What causes mental blocks in Cheerleading?
I get lots of questions (often from parents) about mental blocks and although I tend to invite people to call me so we can talk directly about the block, some are reluctant to do so. I’m not sure why. Perhaps they are shy or they prefer the anonymity of email. Still, there are some worried parents out there and so I thought I would devote the next few blog posts on this topic.
Today’s post will look at some possible causes of blocks. (And by the way, I have derived this info from interviewing many cheer and tumbling coaches, cheer parents, and cheerleaders plus hours of studying the sport psychology literature and research studies.)
Mental blocks sometimes seem to come out of nowhere. One moment an athlete is performing well and the next he or she freezes and cannot execute a skill. Usually it is a backwards skill such as a back handspring but sometimes it’s a stunt.
If the block does not resolve with good coaching and encouragement, some other interventions may be necessary (more on that later).
A careful assessment is a first step. Sometimes I discover that the athlete was injured or saw another cheerleader fall or get hurt. If this is the case, there may be a type of post-traumatic stress reaction and this would call for a specific kind of intervention designed to re-train the brain.
Here is an outline of other possible reasons for a block:
A. Poor training
- 1. not getting the basics
- 2. inadequate progressions
- 3. moving too quickly from 1 skill to the next – before mastery is achieved
B. Poor coaching
- 1. emphasis on perfection
- 2. rushing and pushing athlete
- 3. berating, humiliating athlete
C. Athlete’s characteristics/attitude
- 1. perfectionist
- a. perform tentatively
- b. focus on not making mistake; not feeling embarrassed
- 2. rushing
- 3. distractibility/poor focus
- 4. inadequate psychological/cognitive resources
- 5. all or nothing thinking
- 6. excessive need for social approval
- 7. high expectations
- 8. worry about outcomes
- 9. ego-threatening stance
D. Physical
- 1. growth spurt (shift in gravity)
- 2. bad habits catch up with athlete
- 3. dissociation or disconnection with body
As you can see, there are many possible causes of mental blocks which are why it is unwise to use a one-size-fits-all interventional approach.
More to come after the holiday weekend!
Tags: cheerleader, cheerleaders, Cheerleading, mental blocks, tumbling