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Let’s just get this out of the way: no one signs up for the emotional rollercoaster that is parenting a cheerleader. One minute, you’re coordinating hair accessories and private lessons, and the next, you’re in deep conversations about mental blocks and sports psychology like it’s your part-time job. Welcome to the world of the cheer mom.
In this episode of The Cheer Mom Podcast, we dive into the complicated, sometimes-panic-inducing world of mental blocks—those frustrating moments where a cheer athlete’s body and brain stop communicating. Featuring expert voices like therapist Jeff Benson, coaches Eric the “Tumble Chef,” Debbie Love, and Lain Lee, we’re unpacking real strategies to help you support your cheer athlete.
Your Brain on Cheer: Why You Can’t Just “Push Through” a Mental Block
Jeff Benson—a licensed therapist and former cheerleader (yes, he gets it)—breaks down what’s happening inside the brain during a mental block. It starts with the amygdala, your brain’s tiny built-in alarm system. When it senses fear, it basically hits the panic button. Cue: anxiety, frozen skills, and zero progress.
Instead of shouting “Just do it!” across the mat (we’ve all done it), Jeff recommends giving your cheer athlete space to breathe. That allows the prefrontal cortex—the logical, calm part of the brain—to come back online. In Jeff’s words: stop triggering the barking dog, and help the “wise owl” speak up instead.
Tiny Wins Matter: How Tumbling Skills (and Confidence) Get Rebuilt
Coach Eric, better known as the Tumble Chef, is a huge believer in deconstruction. When a cheerleader hits a block, especially with tumbling, you don’t bulldoze through the skill. You break it down, simplify it, and master each piece with intention.
He also reminds us that what happens in the gym is just a mirror of what’s going on mentally. If your cheer athlete is struggling to throw a skill, it’s usually not about the flip—it’s about fear, mindset, or belief. Mental toughness is a muscle too, and yes, it needs spotting sometimes.
Raising Resilient Cheerleaders, Not Performance Robot
Debbie Love, icon of all things mental block, preaches one powerful message: focus on growth, not perfection. Compliment your cheerleader’s determination, their grit, their patience—not just the flawless pass or perfect routine.
Because the best cheer moms (and dads) know this isn’t about just nailing the skill. It’s about helping these kids become strong, adaptable humans who can handle a setback without crumbling—or quitting.
Mental Blocks Are Bigger Than Cheer
Coach Lain Lee brings it all together with a holistic take: mental blocks don’t usually appear out of nowhere. They’re often tied to stress, learning differences, social pressure, or even burnout. If your cheerleader suddenly can’t throw a skill they’ve done for years, it’s not just about the tumbling. It’s about everything else that’s happening in their world.
Understanding that bigger picture helps coaches and cheer moms support their athletes with way more empathy and way less panic.
This Is Bigger Than the Mat
Here’s the universal truth, straight from the experts: getting through a mental block doesn’t mean forcing anything. It means helping your cheer athlete reconnect their body and brain. Sometimes that involves therapy. Sometimes it’s the right coach. And sometimes it’s just a cheer mom being calm and steady when her kid feels anything but.
So if you’re in the thick of it right now, take a breath. You’re doing great. Your cheerleader is doing better than they think. And this community? So many of us have been there in one way or another. And we’re cheering you on—whether you’re on the sidelines, in the car, or standing in the kitchen trying not to overreact.
Keep showing up.
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