Let’s face it, mental blocks are very real and something you may have to deal with at some point in your tumbling career. Personally, I hope you never get them and tumble fearlessly forever.
However, after coaching so many athletes over the years, I’ve come to realize that even the best of the best will experience some type of mental hiccup which will put a damper on their training.
One of the most annoying things about a mental block is that the cause is usually hard to pinpoint – it could because of bailing on a skill, getting hurt, social pressure, competition pressure, or some other stressful experience.
But, there are two things I know for certain when it comes to mental blocks:
- They are always triggered by something and are never spontaneous. Even if the trigger is very minor, it’s always there.
- They can always be overcome as long as you keep an open mind by trying different solutions till something works.
In fact, I think breaking past a mental block is like trying to open an unfamiliar lock while holding a keychain with 50 different keys on it. You know one of them will work, but you’re not sure which one… so the only thing you can do is keep trying until the lock pops open.
Think of each one of these “keys” as a mental-block-busting tool we have at our disposable; tools such as drills, spots from coaches, different training equipment, different facilities and so on. But today, I’m going to reveal five odd and completely out of the box methods that you can add to your “keychain” to help you overcome your mental block.
I’ve used each one of these methods in the past either personally or with my athletes, so I know they work. But the only way you’ll know if it works for you, is to try them out.
Method 1: Osmosis
In the self-development world, there’s a very well known success principal which states that if you want to be rich and successful, you should start hanging around rich and successful people. Sounds weird, but it actually does work – take a struggling business owner, have him hang around a bunch of successful business owners and within a few years, his income will start to catch up to those around him.
How?
Well it’s not magic, or law of attraction, or that his new his new successful friends “make it rain” on his head at every given chance. Instead, the struggling person will start to model those that he deems successful (provided his coachability index is high).
So if they start giving public speeches, he’ll start to give public speeches.
If they build a website, he’ll have a website.
If they start a facebook fan page, he’ll do the same. It’s not copying, it’s modeling; there is a difference.
So how can we use this to help our tumbling?
Let’s say you can do tucks and layouts just fine, but when it comes to twisting, you just can’t seem to do the damn thing. How can you fix this twisting problem?
First, make sure you and your coach have a plan in place with ample drills to get you used to twisting again. Here’s a video is my athlete Holly, showing a good drill for a handspring full.
However, when you walk outside the gym, start watching lots and lots of videos of other people doing the full – specially those that have a similar physical build as yours.
Next, seek out and start hanging around those who can do the full. Ask them questions, help them with anything they need, and just put yourself in an environment where you’re surrounded by those that have what you want.
Sounds oddly simple, and maybe even a bit voodoo, but I can tell you personally that this works wonders!
Every year I go to Woodward, I spend time hanging with world champion calibre tumblers. And every year, I’ve come back a better athlete with new skills, new insights, new drills… new everything! I’m a whole new person. Barriers that I thought I had simply vanish away, and I don’t even know how it happens. It just does.
And when I’m not training, I’m either eating, sleeping or watching videos of tumbling.
But the great thing is that you don’t have to go to Woodward to do this, just surround yourself with success and eventually you’ll have no choice but to live up to the standard set by your environment.
Success does rub off, just don’t demand a deadline for it; let it happen naturally.
Method 2: Act It Out
This is an advanced form of visualization. What you want to do is stand on the floor you’ll be tumbling on, then basically do a “run through” of your tumbling pass that’s as realistic as possible, without actually doing much of the tumbling pass it self.
This allows the neurons in the brain to build up the connections necessary and it trains your motor patterns so that when you finally do decide to do the pass, it’s almost second nature (or unconsciously competent, for those of you that’ve read my earlier work.)
For example, if you were trying to act out a round off > back handspring > full, here’s how it should go down:
- Do the round off (be sure that your run takes the same amount of steps that you usually do. No more, no less.)
- After you land the round off, throw your arms up and arch your back to pretend you just did a handspring, without actually doing it.
- While moving backwards, throw your arms up again to practice the set for a full.
- Jump straight up in the air, and do a standing jump full turn, putting your arms in the exact same position you use for the full, and land back on your feet.
- Finally, don’t forget that Act It Out is a visualization technique at heart, so in your mind you should really see yourself doing the pass. In fact, you should almost feel it.
To someone watching from afar, it might look a little odd. Some might say this is stupid or silly, and that you should “just go for it.”
But don’t let the doubters fool you, because visualization is one of the most powerful tools we have as athletes.
Let me give you an example
Have you heard about the 4 minute mile? Before Roger Bannister came along and completely destroyed people’s expectation of what a human body was capable of, running a mile in four minutes or less was deemed “physically impossible” by doctors, sports specialists and coaches.
Why?
Simply because it had never been done before, and those that tried it previously kept failing. At some point, instead of persevering onwards, every runner simply accepted it as “fact” that the human body just cannot run a mile in under 4 minutes.
Kind of like how many gymnasts and tumblers believed doing a quad twist on sprung floor was completely impossible… until we realized it wasn’t. Oopse.
So how did Roger Bannister do it?
I mean you can’t train to do a mile in under 4 minutes without actually doing it physically. Therefore physical training alone wasn’t going to cut it. However, Roger realized that he can visualize himself running it, and make it so convincing that eventually his body will carry him through.
And so that’s what he did. When his mind believed, his body followed. Always remember this: The only limits that exist in your mind, are the ones you place inside it.
Powerful stuff. And incase you haven’t realized it yet, Act It Out is also a useful tool that can help you develop skills you don’t have yet. For example, if you’re working towards a double twist, act it out and really think about how it would feel to twist for a second time.
“surround yourself with success and eventually, you’ll have no choice but to live up to the standard set by your environment” (Tweet this)
Enjoying This Content?
Did you know that 99% of the resources on this site are available for free? That's over 100 articles and 300+ drill videos with no paywalls and no ads. Just real value shared with everyone. All made possible by generous readers that stepped up to support the site's maintenance costs. If you would like to help keep this resource alive, click below to donate or visit the store to show your support.
Method 3: Beat Around The Bush
For the younger ones reading this, “beating around the bush” is phrase used to describe someone who avoids coming to the point and delays approaching a subject directly.
So now you might be wondering, “Hey coach, how does avoiding the mental block, actually help me get past my mental block?!”
Well as I stated before, a mental block works in mysterious ways, so taking a break from the skill that’s giving you problems can actually be beneficial. Remember, tumbling can go backwards and forwards. It can be done on a Tumble Trak or Air Track. Finally, skills can be individually worked on a trampoline too; you have tonnes of options.
Allow me to give you a personal example
Once upon a time (when I was a young and foolish), I had a mental block on my double twist. It’s the same block I encountered on my full twist so I decided to use the exact same tactic that worked previously – literally powering through it. I knew my body knew how to full, so I gave myself zero choice while coming out of the back hand spring. I trusted that as soon as I threw the set, my body would know how to double.
However, the same thing didn’t work; I did a one and a half and ate mat. Not just once, but over and over again. Clearly, I needed a different approach.
Due to sheer frustration, I just stopped doing the double and worked on something else that was similar in nature – the Rudy. For those that don’t know, a Rudy is a front layout with a 1.5 twist. The beauty of this skill is that you land facing the way you came, so it can be connected to whips and handsprings.
I didn’t think about this as a “technique” at the time; I just spent a few weeks on the Rudy and my 1.5 twist became so tight and fast that when I finally decided to go back to my double twist, it came back as if I had never lost it. It was literally magic.
You might want to try something similar. And if the skill that’s giving you trouble has no similar substitute, don’t worry, the point is to ENJOY working on something else for a while. As long as you’re doing something that requires you to go upside down, you’re doing it right.
Method 4: Do Something Else You’re Good At
This is a great method to combine with number three. While you’re working other skills, it’s important you do other activities that you’re good at. What this does is boost your confidence.
Why is this important?
Well despite what you may think, confidence, self esteem and generally feeling good about yourself spills over in all other areas of your life, and if your mental block was triggered due to a confidence related issue, this could be the invaluable key that opens the lock.
So tell me, what else are you good at?
Soccer?
Basketball?
Painting?
Knitting?
It doesn’t matter, as long as it makes you feel accomplished and you feel good doing it – that is the key. Don’t do anything that frustrates you, otherwise you’re not doing yourself any favors.
“The only limits that exist in your mind, are the ones you place inside it.” (Tweet this)
Method 5: Just Staaph!
Yup, just stop completely and take a week off. Sometimes stepping away lets your body recover not only physically, but mentally as well. In powerlifting, this method is actually very common; many powerlifters train with extreme intensity while dieting hard to make weight. However, about 5-7 days before the competition, lifters usually stop training and take a chill pill.
Most people think that someone who is going to be lifting hundreds of pounds in front of people should keep training, but that is actually counter productive since it’s not just your muscles that need to recover, but your nervous system and mentality as well.
I personally attained a National Deadlift Record in May 2012 and I took 4 full days off before my meet. I had already made weight so I literally sat on the couch, read books and relaxed. Come competition day, I was so well rested and mentally clear that I crushed it when it counted. Had I been in the gym constantly pounding the weights, I probably would have been too weak to perform at my best.
Sometimes taking a step back is just what you need, so that you can two steps forward later.
Try it, you won’t be disappointed.
I want to hear from you!
I hope you enjoyed these 5 odd methods that I’ve used, but now I want to know if you have any of your own! If you have something to share, or even questions I can help you with, head down into the comment section below, and let me know! Oh and don’t forget, if you found this article useful, please like and share it with your friends – it would mean alot.
Experience The Best Tumbling Clinics At Your Gym!
If you're a Coach, Director or Owner of a program and are interested in hosting Coach Sahil's clinics at your gym, click the button below to fill out the interest form. He is available for staff training, program design, and athlete development. Imagine what it would be like to gain 20 years of tumbling knowledge in just a few days!
About Coach Sahil
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.
I love method #1 – it’s so damn true! I’ve found that the more videos I watch of the tumblers I like, the more like them I actually tumble! I start to develop power just like them, it really is hard to explain how it happens but I think you put it well when you said “surround yourself with success”
Awesome article coach!
Oh and btw, one of my personal favorite methods is to do things in a block pit where I have zero fear.
That’s a great tip Austin, doing things into a foam pit is definitely a big confidence builder.
And yes, watching videos of tumblers you like really does make you pick up their style and mannerisms.
In fact, science might have the explanation we need with something called mirror neurons: “A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron ‘mirrors’ the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting.” 🙂
I can do backtucks and I haven’t done one in a month and now I am scared to death and afraid what do I need to do to overcome this? I know I have what it takes but my body is freaked out
I had the same problem with my back handspring and I took a break for about six months and now I am a lot less scared but not to the point that I will try it. Anyway that helped a lot! Just make sure during the break you don’t think about the tuck.
gabiopascal
I have that same problem with my back handspring. I injured myself while being spotted and I still won’t do it. Looking at these methods is helping me get back on my feet. I hope these methods could work. Thanks coach
I have that same problem. What I do is for one have a coach there to spot you so you don’t die? then just don’t think about it and really just wip it out. After keep doing it until you get comfortable with it. It will only get better from there… I hope you can overcome your fear!
What
That is so helpful now I’m not second guessing myself when I throw my back handspring! Thank u so much!!
Yep I ussaly have a coach there for company and tell them not to spot me but say they will it’s weird but it helps especially if it’s one I know will never lie or if I hear their footsteps coming towards me I will just wip it out. And sometimes if someone younger than me has the skill that just pushes me further lastly there’s a special floor in the gym where I feel comfortable and also think if I don’t do this I loose my spot in the routine or I loose my phone or I won’t be a top back spot or a base stuff like that
Mark I’m feeling the same way I can do a standing backhand spring tuck but something in my brain won’t oet me .
I’ve been trying to get a simple back bend since I was like 8. I’ve taken breaks, watched tips, walked down walls, etc. I can do a handstand to back bend but it’s just the thought of going backwards doesn’t click with me. I tell my self I can do it and I know how but I just can’t.
The same thing happened to me I’m 14 and used to do standing back tucks on ground I stopped for quite a while and now sometimes I can do it on grass but it takes a while to get in a good attitude like the second before I take off and sometimes I still hesitate but I will work my ass off and get injured and never stop trying
until I can do it never give up
My daughter is 11 and comp cheer, she had all of her tumbling down, she was in a stunt and fell about 9 months ago, she completely lost all of her tumbling ability and is so far in her head, she over thinks and we are trying to get her over this block and we just don’t know how to.
I’ve been doing cheer almost all my life. I started competitive cheer in the first grade and stopped in the seventh grade. I really wish I could’ve gone forward, I just had moved to the city and no professional All Star cheer gyms were near. Leaving my small town, I was able to do whips, layouts, standing tucks, and multiple backhand springs to a tuck. Now i’m I’m High school and I’m struggling to maintain a power hurdle roundoff tuck! I go to a gym about 20-30 minutes away every once in a while to help me maintain for school cheer, but as the years go on, my mentality and physicality is going downhill. I know I can tumble, my body just doesn’t feel as strong. I have to do a power hurdle roundoff tuck this Friday for our halftime routine and I’m very nervous. During practice today I just wasn’t doing it! But after once everyone had left, I was. The next few days, weeks, months, etc. I am really going to be focusing on these 5 things. Thank you!
I have gotten my back tuck and back handspring on the trampoline but I couldn’t get on the trampoline in the winter and now I am way to scared to even attempt to “throw it.” Im not a gymnast or a cheerleader and I don’t go to the gym. Im just scared to go backwards and getting hurt. I can’t use a spot because I don’t know anyone experienced that could help me. Also, I chicken out when I have a spot. I don’t want the spot to get hurt but I’m worried I’m going to say I’m going to do it, and then I chicken out and the spotter thinks I’m going to do it and it becomes a big, huge, mess. I hate the fact of going backwards. I really want to get my back handspring on the trampoline. Please help!
Ok so what I did to get my back handspring (I have lost it now but this is how I got it) is I just DID NOT overthink it.When you overthink all the doubts crowd your mind and it becomes massive as if your whole world revolves around getting that skill
Thx, hope it helps!
Emily, 12
I’m trying to help my daughter with her standing back handspring. I don’t want to say too much as I know she will get this in her own time. She just turned 13 and keeps asking me why she can do it on a trampoline and tumble track but can’t do it on the floor. We took a month break. She goes out on her own. We are now using the video to do drills. She watches videos all on her own. She has the position poster. We even have a foam tumble mat that is 25 feet long, a wedge, and smart spotter / bolder at home. However, she keeps telling me she feels like if try’s on the mat or the wedge if she misses she may break her neck. Any more recommendations to help her. I feel like not saying much may not be what she needs. At this point I just an reinforcing that we believe in her and it will come.
How do I get over a mental block of backhand spring? I have been doing it for years and now I am scared just to go backwards.
Awesome article and ideas! I love your your tips and videos….My problem is that while learning about fulls and doubles is super cool, it is way above the level of mental blocks and skills that my kids are struggling with. I have a few cheerleaders who have had the technical skill to throw either a back hand spring or back tuck for months and months…but refuse to move on…I realize this may seem simple to a coach like you but I have tried so many things but continue to get, “but I’m scared!” How do you get them over the fear of backward tumbling? Any help or suggestions for more basic skills would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Holly,
That’s a great question. So first, you need to pin-point what EXACTLY they’re afraid of – is it the back tuck itself? Or is it the connection to the back tuck from a round off or a bhs that scares them?
See if they can do a back tuck on a trampoline from a straight jump position, or maybe a standing tuck off a block on to soft mats. If the tuck itself isn’t the problem, then you know it’s the transition, in which case you want to drill the connection as much as possible.
Here’s a great drill you can use: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=653783117997080&stream_ref=10
Once you find the exact problem and drill the piece that scares them, they should get it. Hope that helps!
What about when the issue is with a standing tuck? I have thrown it alone when I was younger but then I took a break. I have the capability to throw it alone, I can see in the video of it that my spotter is not helping at all but as soon as I try to swing or start the skill when they do not touch me I freeze and forget when I am doing, even when I’m on a crash mat. I am not sure how to over come it.
I had the same problem on my two to full. What I did was I asked for a spot and they would spot. I got my body used to doing it with someone there and then, at one point, they didn’t spot it. I was confused, but when I did it without a spot again, like you said, I froze. A good thing to think is to think, “if I’m not going to land this, the spotter will be there to help,” and that leaves me with no worries.
My daughter has tumbled for years. Very talented. I don’t know what triggered Her fear, but she struggles to do her round off back handspring tuck , and is afraid to throw it . If her coach is standing there, she will, and it is beautiful. She has grown a lot. She fears over-rotation too because it has happened before. She tries out for HS cheer in the spring on a gym floor with a matt. She is already worried that she cannot do it. Very frustrating for her. she cries. I don’t know what to do.
Growing definitely throws off a person’s center of gravity from what they’re used to. She needs to build trust in herself more than anything else. Have you tried applying this? http://bit.ly/mbformula
After I read this article, I landed a new skill the very next day while tumbling. You are a genius, thank you.
Amazing! Congrats Ainsley
My daughter, Addysen is 8 years old. She is in her 3rd season of Allstars Cheerleading. Addysen was actually doing RO BHS BT, etc. Then one day she was at practice and was giving a new skill to work on then just froze. It has been 4 months and she won’t even do a standing BHS. I have read a bunch of your articles on mental blocks and the biggest thing is getting Addysen to tell me what is triggering the block. All she can say is I don’t know. I guess what I’m asking is on just BHS what is something she can practice not only at the gym but at home to help. She is a beautiful tumbler and she is really getting frustrated at herself
did your daughter ever get over her mental block? My daughter is going through the EXACT same thing and we are both at our wits end. Any advice??
Help! My daughter was a level 4 tumbler and one day stopped in the middle of her pass. Now she is afraid to tumble at all. She won’t even attempt a standing bhs unless I spot her. It has now been a year! I have tried hypnosis, change of gyms, stopping altogether for 2 months, etc. Nothing is working! Any suggestions?? She is only 10 years old and I hate to see her going through this.
Did your daughter overcome her block? My daughter is level 4 and all of a sudden is afraid to do a back handspring.
Omg. My daughter is having this exact same problem. Help!!!
Kelli, You might be TRYING too many things and sticking with none if you know what I mean. Is she in the gym consistently 3x a week? If not there’s your first order of business. Also put this to use: http://bit.ly/mbformula
She can’t tell you her trigger, you have to have a conversation and figure it out. Did you find the LCD surface? Try with spot? There HAS to be somewhere she’s comfortable doing the skill. If not, rebuild it from the ground up. Try handspring trainers that help her get her orientation again.
hey, i am 17 years old and have done all star cheer for 6 years now. I completely understand how your daughter feels Christina. I used to have a standing tuck and a running tuck and I was fearless. Then one day when I was going for a roundoff backhandspring tuck I got scared of my tuck in my handspring and i wiped out and landed on my neck I was very frustrated with myself and thats where my mental block have started. After that I was scared of my roundoff handspring and would only do one every once in a while then it worsened I was too scared to do a standing backhandspring even though I have been doing them for years and they have amazing technique I still wont do one without a spotter. Its been 10 months of this mental block and has been very frustrating. I am now afraid to go backwards but i will still do backwalkovers just takes me some time. I will get up to do a backhandspring by myself or with a spot and often times i will just freeze up and i just cant do it and I dont understand why i could stand there for hours and I just wont go. My mom have even offered $100 if i do it in a certain time and I couldn’t do it. I am physically capable of the skill, but not mentally. At this point I have been seeking help and going to a sports pyscologist my mom says its last resort so im just hoping it helps.
I have recently been working on doubles and I just keep getting stuck at the one and a half part then I did them with a spot and it worked the next hour I was just working Fulls and I was slowly regressing. I did a pretty full like I usually do then it got lower and lower then I tried layouts and it wasn’t working and right now my roundoff backhand spring just keeps trucking my mind. Tryouts are in less than a month and I really want to get on this level 5 team World Cup Idyssey but I’m stuck. Defenitey going to try this.
Pressuring yourself to join a level 5 team when you’re not TRULY level 5 ready is a great way to develop a mental block. TRAIN first. Get those skills solid then walk in confident. Also layouts are a huge piece of the puzzle so spend lots of time on them.
Im a level 10 gymnast (girl) and have been doing gymnastics for 11 years. All of a sudden I’m having trouble with my round off flip on floor. I start the session fine and do some, but then I just stop and can’t do it anymore 🙁 I have tried to visualise but I always see myself fall or pull out. I dot know what to do, and I always get frustrated and cry 🙁 please help.
“I always see myself fall or pull out.” – that’s your problem right there Shannon. You’re focusing on what can go WRONG instead of focusing on what can go RIGHT. visualize it perfectly landed instead and you’ll make great progress.
Hi, so my mum has said that if I want to cheer, I have to pull out a back handspring and I am simply to scared. I figured that what is stopping me from doing one is that I don’t want to injure myself. I am too scared to hurt my neck and even if I am on a matt, with a spot, or even on a tramp, I simply whimp out and say, ‘it’s too scary’, ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’m too scared’. I’ ex been told I have the skill to throw it but I don’t. I had the same thing with my back walkover and I was spotted and got it. I really need help but I do have six months time before I need it. Do you have any advice since I have tried ALL your methods and none have worked?
I am in almost the same exact place as you. I’m a level 5 cheerleader and am 11
Years old, I’m struggling with my bhs. I have had it before, and last week I got it back. Just keep telling yourself that “you CAN do it” . I had NO one to spot me, so I just went in my backyard and threw it. It had to be done and I broke the block. Keep practicing and it will all be prefect!
Hope this helped!!! -Whitney
Hi Elise,
I am a level 4 cheerleader. I had the same problem just with a round off back handspring tuck. I am actually kind of still having it off and on. But something that really helps me is that I simply just throw it. When someone tells me I have the skill it gives me confidence that I can do it. And think if you have the skill and do it right the worst you will most likely do is land on your knees. Hope this helps!!! Good luck at tryouts!!!
You need to find a good gymnastics coach and LEARN the skill properly instead of simply “throwing” it. The reason you’re scared is because you haven’t trained it properly. You should show your mom this: https://tumblingcoach.com/p3training
I still just can’t get over my mental block. I’ve been out of tumbling for a while because of my back. I’ve been in and out of doctors and hospitals and physical therapy and they never found out what was wrong. After a lot of rest it got way better. So I got on an octogon to do my back handspring. I have it perfectly on the octagon clearing it every time. But I can’t do it even on a trampoline without someone standing there. I don’t need a spot. Just someone standing right next to me. I don’t get it
You might simply need to work the skill more until you’re confident. It’s hard to say without looking at a video how much work it needs.
I have a serious mental block. It’s been off and on for five years now. It was mainly just with connecting things at first. Then it was connecting things and doing standing handsprings. Now it’s with everything. I used to be able to do a standing tuck when blocking but now all I can do are level 1 passes and a front tuck. I’m on a level 5 team and have been cheering for 8 years now. I’ve done everything and #1 worked the last time I got over my mental block but it’s not right now. I love cheer and I just get so frustrated and feel like I want to quit because of my mental block. The videos and visualization just makes me cry because I see myself doing it there and I’m not doing it anymore. I watched your connection technique video on Facebook but I won’t even do that. I can’t connect ANYTHING without a spot and I hate it because I can’t move on and learn a full until I get over this permanently. I’ll try anything but it’s hard after you’ve tried so much and it hasn’t worked.
I know exactly how you feel. I go home after tumbling practices and cry sometimes because I’m so frustrated because I know I’m getting worse. I used to not be scared and then one day I went to practice and am so scared of throwing skills.
You might need to check out my friend Jeff Benson’s book called “Unblocked” since you have a deeper issue than just a regular mental block. You’re struggling with wanting a skill but also on the other hand afraid of getting hurt.
Hi Austin my mental block is mostly related with succeeding at work. 2 years ago I failed at a job, and I completely lost my confidence in any other that I can do successful it’s been a rough road, but I’m trying to overcome it. All these different methods I’ve tried and still trying with the hope of change.
This article helped! But still working on it. I am 13 and trying to get my round off back handspring and I recently almost had it but I tried and I fell on my butt:/ do you have any tips for round off back handsprings?? I loved the article by the way it is helping me I just have a little more to go!!
Hard to say without a video but EVERYONE falls. Just get back up, make your corrections that your coach gives you, spend some time on drills then try again.
I have been working on my bhs for almost two years now. I know I can do it by myself but i chicken out right before. Coaches don’t spot me they just stand there and I have tried almost everything. For some reason I just won’t let myself throw it and I am very stressed. I need help
Hi! I was really happy to read this for my 9 year old daughter. She is a great and power tumbler. However, she had a bad experience with a coach, and he mentally broke her confidence. She is not struggling to do a connecting running back tuck. She can pretty much do a standing one by herself but a running round off back handspring tuck, not. As soon as she is coming out of the back handspring, she hesitates and doesn’t do it. Is there a particular method she should try first? I want to help her as she is feeling broken hearted cause that is her goal in order to move on with harder tumbling passes. Thanks!
My daughter is having the same issue. She is a level 7 gymnast. Any suggestions please help?
Absolutely Tonya, please read up on this. Works everytime if you put in the time: http://bit.ly/mbformula
Sorry to hear about that terrible experience Savanna. You both should read up on this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
I have an awful mental block right now. just months ago I was throwing fulls by myself but now I can’t even do a running tuck. Every night after I get home from practice I cry for a long time like I am now. I’m not sure what caused it but I think that it was when I started working lunch front foreward roll to tuck and I was always scared to do the tuck so the then I got used to having someone standing right next to me when I did my tucks and then my coach got tired of standing there so he stopped doing that. this made me not feel confident enough to add a tuck on the end of it and then I ended up not throwing my tucks at all for at least a month. now I just can’t do it, even with a spot I get so much axiety around it. I have a standing tuck so I don’t think that’s the problem, I think it’s the round off hand spring part of it. I do have a good round off back hand spring (and with a spot tuck) I go over my coaches head when I tuck but even when that happens, I don’t feel confident in myself I feel embarrassed that I won’t throw it. Please help me, I don’t like going to cheer like this and feeling so worried all the time!!
Katie, you really need to try your passes on a surface you feel most confident and step away from the floor for a little bit. Here’s a better explanation on that: http://bit.ly/mbformula
I wish someone had told me about mental blocks before my daughter joined cheer so that I had been better prepared for what happened to her. My 10 yr old daughter is in her 2nd year of all-star cheer. She absolutely loved it until this past August when she fell on her neck on a tramp doing a handspring. She was not hurt, but it really scared her…she heard a crack and thought for a second that she had broken it. The next day at her tumbling lesson, she just froze. Could not do anything. She started tumbling a bit over the next couple of weeks, so we thought she was coming out of it, but then at the beginning of sept. lost everything, even her back walkover. So, in total, she has lost her tuck, all handspring skills, and even her walkover. She is on a level 2 team, and feels humiliated that she cannot do her handsprings with the rest of the team. Some days she seems to get a bit better and will at least do stuff on the tramp, but then other days she will freeze on the tramp too. She was having a good week this week, and then came home from school after a really difficult math test and started blocking on the trampoline again. I think the worrying over the test made it worse. Now, she says she hates cheer and wants to quit. I feel so bad for her because I know deep down, the block is taking the fun out of something she used to love.
Hi Ann,
Stress from different areas of life can definitely have an impact on cheer and vice versa. She needs to take a step back and re-learn the skills from the ground up and go back to drills. Drills that are challenging enough to help her but easy enough to build her confidence back! Below are 2 resources for you guys:
P3 Method: https://tumblingcoach.com/p3training
Mental Block Formula: http://bit.ly/mbformula
I’ve been cheerleading since I was 4, I’m 15 now. When I was younger I was fearless and could tumble I had a tuck so level 4 tumbling. Then when I was 5 about to be 6, I broke my arm while tumbling. I’ve had this serious mental block to tumble since then. I’m tired of being on a level 2 team and having to duck down every time I have a competition. I don’t know what to do to get over this fear. I know I have a back handspring, but no matter what I feel like I need a hand behind my back , they don’t need to touch me I just need to know its there, in order for me to tumble. It’s such a bad crutch. Any advice?
Yes, read up on this and start doing DRILLS instead of trying to do the SKILL: http://bit.ly/mbformula
Go back to basics to build your confidence.
I am having the worst metal block with my standing tucks. I have the skill perfectly with a spot. I don’t need the spot physically, but as soon as i try to do it without feeling fingertips on my back, i open up mid tuck and land on my face. I seriously can not get over it and I have 2 tucks in nationals routine which competes in less than a month. please help!
You need to understand that opening a tuck is FAR worse than holding it. You also need to go back to basics and try these drills before trying the tuck again. If you do the reps mentioned you will get the skill: http://bit.ly/tuckguide
Also, don’t have anyone touch your back any more. Spotters should have their fingers a few inches away then go in when needed.
I know that I can do a backhandspring because I can do it perfectly with a spotter. But I’m just too scared to jump back!!! Plz reply!
Hard to say without seeing a video Tay, but maybe your jump is weak and so your brain is protecting you from doing the skill and thus keeping you safe. Try this: http://bit.ly/mbformula
My daughter 12 yeas old
competes back double twist on floor. Now all of a sudden when warming up with a basic back layout she can’t ! She goes to do the back layout then her body does a twist. She has been doing double back salts for floor and that’s OK, it’s only when doing a layout.
Also she has no one at her gym to train with, at her level or higher. So she only trains with lower level girls. They are all improving at a fast level but my daughter is now going backwards.
She loves her coaches !! Can you please help?
She probably got too used to pulling the twist RIGHT off her back handspring (or whatever entry skill she uses) instead of setting. And now she can’t set normally anymore. Tell her to try a few back tucks and pikes then the layout and I’m sure it’ll come back since those skills can’t be done while trying to twist. Also be sure it’s on a safe surface such as a crash mat or in a pit.
Great article, thank you!
I think I have an odd one out as well. I keep video tracks of myself for the last 5 years during training sessions. When I develop a mental block, I go back and watch myself struggle things hich are now piece of cake for me. It helps tremendously and very fast to remove the block (plus a lot of drills, visualisations etc..). It is a long project but it works :).
That’s a great tip, thanks for sharing! Training definitely has its ups and downs!
I have been cheering for two years now and at first I was fearless and throw anything now I won’t throw my round off bhs now and my standing tuck it kills me bc I love to tumble and now I hate it and cry almost every time I don’t throw
There’s no need to cry. I understand your frustration. Here’s a more practical plan you can use to get over your mental blocks: http://www.bit.ly/mbformula
My daughter has been a cheerleader for a feel years.She is 11 years old. She was doing her backhand spring tucks and working on standing tucks but one day after a private,she could do anything anymore including back handsprings. Has been a month or more that she cannot through her back handspring anymore and of course her tucks!
She is very frustrated and I don’t know what else I can do to help her!
She is in youth 2 and they have to put her in the back with the one’s can’t tumble.
What can I do to help her?
You first have to find out what triggered it — it’s more than the private lesson. Here’s a more practical plan you can use to help her get over the mental blocks: http://www.bit.ly/mbformula
Help! My daughter was a level 4 tumbler and one day stopped in the middle of her pass. Now she is afraid to tumble at all. She won’t even attempt a standing bhs unless I spot her. It has now been a year! I have tried hypnosis, change of gyms, stopping altogether for 2 months, etc. Nothing is working! Any suggestions?? She is only 10 years old and I hate to see her going through this.
Kelli, there’s no need to push a 10 year old that hard. If she was tumbling at level 4 in cheer, it seems like a classic case of progression before perfection. Below are two resources for you:
P3 Method: http://www.tumblingcoach.com/p3training
Mental block formula: http://www.bit.ly/mbformula
Hi, my daughter is 8 and has been doing her round off backhandspring for over a year. She is on a competitive cheer team. One day she stopped connecting her roundoff backhandspring. She became so frustrated that now she can’t throw her standing backhandspring. I don’t recall any significant injury at any point. No sprains, or broken bones. She will throw her standing on a soft mat. But, not on the regular mat without a spot. So, for some reason she has a fear. She is now the only one on her team not tumbling during competition. She is not trying to learn a new skill, just trying to do the skill she’s already had. How do I get an 8 year old to overcome her fear when I don’t know the trigger?
If she’s 8, she simply needs more drills and reps till her brain is convinced that it’s safe to do so. The good thing is that she has PLENTY of time on her side. She also needs to step away from the pressure of competing her tumbling. At least for a few months and just focus on tumbling without the stress. Also send her in equipment where she has no fear. Also check out this interview with my friend Jeff Benson on mental blocks: https://tumblingcoach.com/blog/mental-blocks-jeff-benson/
I’m a level 5 gymnast and I broke my knee on the track and I was gone for six months when I got back I had this fear of doing round of backhand spring but I was doing a front layout wen I broke it then I got it but then I got afraid agian and I was even thinking of leaving I’m just terrified of it I don’t no why I’m afraid and I don’t have a very nice coach ether and I won’t even do backhand spring on the track and I have a competion on March the 30th please help
You need to step away from the stress of competition and be sure to read this: https://www.facebook.com/AddictedToTumbling/posts/1397357063639678
I’ve had a mental block on my round off backhand spring for a year now and I can’t do it once someone walks away. Last year I did it by myself with no one standing there a few times and since then I won’t. I get so frustrated because I want to do it so bad do you having any tips?
You need to take the time and go through this process, step by step: http://www.bit.ly/mbformula
I don’t know how long it will take. But if you stick with it, you’ll get your skills back.
Okay so I have a fear of doing my bak handspring without a spot. But I already know exactly how to do it and they are beautiful when I do them. I have tried all of these tips and none of them worked. I have even gotten to the point where I want to quit cheerleading because I can’t throw the skill but I know that I can’t give up.
You need to find your “trigger” then work your way back. It might require going back to drills and re-learning a few things. You also want to be tracking the # of times you did the BHS by yourself (no spot) on a surface you’re comfortable with. If it’s anything less than 300 then you have work to do.
Here’s a plan to follow: https://www.facebook.com/AddictedToTumbling/posts/1397357063639678
So I have been learning a full because I want to cheer in college. After working on them for a month, I threw my two to full on spring floor by myself. Two weeks later my coach wanted me to do my running full and I don’t like running tumbling already… When I threw my running full I freaked out upside down and landed on my neck. Now I am deathly scared to throw my full by myself and sometimes even on the tumble track
That’s unfortunately Bailey, but it seems that you were afraid of your own power and learning tumbling a speed that’s much too slow. You want to go back to basics – RO BHS Layout and try perfecting that running pass with 100% speed and power that you’re capable of. Once you learn to control your own power, start learning fulls again and they’ll come back. It’s an uphill battle and won’t be easy. But if you stick to it, you can get it back.
I have had a bad mental block for a good 3 years now about my tuck. I get it but then I loose it. I could be throwing so many and then out of nowhere its like something clicks in my head and my body completely stops me from doing it. I have great height and form its just my head won’t let me get through it. Any help? I’ve tried these methods and I just can’t seem to completly get out of this whole mental thing.
I know exactly how you feel. You want to track the # of reps you do on your own. So if you get it and lose it, you want to get in a habit of doing lots of reps consistently. So try doing 5 in a row. If you did 3 then had a block, then did some more later it doesn’t count. After 5 in a row aim for 10, then 15 then 20. etc.
You will eventually get to a point where you’ll have it solid.
I’m on backhandsprings. I got my backhandspring about 6 months ago. I got scared 1 day after I did them and never have been able to do one since. Though I have never fallen or failed before. I freeze up every time I try to do one. Nothing so far has worked. I even get scared with a spot. Do you have any more advice for my Delma?
If you’re scared with a spot Lexi, you need to go back and simply do the drills that helped you learn the skill in the first place. You need to get to a point where you can do the skill on a safe surface (such as trampoline) and with a spot. From there you can work towards getting it on floor.
My daughter is nine and has been working on her round off tuck since June of last year. She has beautiful form in great height And has thrown it on the floor but then will regress. I’m giving her plenty of time with no pressure and I know she needs to build that confidence but internally it drives me insane! I know I would be singing a different song if I were down there trying to do it so I just sit back and be quiet and encourage her as much as I can. My question is how much does she needs to be working on it and how long does it usually take a younger athlete to get this skill? She does about 3 privates a week and a tumbling class at her gym. I read that repetition helps to build those neural pathways! But I’m not sure if it’s the right thing.
dosnt help at all
shut the hell up
i have a mental block on my backhandspring my back tuck my layout and my full and my coach is telling me that there is no such thing as a mental block and im kindof getting fusterated with myself because i cant do it and i dont know why and im also going to cheer camp for level 5 and i cant even do a level 2 skill hopefully these tips will help me thankyou
Love your ideas. My daughter is a training-level 5 gymnast and is suddenly scared to death to the back walkover on the beam (which she has been doing for months). So much now she won’t even do it on the floor without a spot. Her coach started off sympathetic and transitioned to mean telling her to “just do it” and putting her on display in front of her teammates thus making her cry during practice.
I suggested we take a complete break from this skill on beam and floor for one week, and the coach (thankfully) agreed. I am spotting my daughter at home on the floor and she is trying suggestions I have found of singing a song in her head and only giving herself 5 seconds to start the skill versus stand there forever thinking about it. She is journaling about it, etc. We set up a visit to talk with a retired gymnast this week.
You mentioned variations of the move – I am not sure what variations of back walkover she could do on beam to keep practicing, but not do her fear move. Any thoughts? She goes back in her backbend and kicks over just fine with no fear.
Any suggestions on how to suggest ideas to the coach without making the coach feel like she isn’t doing her job? I don’t want to make things worse, but I wish she would be more open-minded to working on different thoughts versus giving up on her.
Omg thankyyou so much! This helped heaps Im taking a week off, I can do all back tumbles and everything and 2 times in 2 weeks I went for a roundoff and went back for the backhandspring and landed on my neck so now Im scared to but thanks to you guys Ill just have a weeks break! Thanks ;}
I really loved what you had to say about doing something that you love so that it boosts your confidence. My niece loves to do cartwheels and back-bends and I know that tumbling would be great for her. She does get scared sometimes so I know that she could struggle with mental blocks in the future. I think that these tips are a great way to over come that so I’ll have to keep them in mind just in case.
I’m scared to do my back handspring. I have had multiple, multiple spots and I know I can do it but I think I can’t do it, if that makes any since. I have the height and distance to go back but I’m only afraid because I’m a 13 year old girl and I am 5′ 10″ and I feel like I am way to tall to do a back handspring. I really, really want to get it by the end of the summer. I think the classes I take this summer and these tips on my mental block will help, thank you!!! 🙂
My Daughter Hannah has been tumbling for the last 2 years and this is her second year on a High School Competition team. For the whole 2 years she has been working on her Back handspring. She actually had it about 6 months ago. She was doing it own her own and without a spot. We thought that she was going to move on to 2 back handsprings or start her on her running back handspring. Something has happened this summer and she is back in a rut. She has a mind block and will not throw her back handspring without her main coach spotting her. And she will only throw it on the air floor and not on the matt floor where she needs to throw it. She has had mind blocks before, but this one has been the worst. I absolutely have no idea what to do to help her this time. Any suggestions or advise would help
Love all your recommendations. My daughter Madison is 12. She has been in Allstar cheer for 4 years. Excellent tumblr: standing fulls , toe touch fulls, 3 to doubles, punch front thru to double fulls Etc… She goes through times that she lets her lack of confidence get in the way of her tumbling. I am her number one fan , however being the parent sometimes our support can hinder their progress. Would you have any “parent specific” recommendations that we could use to building confidence in our athletes?
I don’t know if i will be answered in time but, i am a freshman going into high school cheer. I did my round off back handspring in the tryouts and i got on the varsity team. However, the next time i tried doing it (which was a month later) i fell on my face and i have had a serious mental block ever since. I have been hesitating and my coach is expecting me to throw it tomorrow morning for our choreography class. i am super stressed and don’t know what to do. does anyone have any advice for me?
Thank you so much for the tips, I am gonna show these to my little girls coach!! My little girl is just recently going through her mental block in the last week and maybe we can do one of these steps to help her!! She had a beautiful layout and tuck but now she will not throw nither without a spot(but will throw a standing tuck all day) she is only 7 and I thought she is just maybe tired of it but she cries and insists she loves it!! She is getting frustrated and there is nothing I can do for her, but after I read this I see there is things that her coach and I could do to help!! Thank you again!!
Hello Coach,
Thanks for the great tips. I was wondering if you any specific suggestions for my daughter. Just a little background: she started as a gymnast, stopped at level 6, she then went into all-star cheering. She perfected all her skills. All of a sudden, she could no longer throw her full on the competition mat. In practice she was fine when no one was demanding it. But on the competition mat, she literally froze. Mind you she has thrown it numerous times in competition. Fast-forward to Today, she appeared to “get it back,” (now competing on the collegiate level); however, when put in a competition-like environment she froze again. She is very frustrated and even admitted that she’s embarrassed because she knows she has it and doesn’t understand why her body isn’t responding.
Would you happen to have any suggestions to pushing through this.
Thank you!
I am working on a backbend I have successfully done it a few times but I tried showing my coach and I fell. Now I can’t do it. I don’t know why and it’s very discouraging because I’m just a beginner.
Just follow your hands with your eyes and go slow don’t throw yourself back
I was an All-star cheerleader for 9 years and just ended my cheer career this year. About 5 years ago I was throwing fulls and working on doubles, when I went to tryout I was confident that I’d make the level 5 team and I didn’t. A couple weeks after that I got a mental block. I think it was a confidence thing, but the only skill I could throw was a round-off. I never got my tumbling back. I stuck with cheerleading for the love of the sport, but now I feel like it’s holding me back. I want to tryout for the college team, but I still cannot tumble. Any advice?
I floo back in my round hs and now i am scared the through a rond off hst or just a hs
i have been like this for a while now i dont know what to do
I am a gymnast and I’m stuck in level 2 because I’m to scared to throw myself back words. I am scared to even attempt a backhandspring on trampoline. It’s been 1 year and I’m still to scared I’ve only been able to practice front things. help please I need to get over this fear
Hi i have been cheering for 4 years now and after my 3rd season ended and 2 weeks before tryouts I was doing my round off back handspring and I fell off the mat and broke my elbow I only a couple days later had to have surgery. I took a year off then came back when I was a good 90% healed I’m never gonna be 100% healed but it was good enough. I am cheering at athletic perfection and did my standing BHS at tryouts and my back walkover but i lost both and just got my balk walkover. I simply can’t get over my mental block I do it perfectly with a very light spot but i freak out when I’m supposed to do it myself
I have been a cheer leader for a couple years now; every skill I learn takes a while to perfect. For example, my cartwheel is the prettiest my couch has ever seen… but it took a year to learn. I am currently working on my back walk over but every time my coach says “we are getting it today!” If feel sick to my stomach and i’m scared o death. I don’t know why I’m scared an not a lot of methods work for me… I just made the cheer team and they expect me to have it soon!!!
WHAT DO I DO??????
I found this really helpful! I’m a diver, not a gymnast, (although I guess you could say diving is a form of gymnastics) but I was throwing back dives and somersaults off the board just fine until, after a series of bad smacks, I can’t. It is sooo frustrating. I’ve been trying to work back up to it, so I’ll have to try some of these at tomorrow’s practice. thanks!
My daughter has had a layout for a couple years, recently arabian and full thrown a couple times, but over the last 6 months she has fallen on tucks occasionally and recently round off back handspring. Just falls on the back handspring randomly like twice a practice. She gets up and continues tumbling now but she cannot say why she keeps falling on the back handsprings.
I have my flip flop my mind just tells me I’m going to fall in my head so I back out.
How bout trouble getting height on a layout..any suggestions please??
Help with mental block on a round off back handspring. My daughter has been able to do them for a long time but one fall at practice has put her in a downward spiral and now her mental block is taken over! She can do back handsprings over and over but can’t connect the roundoff. She has tried lots of different drills and techniques but can’t do it unless her coach is literally standing next to her. Please help her!
I am a mostly self taught gymnast, but I have been going to a gym for a couple months now. I have my roundoff back tuck on spring floor with out a spot, but when I try it at home (on grass) I get a mental block and become scared to do the skill. I feel as though i will land on my head, or won’t get enough height. I don’t know what to do. There are no other drills I can do, since I can already do the skill on spring floor. I’ve already tried doing “high backhand springs” and it hasn’t helped me at all. I don’t know how to get over the mental block.
I am a cheerleader and got my ro bhs 6 months ago, and was doing it consistently up until winter break. I took a four week break (because the gym was not open), and I can still do the ro bhs perfectly; except I need my coach to spot my first one. This wouldn’t be an issue if my tumbling coach and cheer coach were the same, but I only see my tumbling coach once every week or two. My cheer coach can’t spot me (sideline squad) and I get frustrated with myself when I freeze after the ro. Does any have any tips on the block? I need to get it back on the hardwood!
I also have this issue except I got my ro bhs like 4 months ago. It’s really pretty when I do it but, I just need my coach to stand there for at least the first one so I know I won’t die. I’ve never fallen or hurt myself on it I just get blocks and they make me get so mad at myself. I only get to tumble twice a week at my gym because everyone has to share the floors.
I am a level 4/5 athlete but recently I bailed on a simple skill and got a concussion! Now i am scared to do ant running or connected skills with out a spot. I guess I am scared of the power. I need to get over this VERY SOON any extra tips would be appreciated!
It’s hard to force yourself and get it done “soon” but here’s a plan you can put into use. Take it step by step and it should help: http://www.bit.ly/mbformula
Yep. I looked this up because I am dealing with the worst mental block. I used to tumble in high school but now I’m 3 years out and want to be able to do my back handspring again. I can front tumble no problem but thinking about going backwards freaks me out. I want to try out for a college cheer squad but if I can’t get over this fear it’s not going to happen.
What is none of these are working. I’ve had a mental block for 2 and 1/2 years and I cannot get over it. I have tried all these methods and nothing seems to be working.
I have a mental block on my back hand spring and can do everything else i’ve had it for 3 years and i can’t get over it!! any tips
Ive been doing ROBH tucks for a long time now and now i cant even do a ROBH all the sudden d2 summit is this weekend HELP!
At the end of 2014 I broke my arm doing a round off back handspring during gymnastics practice. I had to have surgery and stop practicing for a month or two. It was really hard for me and now it’s time to relearn it to move up. I’ve been doing it with a spot for a couple practices now and have gotten no where. The problem is when I go in for my round-off my brain yells at me for thinking I could do it. I know I can though. Usually I have a really high rebound out of the round off but when I want to connect it I don’t. I can do it on trampolines and on resi mats but just not on the floor. Any tips?? ~Mady
I was a level 3 cheerleader, a year below my tumble skill level. I had a solid layout and standing 2 back handsprings to layout. Lator in the year, a lot of pressure was put on me for flying. I got one chance to do what was called “the elite stunt” in a compotition. I was very excited and nervous. I stretched all day. Lator, in that compotition I fell in the stunt. Than I busted a tuck, landing on my neck. All of my coaches were very upset with me. I was devistated. I than became afraid of my tuck but would still have to throw it at compotition. I began to no throw in practice and at compotitions. My coaches were always trying to give me confidence but it was not working. I’d throw the tuck one time and than the next time I would get scared. The season lator ended and I descided to take some time off. I miss cheer a lot and want to go back, but I am afraid of getting scared and landing on my neck. What should I do?
I have a question I was scared cause my coach said OK do it on your own but I’m scared of doing the backhand spring and going backwards is there something else that can help or drills
How can I get over my fear of the floor and not rebound doing my Fulls? I hurt my ankle back in March and have lost my confidence. I need to start throwing all my level 5 skills again and cannot get past this. I have worked so hard to make level 5 and it could all be taken away very soon. Please help!
I was able to do a back handspring in the trampoline. Then we took a week off for the holidays. When we got back I wasn’t able to do it anymore. How am I able to get over my fear? And be able to back handspring on the floor?Also, I’ve had this mental block for about a year now!
Hi I’ve been having problems with my bhs I know I’m able to do it but a few months ago I was completely fearless and tried it and my coach wouldn’t spot me so I fell on my neck twice and it really hurt so I’ve been having mental blocks ever since any ideas anyone I really need to get my bhs
Hi, so I am a gymnastics coach in Scotland and currently have a gymnast, 9 years of age, with a block doing forwards tumbling. She can do a fast forward walkover but add a jump infront or doing a run and handspring – she twists out of it (cartwheels out).
She struggles to visualise herself doing things and is struggling to verbalise exactly why she feels she needs to twist out. There are a number little things I think have built up to this and she is extremely hard on herself. I am doing visualisation stuff with her but I think her non belief that it visualisation works blocks that! Occasionally when I spot her she also twists out.
Any advice on what to try next or will I give this a few more weeks? I’m trying to keep her happy in the gym and not make a big deal out of it.
Thanks. E
Hi, I am a cheerleader and gymnast and one day I freaked mid back handspring and skidded across the floor on my head at cheer practice. Next thing I know I can’t connect round off back handspring or a back tuck when I was previously working layouts and fulls. I finally got my back tuck back about a month ago. But last weekend I did the exact same thing I did previously while warming up for a gymnastics competition. I can still connect roundoff back handspring and a back handspring back tuck but I cannot seem to put it all together. This is really frustrating and my coaches don’t seem to understand my fear. Help!!!
I have been tumbling for years and I have had my back tuck for at least 2 years and my layout for a little less than a year. I have always had a mental block but I overcame it eventually about 4 months ago, but now I have missed classes for 2 months and I’m freaked out because I tried a drill for a round off bh (connecting so I would remember how and kind of get the feel of it again) on the trampoline and I fell 3 times in a row. I have the class tonight and my coach is not as understanding because he says my tumbling is so pretty and to just throw it, usually. I’m scared that I’ll ask for a spot and they won’t spot and then I’ll get hurt and I also don’t know what I can do at home to help it. This is also my first year not doing competitive cheer so I don’t really have any reason to HAVE to tumble. Also, my coach is very nice and cares about us but it’s just that he wants me to overcome it but I don’t think the idea of “just throwing it” will work after this long.
I believe #1 is definitely true! Most of my friends are great tumblers so it makes me want to be just as good so I try harder.
I’m having the same thing with my round of backhand spring. I don’t know what’s wrong! I have tumbled since I was 3 and I’m 13 I don’t know what happened.i think a lot about it
I need to just go right?? I need to count to three and then go I know I can do it!!
Hi! I have a mental block on a skill in my bar routine. Can you help me? I have tried all of these tumbling tips and they are’nt working. Please help! I am expected to do it or I will let my friends and team down! Help!
I had a full for almost a year when I seriously broke my leg and was out for many months, finally I got my full back and have been doing it for about two months and one day I walked I to the gym and simply felt like I didn’t know how to do my full anymore, I’m so scared because I feel like I don’t know how to do it and I don’t know why. It’s not that I don’t know how to spin because I do triples into the foam pit, I just feel like I can’t, I will do my full with a spot, but I am on a level 5 team and need to have this skill. Usually I would just throw it and possibly bust but I’m so scared of busting and getting hurt because my leg only bends about 115 degrees. Do you have any advice?
My daughter has a mental block with her standing back hand spring. She can do it into a pit with a mat on it but won’t do it on the trampoline, which is actually easier and something she has done before. Her coach is refusing to spot her because he feels it is feeding into her mental block thinking she needs it when she clearly does not need it. We are going again tonight but after that I’m not sure he’ll see her again. He said he isn’t helping her any more at this point. I don’t think that is helping her, but making it worse. I don’t know what to do to help her.
okkkk so im a level 9 power tumbler and i have the “twisties” my floor pass is 6 whips double full and full 5 whips full. on floor i can only do twisting skills now i can backhandsprings but when i try to do tuck i twist i have done alot to try and fix it and i need my double tuck if i want to become level 10 PLEASE HELP ME. it started a year ago and i quit over summer and came back now i ocassionally i think it’s when i get scared i do it.
Do you believe in spotting tumbling? Does spotting during tumbling create blocks?
I hurt myself while learning a full almost three years ago,since then I have been terrified and I just haven’t been working on it as much.I now have a half consistently but I cannot finish rotating to finish the full twist,my parents have given me till the end of the month to get my full and if I don’t my cheer career is over ,do you have any tips to help me please
I was doing my roundoff tuck perfectly fine until one week I was in the air and completely stopped tumbling. I got hurt and now I’m seriously scared to do it now. I just can’t throw it anymore.
I have a mental block and I have a competition tomorrow. I just got the block a few days ago. My coach doesn’t do well with us not tumbling so any ways that I can get rid of it faster just for tomorrow and then work on it more?
Hello, I have a mental block on my backhandspring, I’ve had a mental block for over 3 years! I finally convinced my parents to let me go to a clinic with my friend (becuase they would’nt take me) and I did it on floor with a coach I did’nt even know! I could only do it with one of the coaches, but it boosted my conifidence so muc that when I got back to gym, I could do it with my own coach! But one day, I decided not to go for it, and fell on my back. no biggie, but it scared me so much I have’nt been able to do it since! I’ve taken a 2 month break and my double-mini tricks I am not so scared of anymore, trampoline, still scared, and tumbling, I’m still scared. I know I can do it, I just have a mental block on it. I have seen so many people falling on their heads, I just see myself doing it, and even though I’ve always been perfect, with no problems on backhandspprings (except for my hands not facing the right way and getting an over-extended elbow, and falling on my back) nothing has been bad. And I just can’t seem to visualize it, and I thought that method #3 was pretty cool! I can do my backhandsprin on a tumble track into a mat, so I thought, If I do so much backwalk-overs that it comes kindof normal like breathing, no difficulty or being scared, that my backhandspring fear might just go down enough to make progress! If you’ve got any other suggestions on how to get over my problem, can you please tell me? Thanks, and I will let you know if it helps!
I don’t have hardly any tumbling out of the trampoline and I am so scared. I don’t know why. Please help
I just wanna thank you. I had a small fear of doing tumbles because I pulled a muscle in my chest from doing one and now I can kinda do one! So,thank u soo much ???
I have tried all of these and they still didn’t help. I am always worried that something will go wrong and I will die. Everything I have tried failed.
My daughter stopped throwing her full in 9th grade after a team mate tore her ACL right next to her doing a full. She quit All Star and only cheers in HS. She has a beautiful full and double on the tumble mat to this day… She is now a Junior in HS. The girl that tore her ACL is now cheering in college and doing standing full’s etc. My daughter has watched her recovery but still has a mental block. I do not know how to help her. Any other suggestions?
I have a mental block in tumbling even though I can do doubles and fulls!! I have had it for 3 years o=almost. I am in 7th grade.
Hi! I really enjoyed reading this article, and I’m going to try these methods, but I’m still quite concerned. I started cheer late compared to many (around age 10) and since then have been working on my back handspring. I had a bad mental block (even though I done it on the ground by myself a few times) but then a new coach came to my gym. I did some privates with him and I felt so confident that I was going to get my back handspring. I did the same drills I would do in these lessons when I was at the gym (mainly when my sister was there – she is a coach). Unfortunately last summer when I was working on these drills, I broke my arm doing a back handspring down the cheese mat. Even though I am fully healed, my mental block is now worse than ever, I can’t even do it on the cheese mat without a spot. Any tips on how I could overcome this? I really love cheer, but my family and I have decided that if I don’t get my back handspring this season, it will be best for me to quit. We came to this decision after a humilating evaluation for a level 4 team to replace girls in stunts. A coach told me to come in because not everyone on the team had to tumble, then proceeded to not allow me to work on actual level four stunts and obviously I couldn’t tumble. I was so embarrased and I cried so much on the way home. I almost did not do cheer this season because of it. (In case anyone was wondering – I have cheered on a level 2 team before and did a level 3 stunt clinic, I was not going into the evaluation with no knowledge of how to do some of the stunts they did.)
I just started diving, and I can’t do a flip. Last time I did one I kneed myself in the face and broke my nose. Now I just can’t do one at all. My dad gave me four more practices to do it, or he’s making me quit. I’ve already tried all of these and they make it worse. What should I do???
I’ve been working on my Back Handspring for a while now, and my technique is perfected, but I have a huge fear of starting the skill. All of my coaches have said that I can do the handspring with no problem, but that doesn’t ease my nerves. It’s starting the back handspring that scares me. What should I do?
I have this problem where I’m not scared of my tumbling but to go for it. For example I can’t go without someone saying 3 2 1 go. I don’t know how to get over it. Pleas help!
My daughter has a beautiful round off backhand spring back tuck but for over a year she has struggled off and on with throwing it? She just stops and won’t throw it. She is beyond frustrated with herself