Psychologists know that if you want to change, you must keep a written record of your goals, your plans, and progress.  Cheerleaders with mental blocks tend to live in their heads.  In other words, if that’s you, you might be thinking too much!  You might be preoccupied with thoughts of your mental block.

Well, by writing things down, you can get them out of your head and onto paper.  And I mean paper, not a computer.  You process things differently when you actually write them down as opposed to typing them.  So,  with that in mind, take a look at Debbie’s Step #7. (more…)

 I have written a lot about the power of visualization in improving performance for cheerleaders.  There are many kinds of visualizations.  Like anything else in the mental game cheerleading, one size does not necessarily fit all and yet I heartily recommend that all cheerleaders incorporate some form of imagery or visualization in their practice plan. 

The 6^th step in Debbie Love’s wonderful Breaking Free from mental blocks system is:  

Visualize 10-20 times a night the skills you are blocking on before falling asleep using the words from your scripting. Do this each night. (more…)

If you are a cheerleader with a mental block, you might be tempted to avoid the skill you’re blocked on.  According to tumbling expert, Debbie Love, that is not a good idea. 

Here is step #5 in Debbie’s Breaking Free from mental blocks system: 

You need to do 10-20 repetitions of every skill you are blocking on three times a week. Stopping is not allowed. Complete each series whether connected or not. Otherwise, you will train yourself to stop. Make sure technique is good on each skill. You may spot, or if the athlete will do the skill somewhere by herself with good technique, that is fine also.

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There is an ongoing internal conversation that happens when a cheerleader is executing a skill.  When a cheerleader has a mental block, that conversation can take a nasty turn!  For example, “I’m no good at this!” or “I’ll never get it right!”  Or “Everyone is laughing at me!” 

Do these sound familiar?  Well, guess what – your brain perceives such statements as instructions!  Therefore it’s critical that you be careful about what you are telling yourself.   (more…)

Cheerleaders with mental blocks soon realize that there is usually no quick fix.  Debbie Love’s 9-step plan called the Breaking Free System can be viewed on her website.  Today’s post reviews step #3 of Debbie’s system. 

Debbie has definite ideas about physical conditioning.  She says, “If you fail to include a conditioning segment into your program you are asking for mediocre performance by your athletes.”  Can’t get much clearer than that!! (more…)

I am recommending you set aside some time to review cheerleading and tumbling expert Debbie Love’s comprehensive website.  Yesterday I began a series of posts dedicated to discussing Debbie’s 9-step Breaking Free (from mental blocks) System. 

Today I will focus on her second step which is: 

 2) Remove all negative input and learn to understand the difference between tense and relaxed tone in your body. You may need to develop a ritual to do before your skills. Practice a relaxation technique by tightening and releasing each body part. (more…)

I am so excited!  Debbie Love, the international expert on tumbling and cheerleading, has teamed up with me to create a new Facebook Page called Unlock Cheerleading Mental Blocks! (more…)

You might recall that a while back I wrote about how to manage conflicts that can arise in cheerleading.  I introduced a format called Transactional Analysis or TA which shows how different parts of your personality, also known as ego states (see diagram below), can get “hooked” in certain situations. (more…)

If last minute shopping, cooking, wrapping, and baking have you frazzled, take a few moments (6 minutes and 31 seconds to be exact!) and listen to this “De-Stressing Meditation” which I recorded.  This is also useful if you are feeling ill or have been ill; it has a de-toxifying effect as well.

 Enjoy!

Is this a busy time of year or what?  Not only are you in the middle of cheerleading competition season, but you’re also getting ready for the holidays! 

It’s easy to feel stressed out and hassled so I’m offering you a little gift.  This is a recording of a lovely little meditation that is designed to calm and relax you. It’s called Self-Calming Meditation and it’s about 10 minutes long.  It begins with the sound of a bell and some soothing music and then my voice.  People really like it and I hope you do, too! (more…)