Overcoming Your Fear of Tumbling

Do you still fear that back handspring? Can’t do anything on a gym floor? Is it a big problem when the spotter steps away? If so, then it’s time to overcome that fear of tumbling!

Gymnastics has become an integral part of cheerleading, and that’s why it’s crucial to be able to perform your best, in any situation. Although we are all athletes, much of what we do is simply a mental game – learning to train your brain as well as your body.

“Tumbling is like any other sport, practice and repetition are the best preparation to mentally prepare yourself,” says V!ROC Choreographer and tumbling expert, Josh McCurdy. “Tumbling blocks are not going to be fixed in a matter of days or weeks. It’s an ongoing process of building trust and confidence back in the athlete.”

So, what should you do to get over your tumbling block? Here are some tips:

First, you must not let the skill take control of you. Remember that you decide what happens. Visualize yourself doing the skill perfectly on every type of surface. Think about executing a back handspring with ease on grass. Picture yourself mastering a standing back-tuck on the gym floor. These mental images help to remind you that you can do this skill regardless of location. It will also prepare you mentally, forcing you to never create bad habits or blocks in your mind.

Josh explains, “The athlete should focus on performing the skill without using bad habits or personal rituals, such as ‘fake throwing’ or counting through multiple 8-counts before going for it. When an athlete stands there for a long period of time, it allows them to think about the skill too much, therefore allowing the block to remain. The skill needs to be thrown over and over quickly, so the athlete’s body get used to performing the skill, and thinking too much about the negative is not an option.”

Second, try bringing along a video camera to a game or a gymnastics lesson. Have someone videotape while you perform the skill. If you fall, rewind, and tape over that one. Then, watch the tape every day, reminding yourself that you can do it. Seeing yourself succeed gives you confidence. And don’t ever tell yourself that you can’t do anything – that would be a lie!

Finally, concentrate on technique. Learning a back handspring with bent arms is difficult! Reviewing how you perform the trick helps your body to remember what to do. Sometimes, even drawing a diagram step-by-step will help you break down the trick (hey, maybe it’s elementary, but it works!). Hopefully, it won’t seem so scary, too. Josh agrees that when in doubt, “go back to the basics.”

“With all the teams I coach tumbling with, we start every day with working on basic body positions and drills. Don’t skip over the importance of basic skill perfection because a handspring or tuck is needed in a short time period! GO BACK TO THE BASICS and focus on proper techniques,” says Josh.

The fear of tumbling can be one of the most paralyzing fears of cheerleading. However, once conquered, is the most rewarding. Only you are in control of what you do. By gearing up mentally, the physical performance will be easy. Good luck and happy tumbling!