All-Star Micro Tumble Blocks (is This Odd??)

[cheertired]

So I am working on my double fulls on floor. I have it down, without a scary landing. My body turns all the way around and I generally stick it. However, I have noticed that after doing around a certain number of them (let's say 10) then something happens where I psych myself out to the point of what I like to call a "mirco tumble block". I can't do anything out of a round off for like 5 minutes, but then work through it and everything is fine. It's a regression for a short time frame, but then I progress again. I know I can physically do the skill, but for some reason my brain is stopping me. I can overcome it, it's just frustrating when it happens like clockwork every time I do my doubles.

Is this common? Is there exercises (both physical and mental) that would allow me to override the mini blocks and just maintain confidence? I think that I basically start overthinking and start to question if I really do have the skill or not. It only happens when I do my doubles, nothing else!

 

[DaniV]

I do the same thing with fulls! And I can't warm-up tucks or rebounds first, I generally have to go straight to layouts then twisting. For me, it's almost like I start thinking too much about the corrections and my body realizes the craziness that it is doing, so I start to block (I did have SEVERE mental blocks with back tumbling 5+ years ago that pushed me to quit gymnastics completely but I can back tumble now).

Come up with a keyword or phrase that is a "pump up" to keep your positive energy flowing. Say it every single time before you go. I also have to count myself through the pass, I say "one" on the hurdle, "two" on the connection to the bhs and "go" on the set. It helps me not think about what I'm doing too much and focus on the just doing it. I'm not to the point where I can start focusing on lots of corrections yet, it's mostly about numbers and just getting myself to throw them and get comfortable with them. Good luck!

 

[tumbleyoda]

Question is why are you doing more than 10 doubles? How many times a week are you doing this? What landing surface are you using? While these many not necessarily point to the reasons for your micro blocks as you call it, I do wonder why that amount of pounding of the body is necessary - if you are landing them all the way around and generally sticking them? Soft landings or landings into a pit are totally different IMO.

What I do is keep my athletes moving to different surfaces with low reps. Tumble track, double mini, rod, floor. We also discuss the number I want to see done at the start of the lesson or class. This way their brain can't "lock" onto a set number. If I see them having issues, I determine the reason, and make adjustments to make sure that they are successful in their assignment for that day. I also don't want to burn them out, create stress fractures or overuse injuries so that when they really need the skill to compete it, they are unable to perform it because they over trained during the learning phase of the skill.

 

[Coach Sara]

As someone mentioned, think about having specific reminders that you give yourself- ones that boost confidence and logically tell yourself that you can do the skill, as well as execution key words to help you focus on the appropriate things rather than the fear or nerves. As tumbleyoda said, you may want to look at adjusting the reps if a certain number seems to be triggering it for you. If the number is flexible, consider moving on when you feel confident, or "good" about the turns you've taken rather than a set number. This may not make a difference but could be worth trying.