re only a few days old. A solid month or two at the MINIMUM. Then move on to pikes, followed by layouts. Twisting should be the last thing on your mind. Below is a great layout tutorial for you to try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kXl7bvOVuQ
Omg, I am going to try this after our break is over. I am trying to get my standing backhandspring for two years now and my only problem is that I can’t jump, if someone pushes me, everything else is perfect. I mean I already got my tuck and other skills but it is still frustrating that it is so hard for me 🙁
Rebecca, you need to find some self motivation. While sometimes we all need a boost (or a kick in the butt) to get us going, if you want the skill, you need to get in the mindset of working at it.
As for “can’t jump” i find that most of the time it’s “i won’t jump” or “too scared to jump”
Try getting it on a safer surface such as a trampoline. Read this: https://tumblingcoach.com/blog/trampoline-to-floor/
Hi, this article was fantastic! I’m a competitive dancer transitioning into the world of high school cheerleading. The only thing keeping me off varsity is a strong back handspring. Even though I’ve been dancing for so many years, I have minimal gymnastic/acrobatic/tumbling background. I barely have a backbend (my back is not flexible due to dance requiring to have perfect posture) and terrible shoulder flexibility and upper arm strength. I have been stretching a ton and going to the gym to help with what I lack in flexibility and strength, but I can’t seem to get the back handspring. I can’t do a walk over but I’m close. Do you have any suggestions? And also do you have and suggestions for fear progressions? I think this may be holding me back, too.
Francie, a couple comments and suggestions:
1. You don’t need great flexibility to be an awesome tumbler (i, as well as others are a living example)
2. You DO need strength, so get conditioning. Read this: https://tumblingcoach.com/blog/bad-conditioning/
3. Take some private lessons or if you can go to an open gym where you’re free to train how you want, try this drill: http://on.fb.me/ZlipuW (but remember, a round off bhs should come before a standing, that drill is just for progressions)
Good luck!
I recently got my roundoff handspring tuck. It’s really inconsistent I can normally land it but not all the time. My coaches just got me tucking over my normal height which is 5 feet+ and I always let go mid tuck so I have to practice not letting go.
Thank you so much for these tips! I’ve had problems with my mental blocks since I was 6-7 and its really getting on my nerves. I really hope this will work because I’m focusing on making the national team this year.
You’ll get it Rebecca! Keep applying the formula, stay consistent and be patient!
Hi
So I’m on a level three team this year and I desperately need my tuck. I have done it by myself and done it really good with a spot multiple times (but then I was gone for two weeks) but now I find I can’t put all of my self into the pass and that I’m not trying but it seems like I can’t. I can get around on my tuck but jut not high enough on my own, and that I’m not going off my toes. I feel really anxious and dissapointed that I still don’t have it and I don’t know what to do. Any ideas?
Selena,
The first thing you need to do, is COMMIT to your training. For new skills it’s important you don’t take random breaks from your training. Set a schedule (say, 2x a week and STICK to it)
Second, you want to do some round off rebounds on to a high cheese mat, then roll out. Watch this video (it’s for layouts, but ffw to 3:13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kXl7bvOVuQ
Good luck!
Hi, my name is Holly and I have been practicing my front handspring..
I saw you say to someone to watch yourself on a video to build up your confidence so you know what to perfect. I tried this and it helped so much! – Will the magic formula also work on a rebound after a round off?
Thank you.. 🙂
Yes holly, it will work for any skill you want to perfect (and that includes things outside of cheer and tumbling!) 🙂
Hi my name is Maura 🙂 I’m currently trying to get my roundoff handspring tuck back but I lost it 3 months ago after having a break from training for vacation and having been ingured from a stunt falling I can’t get over the mental block I have today I’ve tried tons of drills and progressions I can land it perfectly to an equal Mat in the foam pit so it’s equal to floor but when i go for It on floor I just freeze. I’ve been trying so many things and driving myself insane because I know I’m more than capable I just can’t get over the mental side of things
Hi,
These tips will really help with my roundoff backhandspring. Now I know to visualize it before I throw it so that I can do it with confidence! This will definitely help me alot!
Also, I was wondering if you had any tips for not undercutting in a backhandspring. The form in my bhs is perfect and my legs and arms are strait and tight but i undercut way too much. Any tips for making it longer?
Thanks!
Francesca
So recently my athlete was removed from her level 5 cheer team (middle of the comp season)for not being able to show her level 5 tumbling on the spot. I don’t know if it was lack of practicing it, peer pressure (those watching) or mental stress, but she couldn’t do it and was removed “temporarily” from the team. She started to show some strides forward, ad has recently taken major steps back. Not being able to peddle the simplest of skills. BHS is at times a struggle for her recently, as to where this hasn’t been an issue. I’VE read several of your articles, and I will try to implement some, but do not want to overwhelm her any more than she already is. It’s like being in limbo. All teams are now filled and she currently isn’t on any. (There are a few spots left for level 5) but they want her to show her skills next week to be back on the team. She has been off the team for 2 weeks and working on skill everyday, this weekend they compete without her on the team. So I was thinking, no physical trying till Monday, just visual and videos, but I’d she doesn’t place soon, I’m afraid that this will devastate her even more than it already has. Suggestions? ?
The time it takes is the time it takes. In the long run, if taking half a season off to fix the deep mental issues will result in her NEVER having to worry about this again so she can train season after season for the next 5 years is what it takes, then THAT’S the price you both have to be willing to pay.
Don’t focus on the short term. Just because she can’t make a team now is NOT a guarantee that she won’t make any in the future. Invest the time, I promise it’ll pay off 🙂
My daughter is a really good tumbler but for some reason has convinced herself she “can’t” even do a backhand spring. This has been going on for a year now-she couldn’t do competitive cheer this year because she wouldn’t tumble and her high school cheer coach has been frustrated with her because again, she won’t tumble. She will tumble in a gym into the pit or on the floor sometimes with a spot so she knows she can do it. Cheer tryouts are in three weeks and she is starting to shut down even more. How can I help her to get the negative thoughts out of her head and to believe in herself??
You have to understand that mental blocks are the result of a trigger. So the first step is to identify the trigger. Did she fall? Did she get dropped during a spot? Did she see someone else fall doing the same skill? You need to find out what triggered the sudden drop in confidence (which is what mental blocks mostly are).
It’s not that she _won’t_ tumble, but it’s her brain which has been convinced that if she does XYZ movement, it will equal pain. **This link has to be broken.** To break the link will take the time it takes. Find the lowest common denominator surface (it seems she’s comfortable going in the pit) then work up from there. Don’t go from a pit to the floor. Stack some mats in there, slowly increase the height or let her go on a Tumble Trak or air floor.
If the progression is smooth enough, she’ll be tumbling again. How long will this take? That’s impossible to predict. The only thing I know for sure is that mental blocks can be defeated 100% of the time if you are both committed enough.
I am so close to having my standing tuck, I have yet to land it solid though. My coaches say I’m not reaching up hard enough. In my mind, I’m reaching as far as I can. Do you have any suggestions?
By the way, I LOVE your posts!!
Thanks Hannah.
As for your tuck… you can only “reach” (should be “jump”) as high as your conditioning allows. So this means you just don’t have the jumping power yet and need to develop it. Read up on this: http://bit.ly/3tumble
Well I used to be able to perform a perfect roundoff tuck (I know it’s one of the easier moves).
However, every now and then I would open out in the middle of my tuck and ive landed on my head at least 20 times splitting my face open n allsorts.
Now I’m too scared to throw my tumble pass and have had myself taken out of the routine
Ouch. There’s no way you should have been allowed to fall that many times. Falling once or twice is understandable but 20? Either you’re not listening to your coaches or someone isn’t teaching you properly. Learn how to hold your tuck and rotate properly on a trampoline in a safe environment FIRST. Then you can try RO tucks again. Also Id suggest you read up on this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
In October I got my tuck (yeah!) but lost it in November (boo!). Ever since I’ve been doing a whip. My coaches tell me that I’m not high enough and am arching my back. But they’ve been telling me this for 5 months and now I’m just frustrated (and upset and sad and self conscious). Today we had a 2 hour clinic and I was put back a group because the coach didn’t think I was trying. I am trying SO hard. Being taken out of a group in front of all my teammates and friends broke me. I can’t do my tuck on the trampoline – I can’t do it anywhere. My mom keeps telling me to envision doing it right but I don’t even know what that looks like any more. Please help!
You most likely need to apply the mental block formula: http://bit.ly/mbformula
Thank you so much it’s helped a lot ever since I started use the magic formula it has helped me go from a standing backhand spring to a layout in only 6 months I just stopped over thinking. Once again thank you so much it means a lot
That’s amazing Amiaya! Good luck in the future and keep going
So I have been cheering for a total of 13 years, you think I would have every skill right? No I don’t. When I was 7 I was learning a backhandspring and my coach was spotting me, or I thought she was like she said she was, someone called her name and turned around, I went for it and landed on my head because we were on hard gym floors. I use to have a mental block from that until I was 14. Then I came to a gym in Florida that helped me get over my mental block. But now I fear backhandspring a no matter what. And I keep beating myself up for that because my round off tuck is beyond amazing and high!! But all my backhandsprings suck. Mental is a big part. But i only have 2 years left to cheer and I don’t want to be stuck on level 3 while everyone else is moving up and I’m still trying to perfect my backhandspring.
Cheer doesn’t end at 18 Haylie. That’s why we have open divisions. Also try this for your mental blocks: http://bit.ly/mbformula
I feel grateful for coming across your website dude, amazing tips and wicked motivation for tricking! Keep posting dude, loving em infos. I’m just a normal dude here that likes tumbling on ground. But honestly, i never knew that there were these many things to comprehend before trying to even execute the trick man. My next goal is to try a roundoff double back on ground, and im sure that this will help alot! Kudos to you sir! #respect
Any tips before i try it maybe? grateful for any tips
Make sure you can RO Tuck onto a stack of mats that are as high as your shoulders! Also make sure you rotate hard and have tried this skill in a safe environment such as a pit. You definitely want the watchful eye of a certified coach to be helping you with this.
This article was so helpful! Definitely using this for those standing/running multiples! I’m just having a really hard time with my tuck. I don’t have any confidence issues, as still learning it with a spot, but I can’t seem to get my chest up quick enough after my back handspring. I’ve tried snapping down faster and doing round off back handspring rebounds, it just doesn’t seem like it’s working. Do you have any tips for that?
Here’s a tuck guide to help you: http://bit.ly/tuckguide
Okay so I’m currently on a level 3 and a level 4 team and my coach has started kicking people off for not having skills. Running tumbling I’m fine as well as my jumps. But for standing tumbling I’m kind of a hot mess. I have my back hand spring multiples but anything that regards a standing tuck I’m out of luck. I’ve been working on a tuck for roughly a year and half and am still unable to land without a spot. My coach says I have it and that’s it’s all mental, but I don’t know how to fix it. Help?
It’s hard to say without looking at a video. Maybe send a YouTube link. But to be honest, you sound like you’re under-conditioned Lyndsey. A year and a half is a LONG time to be working a standing tuck. Should only take about 6 months if – again – your jumping power is sufficient. Here’s a guide to help you: http://bit.ly/tuckguide
I’m also currently on a S3 and S4 team. On my S3 team I can do every single tumbling skill possible, but on S4 I can do multiple handsprings into a tuck and that is it. When comes to layouts I struggle at them… I throw them but they are never right. And then there’s my standing tuck? Well, my standing tuck I got it, and lost it within 2-3 weeks. Everyone says I didn’t lose it, I didn’t lose it, but every single time I throw it I can’t land it and every time I land on the mat hard. I get extremely frustrated over everything I can’t do… At a S3 practice people on the team were randomly working on them and multiple people got them, just like that. And I’m so frustrated I “give up”…
Any advice?!
Stop focusing on other people’s progress and focus on your OWN instead. Also here’s my complete guide to standing tucks that you can use: http://bit.ly/tuckguide
With the visualization thing, does it work the same if you watch videos of someone else doing the skill?
Yes, but you should do both. Visualize YOURSELF and also watch videos for inspiration.
Hey Coach,
I just started cheering this past February, and just only started focusing on tumbling last month. When I first started back in February, my roundoffs were awful! Like they were pathetic, and I could just not get them. Came back to school after the summer of practicing a bit, watching some videos, but mostly visualizing me hitting the perfect roundoff. I went to our first practice, and nailed a roundoff right off the bat. My teammates were wondering where in the world I pulled it from! Now I’m working on my standing tucks, and after reading this article, I realized that I’m focusing too much on the mechanics. So after tonight I’m going to visual the perfect back tuck. Then from there, a back handspring and finally connecting all three. This article is getting saved, that’s for sure. Thank you for your insight! I’ll be using this quite often.
Good stuff Tim, glad you’re putting the information to use.
I love reading articles and such on tumbling, and recently stumbled across this website. This article has helped me more than you know! I have had my back tuck for a long time now, however I still have trouble with getting enough height in my tucks, and I’m getting kind of frustrated! If you have any suggestions or tips for me on how to get more heighth in my tucks, I would greatly appreciate it!
Hi Isabel,
I agree, I love reading articles on tumbling too.
I know it’s been a 1 1/2 years since you wrote this comment, but if you ever read this…
Try having bigger swings (I presume that the back tuck that you’re talking about is on floor) and tucking tighter. Also bending your knees slightly while swinging.
Maybe try your back tuck standing on a low box to get your confidence with height up. Then progress to the floor again.
I hope this helped
I just finished reading this, and i’m having some troubles in tumbling too and i’m hoping you can help. I’m 14 and i JUST started tumbling ( i know that sounds a little weird, i should have started a while ago ). Anyway, I’m in advanced tumbling but my coach told me to move to beginning tumbling for a while because i havn’t gotten my back handspring or my round off. I’m really embarrassed about moving to the class with all the smaller kids.
My problem is mostly mental ( which was in your article ). Do you have any tips for me about how to get over my mental block???
You don’t have a mental block, you have an embarrassment block. You care too much about what people think. SO what if you’re with little kids? Are you there to socialize or learn your tumbling skills?
I’d go join a class with 11 year olds if that’s what my coach told me to do, and if the kids were better than me. Only more examples to learn from! Age is just a number. You’re there for SKILLS. So start acting like it 🙂
I absolutely love reading articles on how to improve my tumbling, and I recently came across this one. This article has helped me more than you know! I have had my round-off back tuck for about 2 years now, however I still struggle with getting enough height in my tucks. I don’t know why! I would love to be able to get higher in my tucks, I just don’t know how. Please help!
That’s a simple fix Isabel. Condition your legs and then try RO rebound drills on a high surface (at least shoulder level). If you can’t rebound that high, there’s your problem. So work the technique and power till you can and you’ll find that height won’t be an issue anymore.
Hi! My name is Isabel, and this article has helped me so much. I have had my round off back tuck for about 2 years now, but I still have trouble getting height in my tucks. I don’t know why! I would LOVE and greatly appreciate it if you could help me out!
It’s hard to say without a video Isabel, but most likely the problem is that your round off isn’t landing in the correct position for a powerful block or it’s landing soft and your legs are buckling. Either of these things will rob you of height. You want to land with toes behind your chest and in a strong hollow position. Then let the sprung floor do the work 🙂
I am so glad that I found this website! I’ve been doing all star cheer for 3 years now and it seems every year I get scared to do my bhs again. Even though I can do it perfectly and I know I can do it. I also had my round off tuck, round off bhs tuck and was working on a round off series tuck. But then I fell doing my round off tuck and got rug burn last April, and I haven’t done it sense. I also had my standing tuck and for some reason I won’t throw it… I know I can do it but I think about it way to much, just like I think about my bhs to much. It’s just the matter of me competing my fear with fear.I have my first cometition of this year next weekend and I have to do my bhs again. So I hope by reading this article I will do it again!
Well one, you probably never reached unconscious competence. And two, your desire to avoid PAIN is greater than your desire to WANT the skill. Until that changes, you’ll always have fear.
You should also ready this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
I’ve been working on this mental block and getting my backhand spring off the trampoline for over a year and it’s so frustrating!! I’m also 17 is it too late at this point to get it? Any tips?
It’s never too late Rhianna! Here you should read this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
Well, I have never tumbled before and I’m trying to do a toe touch, I stretch for 5 minutes but I can’t get my toe touch high. Please help
I feel your pain. When I started cheer, I saw girls with their feet up literally higher than my head! I knew I had to do something. First thing I realized was that I can’t even reach my foot up to that area LOLOLOL So I stretched a lot. I stretched for maybe 15 minutes a day. A toe touch rly just takes practice. Oh and make sure you keep your chest up when you do it. It’s a bad habit that I have ? Look at some YouTube videos. They rly can help.
Great advice Kelly!
I’m working on these damn Arabians. I’m having a hard time understanding do I look at my armpits or turn my head in the direction I want to go. I’m doing back side flips. On Instagram my ig is blackthor87. If you can help it will be great. When I watch vids I can see myself doing it an can feel it, but I know I lack the work. I’ve bn at it for 4 months. Thanks
Try doing straight set and then doing a half turn to land in the super man position on a big crash mat. You want to ideally set like a back tuck THEN work on the rotation. Standing front tucks also help tremendously with arabians.
Good luck!
my daughters is 9 and a cheerleader she has been doing round off back tucks for over 6 months now all of a sudden she is stopping after the round off, she throws the tuck sometimes and sometimes she just stops sometimes she even wants the coach to just stand there and she throws them she hasn’t gotten hurt how do I help her
You guys need to read this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
this is the most clear article i’ve never read about tumbling.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi, im 13, when I was 8 i did tumbling and cheer. I had just gotten my backhandspring, when my coach had to quit because of a new job. So i quit because I wouldnt go further without him. I want to get back into tumbling, because he is back. How do I convince my mom to let get back into tumbling? Thanks, Lauren
Just tell her how much you love the sport, and also what you’re willing to do for HER! Chores around the house, help her with expenses, raise money. If you love it, make it beneficial for your mom to put you in cheer/tumbling.
Hey, this is such a great article! I just started tumbling about 2 and a half years ago. I’m going into the 10th grade and just about a month ago I made the Varsity/Competition Cheer team at my high school. I just recently got my standing tuck and round-off backhand spring back tuck. Since I made the team, I am required to do those skills, but sometimes it really freaks me out to do them and I get really scared. I don’t know what to do, because I’m being pressured to do them but it scares me sometimes. Any suggestions to get over that fear, and just doing those skills?
Congrats on making a team Emily. But your problem is that you used the skills you JUST got, to make a team where doing them is the norm. It doesn’t work that way. Getting a skill is different than mastery. You still haven’t reached unconscious competence and until you do, it will still scare you. My suggestion is to spend more time on these skills. AS MUCH as possible.
I use to go to tumbling classes at my old gym in Victoria. I moved about a year ago to a rural area. We have a fitness center where I teach tumbling classes in the back gym. I’ve been a cheerleader for a long time now and I’ve also went to tumbling classes for maybe around 2 years. It was like i was born to tumble. I took to this sport magnificently. I was frequently asked to join Mannings competition cheer team but my single mom never had the time nor money. Now I’ve been out of tumbling for a year and I’m now teaching it. I still have my skills but I’ve noticed I’m not as good as I use to be. I’ve been training myself and working on new skills or skills that I’ve left off on from mannings. However, training myself has been quite scary. I tend to over think and sole myself out before pulling a tuck or other tumbling passes. I left off and working on my layouts and I’m trying to work on them by myself now because I don’t have access to a coach. Your article helped me so much! If you have any tips or suggestions for me I’d love to hear them.
Good to see you passing your knowledge on to kids Emily. Here’s a complete layout tutorial for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kXl7bvOVuQ
I had spinal fusion 3 years ago and had never cheered or done gymnastics or anything before this season so when I started, there was a lot of wishing going on! My cartwheel and roundoff are so much better than they were but I want to try new things. I’m struggling with any more than this cause of the fear of getting hurt, or because I just don’t know what my limits are until I test it (I know that I won’t ever do walkovers cause I can’t arch my back enough due to the fusion, but i’m okay with that). I tried a back handspring with 2 spotters which was really fun but we don’t get any time to train our tumbling in my team so I feel like I’m not really getting anywhere. I’m gonna try and keep all of this in mind and push my coaches to give us more tumbling time and hopefully i’ll get somewhere soon 🙂
I suggest simply taking tumbling classes outside of cheer. In your situation, I wouldn’t recommend the walkovers. There are plenty of things you can do out of round offs such as tucks, layouts, fulls etc that will allow you to have fun and still pick up skills.
I’m in Lawrence County Alabama and its really hard to find a mat for tumbling around here I really need safety around this place cause there barley is any safety. Could u tell me a place to get a mat?
You don’t need THAT much equipment to run a successful program. Check out this article when it comes to help with picking equipment: https://tumblingcoach.com/blog/essential-gym-equipment/
Would this help with my mental block?
My coaches are convinced that I have a mental block but I finally accepted that I do. But mine is weird because I’m not scared to throw skills. I do the vizualizing trick every time before I throw my back handspring but then I miserably fail. I can do a perfect back handspring in my head, but its the exact opposite when it comes to the physical part. What should I do?
I’m really frustrated as I’ve been stuck with this for about a year now
Well you can’t have possibly applied the formula if you just read about it. It takes real work. So put in the reps and do exactly as listed. It will take as long as it needs to take. No one can guarantee when you’ll get rid of the block.
This really helped. Whenever I do a layout with my coach they are perfect and are ready to start twisting… And he’s no helping me. But as soon as he steps off the floor my whole layout changes and I become piked, stop setting, throw my head back… And I feel like I’m back to my old bad layouts. It gets me so fusterated it ruins my entire night just off one layout. So I decided to take a week break from tumbling. Usally I’m in the gym 6 days a week but I’m going to take a 7 day break and just stop tumbling. After deciding to take the break I read this… I’m going to use these next seven days to just visualize. I’m not going to do anything reguarding cheerleading except think about how I want my layout to look. I’m physically capable to do a perfect layout but I’m stopping myself. I’m going to take this article to heart and really apply it.
That’s a great plan Natalie. Visualizing your skill is never a bad idea. Good luck!
Hi my name is Gabrielle and I have been on a cheer team for 1 year now. My goal last year was to get my back walkover. I have reached my goal, but every time I want to do one I always need a few spots . After those few spots I can do them very well. But almost everybody at my club does them all the time with no problem so I don’t know what to do about my mental block.
Any advice?
If it’s a new skill it sounds like you need a proper warm up. If you can do it after a few spots without any problems, it’s not a block. You just need to train it more often and still do the drills that helped you get the skill. Following the formula will help.
I have been working on roundoff tucks for a while and I don’t know why, but for some reason I’m unable to set up high before I tuck. I am able to do it into the pit and on the tumble track, but my coach says I can’t attempt it on floor before I learn to set up. Any tips?
A mental block is when you HAD a skill, then lost it. You don’t have a block, you simply lack conditioning and technique from the sounds of it. Try doing the drills your coach tells you to do.
I have been working my running back-handspring doubles since the beginning of the summer and being the fact that I started to get confident with a spot now when I go to do them with the spot it almost freaks me out and then I don’t always do what I know I’m suppose to do I know it’s a mental block but how do you over come them when everytime you start a new skill it comes back.. any advise??
Every new skill is scary… that’s not a mental block. That just means you need more training, more reps, more technique and more drills. A mental block is when you HAD a skill, then lost it.
I’ve tried for so, so, SO long now to get my round off back handspring and I think that I might have got it last week. Every time I either bend my arms or not rebound or land. Also I’m so scared to do it in the non spring floor/ground!! Help!
If you’ve never had a RO BHS and are still trying to “get it” then you don’t have a mental block as much as you just need more training and reps. A mental block is when you HAD a skill, then lost it.
More drills and conditioning would really help you out. I can’t tell you specifics as I can’t see your pass.
Hi I just got my back handspring at the end of this season meaning I didn’t get a chance to do it at comp but I was wondering does this method work if I’m not actively practicing my bhs? I mean can I still do the visualization part? I was also wondering if you would refrain from swearing because some kids do read these articles too. Thank you in advance. 🙂
Yes you can visualize your BHS at any time. Obviously it works best when you practice it practically as well.
I’m not sure where you saw swearing, but I write how I write. Kids already know more words than you think… ever see them talk to their friends? Yeah 😉
Last year i got my standing BHS on the spring floor at my gym, i later got too scared to do it and lost it even with a spot. I started back up in tumbling this year and got it back on the spring floor by myself! Then, last week I went to an open gym at another gym, I did it once into a Rezi but then got too scared and never did it again. I am scared I will get my mental block back when I go to tumbling this week so I have been trying these steps in the article but I don’t know if they have fixed my block because I am too scared to do it on my mats at home. What do I do, could I have some tips??
You need to hit the search bar on the top right of this website and look for my mental block article… then read it 3 times and apply everything listed in there. It will help you get your BHS back.
I am a gymnastics, cheer, and tumbling coach. A rule in my gym is nobody is allowed to say “CAN’T”. They have to rephrase it. I am going to start making them visualize their skills at the beginning of practice, and encourage them to do it at home also. I will try this with my own two kids that tumble also at home and see what we can gain out of it.
Thanks so much for this article. I made lots of notes.
That’s a great idea Lisa! I’m sure your athletes and kids will see a benefit. Please don’t forget to share and pass it on to your friends 🙂
Dear Coach Sahil
I am an eleven-year-old TeamGym gymnast in Denmark, and I am working on a pike round-off back handspring full twist (hopefully we’ve translated the sequence correctly!). I would really like to learn it by the time I have my next competition (2 weeks), but I’ve been having a very difficult time with the pike. I was very excited that my dad found your blog, and I can’t wait to try your visualization method:-).
I’m not sure what you mean by a pike THEN a round off. Do you mean a front pike step out? Regardless of what you meant, you definitely SHOULD visualize it before doing it. The more you do it, the more powerfully it will work.
I’ve never had any tumbling experience but I’m trying out for cheer in a couple weeks and I’m trying to get my round off, I know what I’m doing wrong (not popping my shoulders at the end) but how do i fix it?
Master the handstand pop + half turn to stomach
Hi. I’m a 16-year-old girl. I’m tall but a little heavy and i think that’s what’s been stopping me from practicing any tumbling skills. this article actually gave hope to me. I’m scared to try tumbling because I think that I will hurt myself and I don’t have the time to go to gymnastics classes bc of school and my other classes. I already go to kickboxing classes and have gained some muscle and physical power (and my flexibility is good) so I think I’m somehow ready to practice tumbling but as i said i’m scared to do so.. what do you suggest me do? when i watch the edits of girls my age tumbling i just stare at them in awe and as you said, i really wish i were like them..
Focus on yourself, keep conditioning and getting stronger and if tumbling is important to you, you’ll need to find the time to train under a proper coach. This my include quitting kickboxing and other activities. You can’t CREATE more time… so something has to end for something else to start. Good luck!
I am going to listen and try to apply this to frontwalkovers threw to tuck regular running tucks and frontpunch threw to tuck.
My daughter has been struggling for years with a mental block! It is so hard to watch. Her confidence is so low. Especially after watching all her friends move forward. Can you help?
Use the search bar on the top right of this website, and find my mental block article. Then read it and apply it.
I started tumbling after a 8 month break due to wrist injury and I have been back for about a month now and I am not even close to what I used to be able to do but after reading this I can wait for my next practice.
Visualization is a great tool for those coming off injuries! Good luck in your recovery. Keep at it and I know you’ll be back 100%
I am having trouble with my back tuck ,even though I have the power to do it and have done it multiple times by myself, so today I am going to think about only hitting it in my head. I believe one of my problems was watching my best friend come from a year break and not practicing, and hitting it flawless. Now that I have read this I can not wait for today’s practice!
Hi,
I’ve been doing gymnastics (recreational) for numerous years yet I still don’t have my back tuck or back handspring. Lots of people in my class are starting to get them, even people who have only been doing gymnastics for a short period of time. As you could imagine, that’s pretty frustrating. I’m spotted on trampoline nearly every lesson and regularly practice drills. The thing is, back handsprings are supposedly easier to learn and most people get them before a back tuck. But I’m very inflexible, don’t have my walkovers and still struggle with front handsprings on floor. My strength are front tucks, which I can easily do on floor, and when I’m spotted I seem to be less scared with back tucks. People in my class have mentioned that they think that when I do chuck a back tuck that I’ll be good at it because front tucks come so easily to me. And I think that physically I’d be able to back tuck, just mentally I’m scared. Not of an injury, just the thought of going backwards… And yes, I visualize the skill every day. No strategies are working so far.
Any help would be appreciated thanks. And great article!
Is the coach still responding? I am a 28 yr old female. I know I am a little old! I started tumbling 3 months ago. I am actually very fit with abs so that helps a little bit. I am seriously obsessed with tumbling and don’t go more than 2 days without practicing. There are not adult classes so here so that is a bummer. Anyways I feel like as much as I practice my skills, I should be better than what I am. I can do a cartwheel, bridge, bridge kickover with 6inch surface, handstand for 7 seconds,and I am working on my front limber but getting up from it takes all my energy away. I am beyond frustrated because I want to be able to do a semi advanced skill already. I need classes and private lessons are pricey. I had low cost coach but he got frustrated with me and said I am not flexible enough. I didn’t go back with him. I was kinda hurt hearing that because I stretch and practice almost everyday. Anyways this is kinda like a vent. Sry. I just feel alone with this because adult tumblers are rare here. I want it so bad.
I hope they’re still responding! I also just left a comment I’m in a similar situation lol
Front limbers were really difficult for me too. If you practice a lot I would recommend stretching your back every time and trying to walk you hands as close to your feet in your bridges as possible. With my front limber I found that the close you can get your feet to your hands the easier it is to stand up.
Hi! My biggest issue is I feel like I’m to old to even learn anything. I’ve only ever done school cheer but I’ve done it for years. My school doesn’t have the best cheer team so there’s not really a push to learn new skills. I made the varsity team in 8th grade with almost 0 tumbling skills. I’m now 16 years old with only a round off. I don’t even have front or back walk overs and I’ve been trying so long for a backhand spring. It’s driving me crazy I’m not scared but my body just doesn’t do it! I know what I’m doing wrong but I just can’t fix it! Do you think that it gets to a point where you’re just to old to learn these things? It seems that way to me and it makes me upset because I really like tumbling I’m just bad at it
I was in a very similar situation when I was 16 (I’m 18 now) with there not being a hug push for new skills. I taught myself how to do a back handspring starting on a trampoline because you know you really won’t get hurt as long as you jump and lock your arms. My back walkover I first practiced back bend then would put one foot on a wall and kick over then tried to put the pieces together. Hope this helps a bit!
So almost two years ago I got my BHS then few days after my RO BHs then about 2-3weeks later my RO BT. After that i progressively got better and better however one thing I never learned was to set. Now here I am (15& on cheer @ my hs) and I want to improve my tucks and work on getting higher skills. I somehow can not seem to break my habit of not setting and no matter what I try and do it fails. I definitely want to give this mental visualizing thing a try however I don’t know if that will be enough. Is there any drills you know of that may help to break my habit, I’ve tried everything.
I’ve gotten a scholarship to cheer in college, however my coach told me that I need to have my back tuck by the time practices start. I had my standing tuck and was landing it in every competition then when I started practicing in the summer I lost it. I practice off of those four section panel mats and can do it off of only two sections. When I try it on the regular floor I get very close but can’t land. Any tips would be soooo helpful. I’m stressing about not having my tuck.
I’m not a cheerleader in fact I found this by googling it because it’s my goal to tumble off of a stage into an audience and I wanna learn how to do that. I thought this blog is great! I’ve learned anyone who is the best in the world at what they do start with a visualization! So thank you.
Hi, my names Katherine, I am an ex-gymnast (hardest floor skill I was allowed to do was a roundoff rebound) and current trampolinist who has been stuck tumbling level 2 for many years. I can do smaller harder combinations on the tumble track easily such as roundoff backfull back tuck and roundoff back lay back full and front handspring barani, but get nervous even doing roundoff back saultos on the airtrack without a spot. I got over an injury with that combination that happened about a year ago but mentally although I know I can do the skills I constantly tell myself I’m not good enough which is silly cause my roundoffs are crazy powerful. Do you any advice?
Im a junior at Murray County high school and I haven’t done cheerleading in over 7 years and I was wanting to know if it was physically possible for me to go back to it for my senior year?
I had a bit of a freak out doing a 3 to full twist and on the 3rd flick had a bit of a freak out and landed on my neck hurt a bit but nothing serious apart from ever since then I can’t do flicks on my own and it’s escalating into other skills and making the whole thought of going backwards feel impossible. The fact I have had a back handspring comfortbly for 4 years anyway and now not being able to do it is so annoying and makes me stress more meaning it just gets harder to imagine me doing the skill. Super hoping this can work as long as I follow all the steps and trust the process! Thank you
I’ve been a cheerleader for a few years now, and im taking thus year off to get better at tumble because the main 1 thing I’m bad at is tumble. I’ve just got visualise handstand more because I’ve been thinking its a strength thing but that can’t be true when I kids do quite well.
Previously from Norwood force south Australia.
Thankyou SO much. This is the most helpful thing I’ve ever read. I’ll apply this to my barany, front flip, backhand spring and I’ll see if it works of a kip. (I’m a gymnast)
I just turned fourteen and decided I’m tired of being that girl in the corner that works really hard and gets all the improvement awards but seems to get anywhere.
If you ever get to read this know that I’m very gratefull.
Sorry, I meant “doesn’t seem to get anywhere.”
I’ve been working on front and back walkovers for months and i can barely stand up out of my front walk over and barely kick over. I think i have a lot of fear of going backwards and i think I just have done the front walkovers wrong so many times that i rarely do it right. I’m getting frustrated because it comes so easy to some girls. I want to get my tumbling but i feel like im not progressing.
I’m a gymnast, but I have a problem. In my round off bht (not my hardest element which is why I need to fix it), I constantly am throwing my head out. I do this for other skills too. When I saw it on video, I tried to fix it but got lost in the air, falling flat on my neck. Since then my head issue has gotten worse. How do I fix this? It used to be good!
I quit cheer because of mental blocks at least 3 years ago. I tried out for a new cheer team at a gym and it got worse. I didn’t even stay for a competition and I quit. I want to go back because I keep watching these cheer videos and I miss it. I feel like if I didn’t quit, I would of had more skills and I would be happier. I don’t know what I should do. I know I won’t be as good as I was but I’m just confused.
I’ve never really thought about it this way. I’ve been trying for so long to get my full but it feels like my tumbling is just getting worse. I can never twist enough in the skill and it’s been bugging me for a while. Would visualizing it help me in this situation?
I am so thankful that I found your article. I have loved cheer for the last couple of years but I’ve been too scared to try it. 3 days ago I decided I would try…I’m already 13!!! I really thought I could catch up to the other girls but now I feel like it’s too late. I can’t tumble. I can’t stunt. I can’t dance. And I can’t do any of it. But I LOVE it. So I won’t give up. Instead, I will say: I can’t do it, yet! That’s a better mindset. So today I came searching on the web, ways to learn cheer fast and this popped up, so I read it. And now it has changed my life forever! Thank you soooooo much! You have really inspired me! I will never stop trying to learn cheer because it is my passion and you helped me realize that! Thank you!
Also, I really could use some tips for tumbling….all I can do I a front tuck! Yikes!!!
Last thing, I promise- I would like to know how to get into shape for cheer…any work outs or drills to make me more flexible???? ANYTHING HELPS!!! Thanks!
It makes sense that training your mind is just as important as training your body when tumbling. My daughter is interested in taking tumbling classes soon. I’ll let her know that she needs to be in a healthy mindset as she practices.
I really need some help y’all. Anything will help. I am starting to doubt my abilities. Please…SOME TIPS!!!
Im a tumbler trying to get my brain to work properly again. I have european trials’s in a month and is so frustrating to know that I can do, but dosen’t just do it. And when I come home from training I fell like I could have done what I wanted to do. Why can my brain say that I can do it when I’m not at training but when I’m at training it’s like nope?
This article really helped me understand more! I am struggling with roundoff back handsprings and roundoff tucks. I can easily do multiple bhs and tucks on trampoline and bouncy pillow ( because its bouncy) However when it comes to grass its hard. I can do a roundoff tuck on the foam mat without even having to think about it however when I do it on airtrack I have to concentrate a lot.
I am always trying to do roundoff into bhs or tuck with correct technique but sometimes it’s hard and I either swing my arms,bend my legs or stop after coming out of the roundoff. ( I know how to come out of my roundoff correctly but my body just doesn’t do it ) By all means I can technically do it any time I want with bad technique but it requires a lot of concentration to do roundoff bhs or tuck and get my arms high and not bend my knees and not stop after the roundoff on airtrack.
I mean I can get it any day or time I want correctly but it annoys me how it take like 3-5 roundoff bhs attempts to do it correctly then another 2-3 roundoff tucks to get the hang of it. If I come back to the airtrack 15 minutes later I have to repeat all my roundoff bhs again to get the hang of ” chucking it”
My friends all say I just have to go for it and ” just chuck it” But I sometimes forget how to chuck it and need a few repitions before I can remember how to chuck it. Its really annoying, I just want to be able to do correct roundoff bhs or tuck any time I want. So I guess I’m at the conscious competence stage. (basically means I’m only good if I concentrate and can loose the skill if Im stressed)
I’m really annoyed because I also forget how to visualise myself just chucking it.
so I guess all I have to do now is just do it more. More reptitions. Hopefully soon I’ll get the hang of it.
I think what have learn here will me to do tumbling i am a high schooler and i have been seing pupils doing it and i wish to do it my friends tells me tha am afraid doing it.
I recently got my round off back handspring layout and my cartwheel tuck. I want to get my two back handspring to tuck and I want to get my round off back handspring whip. Both I have this fear of not having enough power and I constantly think for way to long in the corner before I go and I say every night I wish I could just finally get it…I’m gonna start by taking time before stretching to sit by myself and take time to visualize myself doing each of these with ease and perfection and I also want to start taking less time before I go into my pass to think about things and get into my head too much about it all. I have tumble sessions tomorrow Saturday and Sunday. This is my plan going into to the next three days
I need to learn from the beginning I want to be able to hit a round off into backhand spring or tuck. I’m 35 and have never tumbled before but am going to learn and do it.