Mental Block

Step 1

It is important to always start by asking the athletes if they WANT to break through. Sometimes an
athlete may have a mental block because they don't want to do cheer anymore and they can't seem to
muster up the mental energy needed to focus on tumbling. When they are stressed, they truly don't
have it within them to fight for something they don't want. If the athlete doesn't want to overcome their
Mental Block, they must know that it will be okay. Take the opportunity to help them
understand that cheer is what they do not who they are and they can choose to do anything. They don't
have to cheer. Make sure they don't leave cheer thinking they were a failure.

Step 2
Once the athlete decides they WANT to overcome their Mental Block, have them
explain why. Do they want to tumble again because they think they should or their parents, coaches, or
teammates think they should? Breaking thorough is difficult and will be challenging and only an athlete
that is doing it for themselves will be able to have long lasting results. Have the athlete create their
"why". This will be their intentional purpose to put the work and effort into the process.

Step 3
Find out where their Mental Block began. Then dig deeper and find out why. They don't need to know
the exact moment, but there is a reason when and why it began.

Did they balk in the middle?

Did they watch someone else balk?
Was there too much pressure?
Did they feel they were improving too fast?
Did things feel "off"?
Did they start to overthink and worry about
it and then it ended up happening?

Have them describe the situation in as much detail as possible, who was watching, what were they
thinking, did they warm up enough, did they feel ready to go, were they scared. This step can help them
put closure on what happened and how they can protect themselves from doing it in the future. If they
watched someone balk, what was their first thought? Were they scared? Did they start to worry if they
would balk? When they are worried about balking, did they start to have anxiety about not wanted to
balk? Did they thought start to grow and grow? Did it grow to the point where they actually thought so
much about balking or not balking that they ended up, well balking?
The same downward spiral can happen with most of their reasons. Whatever the reason, if they started
to worry about getting a Mental Block, started to focus on not getting a Mental Block, they probably
focused on the Mental Block so deeply therefore fulfilling their fear.

Step 4

Basic Training Tools:

1. Empowering Self-Talk
2. Focus & Positivity
3. Imagine yourself doing the skill
4. Drills if needed
5. Refocusing after Distractions

Step 5
In order for the athlete to be vulnerable to accept their fears and work on overcoming them, they will
need to completely trust their coach.

* Do drills and explain what the drills work on and why you are having them do them.
* Spot when you say you will, don’t trick the athlete.
* Challenge them, but know when to back off.
* Ask the cheerleader what they need from you.
* Work on a variety of skills to show the athlete they are capable of learning new skills.
* Focus and appreciate little accomplishments.

This is teaching them how to learn and solve their own problems. We want to create an environment
that allows for them to work without breaking them down.

Step 6
If they trust they will do what they want to do, they will do it. Trust will take time, work and patience.

THEY NEED TO TRUST THEMSELVES

* They will use their Empowering Self-Talk to keep them thinking about what they want.
* They will use their Focus tools to help them intentionally think about HOW to do it.
* They will know when they are distracted and use their Anchor statements to refocus.