All-Star Mental Blocks Effecting Placement?

[cheermuse]

At what point does a "mental block" become something more than a block? Have a 13 y.o. male who could throw up tumbling skills up to a layout and was working on his full. Now he can't do a BHS. This mental block has been ongoing for 2 seasons. Coaches try to work with him by letting him go at his own pace and not forcing him. Its been 2 years and I can see them placing him on J4/5 simply because they hope he gets his mojo back :/

 

[Senior'11'Pilot]

I was meandering through different gyms tryout packets, as I was just curious. And I was reading one gyms packet and it said, "No mental blocks…they are destructive and contagious…if your child has a mental block, your child may be asked to leave practice and up to possibly being removed from the team"

I feel being removed from a team because of a mental block is absolutely horrible. The last thing someone with a mental needs is negative feedback like that. The thing is everyone will eventually get a mind block of some sort, and the BEST way for the athlete to get over one is by coaches understanding and helping them. Not by removing them, as they cannot get over it if they are not able to work on/through it if they are asked to leave.

any thoughts?

Sounds familiar(meaning ive read it)...But i totally agree with you.

 

[cheermuse]

I believe it's in the Fame packet...

 

[Senior'11'Pilot]

I can understand why they do it but not sure if I agree.
It is not best for the athlete because they feel like they just aren't needed without tumbling.
But for the entire team, I'm not so sure. I've seen an entire group of friends get blocks at the same time. It got to the point where they had to take completely separate tumbling classes.

On another note, I think that 4.2 teams are the PERFECT spot for girls with long term blocks!

I dont get it...Isnt 4.2 good, why would any 4.2 team take some one with a long term mental block?, unless i read that wrong /:/

 

[Senior'11'Pilot]

I think this was maybe meant more as an attitude warning. Like people who are just refusing to work or blaming their sudden laziness on mental blocks are not acceptable. I think usually mental blacks usually have an underlying issue and good coaches take the time to figure out what it is. At my gym, if you won't throw your tumbling pass you get to be a happy ball in the back, which is punishment enough

Thats true, if you lose it then you should work hard and stay positive to getting back to it. As well as the coaches help too. Patients is a virtue. You just have to beleive you CAN do it.

 

[cheeeeer93]

I dont get it...Isnt 4.2 good, why would any 4.2 team take some one with a long term mental block?, unless i read that wrong /:/

They are able to focus more on stunting and up their abilities in that area with less pressure on tumbling. Some athletes just lose some skills, not all sometimes too.

One great example.. a girl I knew was pretty much level 3 tumbling and level 4 stunting. She had a mental block for a few years (lost almost all tumbling except level 1 and a few other skills) and went to a level 2 team where she wasn't able to build on her stunting at all. 4.2 allowed her take a little less pressure of the tumbling and increase her stunting ability.

 

[dohnutt]

Honestly, after being through multiple "mental blocks" (I hate those words) if I saw this in a tryout packet I would not even consider cheering at that gym. I completely understand that an athlete's block can be detrimental to the team but seeing this would cause me to be scared that I would get a block and be removed from my team, inevitably leading to one..that was the first thought that came to mind when I read this, and I know I would not be able to handle that.
Although I do not think that an athlete deserves to be on a level four team if they haven't thrown their layout all summer since tryouts, I also think this again puts all the focus on tumbling. Many people say that if an athlete isn't throwing their tumbling they are no use to the team, but what about stunting? They may be the best base or back spot or flyer for the spot they are in, therefore I think that a mental block should not be a sole reason for removing someone from the team.

 

[ctwings]

I am dealing with this right now....two girls on that were on my youth level 2 last year have menatl blocks...one fell doing a handspring tuck and the other just played what I call "mokey see, monkey do"....she never fell but developed a block. I did not even think to take them off the team because 1) we only had two comps left and it would have been more of a pain to find someone to fill in and 2) they are amazing flyers and preformers. We just had tryouts and started practicing and I called both moms and asked if they would be on my J3. I told them that there is more to cheering than just tumbling and they excel at everything else. When the parents told the girls what I had said they came in the gym today and tumbled like they have not missed a beat.

But in our packet it states the same thing and we even go over that in our parent meeting...but we let them know that taking them off the team will be a last resort but we would never remove a kid from the program.

 

[Senior'11'Pilot]

They are able to focus more on stunting and up their abilities in that area with less pressure on tumbling. Some athletes just lose some skills, not all sometimes too.

One great example.. a girl I knew was pretty much level 3 tumbling and level 4 stunting. She had a mental block for a few years (lost almost all tumbling except level 1 and a few other skills) and went to a level 2 team where she wasn't able to build on her stunting at all. 4.2 allowed her take a little less pressure of the tumbling and increase her stunting ability.

So what your saying is that, some body who cant tumble level 4.2 or others and are good bases or flyers can also be on that team?...regardless of tumble?

 

[aybrandonallstars]

I don't know. I think atleast this gym is putting it out there so its clear. Mental blocks happen (though I don't understand them at all) but I've some seen higher level athletes lose everything, to the point they wouldn't have the skills to make a level 2 team. And yes, it can be contagious and frustrating (to the point of resentment) to the other team members.

yeah but ive been through one many teams for up to 3 seasons. its horrible and VERY hard to get over. a lot of people dont get it! i understand going down a level but not being kicked off cause a lot of the time, they really dont know how they got in it or how to get out of it. the coaches have to be very paitent and work slowly.

 

[cheeeeer93]

So what your saying is that, some body who cant tumble level 4.2 or others and are good bases or flyers can also be on that team?...regardless of tumble?

Well where else do you want to put them? Senior 1 where they aren't challenged at all?

 

[Mo-Lissa]

Well where else do you want to put them? Senior 1 where they aren't challenged at all?

I totally understand what you are trying to say, a bhs or bhs combo is the max skill you can throw on 4.2, but you can do really hard stunts so it still keeps your athletes skills up while working to get there tumbling back, some people mental blocking can still do bhs or even tucks. 4.2 teams are great teams.

 

[Mo-Lissa]

Double post, sorry computer acting up.

 

[soa]

I get what alot of you are saying....I guess my question is, would other sports let this happen. If a baseball player will throw the ball, but then gets a mental block about catching one and wont do it? Would they keep them on? How about if a football player just couldn't muster up the confidence to tackle someone anymore? A swimmer who suddenly gets totally freaked out about doing backstroke who is competing in the IM? Basketball player gets an irrational fear of tall people? (Ok, the last ones a stretch but you get the point!)

Also, how long would these mental blocks be allowed before movement off the team? I've seen them last a few weeks to years, so when is enough enough and action should be taken for the best of the team?

they would probably have to sit out

 

[createmagic]

So what your saying is that, some body who cant tumble level 4.2 or others and are good bases or flyers can also be on that team?...regardless of tumble?

I may be interpreting your posts wrong, but I get the feeling you aren't familiar with level 4.2.... It's level 4 stunting and level 2 tumbling. It's a great way, particularly for high school kids, to be able to focus on stunting even though their tumbling is lacking (typical for latecomers to the sport, or, in this case, kids with blocks).