Tumbling is one of the most technical and physically demanding skills in cheerleading, requiring strength, flexibility, coordination, and mental confidence. Yet, many athletes take extended breaks from tumbling (3-6 months or longer), only to return months later expecting to pick up where they left off. Unfortunately, stopping tumbling for long periods and then restarting can be detrimental to both progress and safety. Here’s why consistency is key.
1. Loss of Strength and Muscle Memory
Tumbling requires explosive power, core stability, and precise technique—all of which are built over time through consistent practice. When you stop tumbling for months, your muscles lose their conditioning, making skills that once felt effortless suddenly difficult. Muscle memory fades, meaning your body has to relearn movement patterns rather than refine them.
2. Increased Risk of Injury
One of the biggest dangers of taking a long break from tumbling is the increased risk of injury. Tumbling skills require joint stability and flexibility, both of which decrease when not regularly maintained. Athletes who return too quickly often attempt their old skills with reduced strength and control, leading to improper landings, hyperextensions, and even serious injuries like sprains or fractures.
3. Loss of Confidence and Mental Blocks
Tumbling is as much a mental skill as a physical one. A long break can lead to fear and hesitation when returning to skills that once felt natural. This uncertainty can cause athletes to develop mental blocks, where they suddenly feel incapable of performing certain skills—sometimes even ones they’ve done for years. The longer the break, the harder it can be to regain that confidence.
4. Regression in Skill Progression
In tumbling, progression builds upon previous skills. When you take a break, it’s not just your highest-level skills that suffer—it’s the foundational ones too. Without consistent reps, basics like back handsprings and round-offs may feel shaky, forcing you to start from scratch rather than continue improving.
5. Slower Overall Progress
Athletes who take frequent or extended breaks often find themselves falling behind their peers who have remained consistent. Whether you’re working toward new tumbling passes or refining existing ones, every missed practice adds time to your overall development. The longer the break, the longer it takes to catch up.
How to Avoid Setbacks
Maintain Strength & Flexibility – Finding a class that will work with your schedule will continue to help build their strength and flexibility.
Practice Drills & Basics – Classes are the best way to continue your drills and basics with a coach who can help you tweak technique issues to keep you on the right path.
Ease Back In Safely – If you do take a break, return gradually with proper spotting and a trained coach.
Final Thoughts
Tumbling is a skill that requires consistent effort and dedication. While breaks are sometimes unavoidable, stopping for months at a time and then restarting can lead to setbacks, injuries, and frustration. Staying consistent—even with light training—will help you maintain progress, build confidence, and ensure a smoother transition when returning to full training.
Keep moving, keep training, and don’t let long breaks hold you back from reaching your full potential!
