Why I Don’t Use the Term “Mental Block” As a coach, I’m very intentional with the language I use, and one phrase I avoid is “mental block.” When a gymnast struggles with a skill they previously had, it’s not just their mind “shutting down”—there’s a reason behind it. Whether it’s fear, loss of confidence, a technique issue, or a gap in progressions, calling it a “mental block” can make it seem like something mysterious or unfixable. Instead, I focus on why the skill isn’t happening and how we ca