Being the parent of an athlete going through a mental block is nearly as painful as being the athlete. A parent wants the world for their child. If something is broken they want to fix it as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, mental blocks aren’t that simple to fix. They take time, consistency, trust, support, and lots and lots of patience. 

Every child is different and how a parent handles the mental block will differ based on each cheerleader’s personality. These parents we interviewed have mental blocks fresh on the mind. They are sharing with us what has and has not worked and what to expect throughout this process of healing. 

Parent #1 - 13-year-old daughter has gone in and out of the mental block for three years:

Bribes, threats - nothing has worked. Unfortunately, my daughter first went through her mental block at the worst time possible. After she fell, there was a week off from cheer (first week of school) where she didn't get in the gym at all. I would recommend getting “back on the horse” as quickly as possible.

Hers is definitely from feeling out of control when she tumbles with power. Mental blocks are the most frustrating thing ever. I feel like the cheerleader really has to want to get over the block themselves-nothing else works.

Parent #2 - Has an eight-year-old cheerleader:

As a parent from both of us, it was pure frustration. Just three days prior to this mental block she was throwing her skills (back handspring) and was even getting a spot on her back tuck. We could not comprehend how she just stopped tumbling. We got angry and told her "just do it" and bribed her with everything under the sun. After about a month of that - we noticed it wasn't working. And we could see in her face how much it was really getting to her and she was beating herself up. There's no doubt this girl loves the sport and even she herself could not understand why she stopped tumbling.

At this point we decided to stop talking so much about it and it was time to love her through it, to love her through her struggles. Getting angry stopped, the bribery stopped and we started celebrating every little victory. Positive words and encouragement from all of her coaches along the way and all of her teammates and her family and friends finally brought her the success she had been waiting for.

Parent #3 - Has a 12-year-old cheerleader:

My daughter has been what I call "rollercoastering" for about two years now. I think it started when she was really trying to perfect her tuck. Although it comes and goes, and she has gotten much better lately, I still don't believe she is at the level of energy and confidence that she was prior to two years ago. No, she never had an injury -- it just happened. I think it didn't help that a few coaches just let her slide and say "she'll get it back eventually" without really working with her and basically ignoring it. Only a few coaches made her fight through it and didn’t give up on her.

I think the best thing that helped her (and me because I was getting so frustrated) is when she was told "You might get your hand spring back and your coach is going to want to IMMEDIATELY put you back into your old spot. Don't do that until YOU'RE ready." Of course the coaches want to put her back in the routine because it helps with scores, but until her brain says it's ready, she won't be in it 100%.

Now, she knows she makes the decision if she thinks she can handle it or not. If she starts to slide, we go back to what is making her uncomfortable and try it again. I don't see near as much up and down as I did before she was told that. She is more confident. Still not as strong and as powerful as two years ago, but she's close. I think she's a little bit scared to release all that power that is inside her.

Anyway, it's frustrating to watch your child go through it because it is all in their head, but you just have to stay calm and give them the time they need to feel confident while supporting them, but still making them try.