Cheerleading Info Center

Ground Up Full Extension Cheerleading Stunt

 Are you learning how to do a Groud up Full?  Check out our stunt section for all of the details.  Click on GROUND UP FULL for an instructional video.  Enjoy!

Cheerleading Pyramids

Check out our Cheerleading Pyramid Section for some really great ideas! 

Also, if you have one you would like to share, CLICK HERE and send us your video or photos. 

Cheerleading Dismounts

Written by:  Coach Sari

A dismount is the way a stunt is completed or how the Flyers come down.  There are numerous dismounts and you can make your own variations by adding a twist or tumbling skill like a flip.  Here are some of the basic and most popular dismounts:

Hands Dismount:  This is usually done by beginners in the Double Thigh Stand or Prep.

· The Bases take their outside hands and hold the hands of the Flyer.  As the Flyer jumps down, the Bases catch her under her armpits with their other hands.  For an example, please click on DOUBLE THIGH STAND STUNT.

 

Shove drop:  This is also called a shove wrap.   For an example, please click on PREP SHOVE DROP.

•   Bases will shove the flyers feet together.   As the Bases drop the Flyer, the Bases will catch her as the wrap their arms around her waist.
    •   The Flyer will have arms extended in front of her to hold the Front Spotter’s hands and squeeze everything together and stay in an up right position.
    •   The Back spot should hold on to flyer the entire time as she comes down.
    •   The Front spot will grab the flyers hands and help down.


Cradle:  This is an advanced dismount and has several variations like a single or double twist.  For detailed video examples, please click on CHEERLEADING CRADLE. 

    •   Bases will dip when the back spot calls "cradle! 1, 2".  On the "1" you dip with your legs the same way built the stunt.   On "2" you will toss the Flyer.   The reason for counting is so that you and the other base can toss the flyer at the same time.  After you toss, leave your arms in the air and catch your flyer. Make sure to keep your back straight or you will end up hitting heads with your other base. Absorb the catch by bending your knees.

    •   The Flyer will start with hands in a High V and stay very tight.  As you are tossed stretch your body like you are reaching for the sky.  The second you feel like you are on your way down, slap you hands to your sides and pike your legs slightly in front of you.

    •   The Back spot will help toss and look  to slide their arms under the Flyer’s armpits.

    •   The Front spot should help toss the Flyer and then move to the side to catch the flyers feet.   Remember, if you do not move you will get kicked in the face.

 

Full down:  This is a cradle with 1 full twist.
    •   Base, Backspot, and Frontspot will do the same as the cradle
    •   Flyer does exactly the same thing as in the cradle but instead of  slapping your hands straight down, you will pull your arms and hands to the left. Also you will look to the left because looking over your shoulder
will help you spin.


Double down:  This is a cradle with 2 full twists.
    •   Base, Back spot,  and Front spot again will do the same as a cradle.
    •   The Flyer will do the same as in the full down but this time pull harder and don't open up after you go around once. Stay tight to continue spinning for a second revolution.

 

Written by:  Coach Sari

A dismount is the way a stunt is completed or how the Flyers come down.  There are numerous dismounts and you can make your own variations by adding a twist or tumbling skill like a flip.  Here are some of the basic and most popular dismounts:

Hands Dismount:  This is usually done by beginners in the Double Thigh Stand or Prep.

· The Bases take their outside hands and hold the hands of the Flyer.  As the Flyer jumps down, the Bases catch her under her armpits with their other hands.  For an example, please click on DOUBLE THIGH STAND STUNT.

 

Shove drop:  This is also called a shove wrap.   For an example, please click on PREP SHOVE DROP.

•   Bases will shove the flyers feet together.   As the Bases drop the Flyer, the Bases will catch her as the wrap their arms around her waist.
    •   The Flyer will have arms extended in front of her to hold the Front Spotter’s hands and squeeze everything together and stay in an up right position.
    •   The Back spot should hold on to flyer the entire time as she comes down.
    •   The Front spot will grab the flyers hands and help down.


Cradle:  This is an advanced dismount and has several variations like a single or double twist.  For detailed video examples, please click on CHEERLEADING CRADLE. 

    •   Bases will dip when the back spot calls "cradle! 1, 2".  On the "1" you dip with your legs the same way built the stunt.   On "2" you will toss the Flyer.   The reason for counting is so that you and the other base can toss the flyer at the same time.  After you toss, leave your arms in the air and catch your flyer. Make sure to keep your back straight or you will end up hitting heads with your other base. Absorb the catch by bending your knees.

    •   The Flyer will start with hands in a High V and stay very tight.  As you are tossed stretch your body like you are reaching for the sky.  The second you feel like you are on your way down, slap you hands to your sides and pike your legs slightly in front of you.

    •   The Back spot will help toss and look  to slide their arms under the Flyer’s armpits.

    •   The Front spot should help toss the Flyer and then move to the side to catch the flyers feet.   Remember, if you do not move you will get kicked in the face.

 

Full down:  This is a cradle with 1 full twist.
    •   Base, Backspot, and Frontspot will do the same as the cradle
    •   Flyer does exactly the same thing as in the cradle but instead of  slapping your hands straight down, you will pull your arms and hands to the left. Also you will look to the left because looking over your shoulder
will help you spin.


Double down:  This is a cradle with 2 full twists.
    •   Base, Back spot,  and Front spot again will do the same as a cradle.
    •   The Flyer will do the same as in the full down but this time pull harder and don't open up after you go around once. Stay tight to continue spinning for a second revolution.

 

Cheerleading Stunts for Beginners

Written by:  Coach Sari

Stunting for Beginners

If you are new to stunting, you must begin by learning all of the positions in a stunt: the Base, the Flyer, and the Spotter.  Remember, you should eventually learn all of the positions but master at least one.    Here is a breakdown of each position.

The  Base:  I am starting with the base because that is where the stunt begins as the Base is the person on the bottom.  You may think to yourself, “My arms aren't very muscular so I can not be a Base”.   Guess what,  that does not matter because basing a stunt is ALL in the legs.  Using the correct techniques will make stunting easier for you and your team. 

To strengthen or legs, there are several exercises you can do like squats or lunges.  Please see our CONDITIONING SECTION for exercise tipss.

The Flyer:   If you're a Flyer, you are the person in the air and I bet you might be really excited. Warning: your job isn't all fun and games!  You must work just as hard as your bases do.   For some tips to make your job easier, please click on FLYER TIPS.  Just like the Base, using correct techniques will make stunting safer for you and your teammates.

The Spotter:    The Spotter is the person that makes sure that the Flyer does not fall.  In most stunts, you have several spotters including Back Spotters and Front Spotters.  Remember, in all stunts, YOU MUST HAVE A SPOTTER!  In the most basic of stunts, someone can fall and get hurt, so use a spotter for every stunt.

*  The Back Spotter: The Back Spotter is usually the tallest girl so that you can reach the flyers legs or ankles.
*  The Front Spotter: The Front Spotter is not always needed in every stunt but having one makes your stunt a lot safer and usually makes the Flyer feel locked in and more secure.

For a complete list of stunts for beginners, please click on BEGINNING CHEERLEADING STUNTS in our stunt section.

How to Become an Advanced Flyer

Written by:  Coach Sari

Here are a few key points to becoming an advanced flyer.

1.  You MUST stretch EVERYDAY.   To  master advanced stunts like a Scorpion, a Heal Stretch, a Bow-N-Arrow, and a Scale, you must be very flexible.  So, here are some stretching tips:

*Back Stretch for a Scropian:  Do a bridge/backbend and try to move your feet as close to your hands as possible.   Or,  lay on your stomach and push your chest up with your hands on the floor and try to touch your feet to your head (aka a bunny pose).  

*  Stretching for a heal stretch / Bow-n-arrow:   Do splits on both legs. When your split becomes easy,  put one foot on a step or mat and do a split with your front leg elevated.

 
2.  Practice standing on one foot.  Use chair or a parking spot curb.   Practice climbing by thinking in your head "1,2, down, up" and use the back of the chair to push off of.

3.  Practice twists on a Mat.  You can practice full downs and double downs on a trampoline or squash mat.  Think "cradle! 1, 2," jump up and spin down.

4.  Squeeze or “Pinch a Penny”.  When you're in the air, ALWAYS squeeze ALL of your muscles!

5.  Smile! Everyone is watching you in the air so do not forget your facials!

6.  Be CONFIDENT!  Know that you can do your stunt and trust your teammates.

For more information, click CHEERLEADING FLYER TIPS in our Stunt section.

Cheerleading Tip for Flyers in Pyramids

 Written By:  Coach Sari

Here are some important things for Flyers to know before attempting a pyramid:

1.  When you connect arms and/or hold a hitched foot, DO NOT use that foot or hand to keep your balance, just touch to connect. 

2.  If you find yourself falling, LET GO of anyone you are connected with.  This way you can prevent them from falling or having them fall on top of you, which can be a disaster!

3.  You are most likely more comfortable standing on your right leg as most Flyers use their right foot to fly on.  However, in a pyramid you might be asked to fly on the other foot depending on what side of the pyramid you are on.   So practice your skills on both legs.

For more information on stunts and pyramids, click on CHEERLEADING STUNTS.  Don't forget, to always practice with a qualified coach!

How to do a Cheerleading Cradle Dismount

The Cradle Dismount is a very popular dismount for intermediate and advanced cheerleaders.  It has many variations and can be done with the basic "pike" position or with a twist!  For how to videos click on CRADLE DISMOUNT to get all of the info. 

Tips:

• Make sure the Flyer keeps her legs together and arms in a "T" motion.
• When the Flyer is caught by the bases, make sure she wraps her arms around the bases' shoulders.
• Make sure the Back Spotter catches the Flyer under her armpits.

How to do a Cheerleading Liberty Stunt

Do you want some tips for a proper Cheerleading Liberty Stunt?  Well, click here PREP LIBERTY for an instructional video.  Here are some things to remember:

• Make sure everyone is watching the Flyer.
• The Flyer must remain tight at all times.
• The Flyer's foot should be next to her knee or higher and point your toes.
• The Flyer's arms can be in any motion.
• The Liberty can be used in a variety of base position including the prep (as shown here), in a full, or on a double thigh stand base.

Cheerleading Beginner Stunt - The Pony Mount

The Pony Mount is the first stunt that all cheerleaders should learn.  It takes 3 people - yes, always use a spotter, even with a pony mont!  Click CHEERLEADING PONY MOUNT for an instructional video.  Here are some tings to remember:

• Make sure your base has their arms locked at all times and head up.
• The Flyer should sit on the lower part of the base's back;  if you sit to high, you could hurt your base.
• The Spotter should hold the Flyer at her waist at all times.
• The Spotter should help the Flyer get up and dismount.

How to do Great Cheerleading Stunts and Pyramids

Do you want all of the tips and tricks to awesome cheerleading stunts and pyramids?  Well our stunt section is loaded with tips, how to's, and videos.  For all of the details, click CIC STUNT SECTION.

Here are some general tips that you should remember for stunting regardless which position you have:

1.  Never try any stunt you are not ready for.

2.  Only stunt with an experienced coach.

3.  Look around your area and make sure there are no hazards in your way.  For example, if you are outside, make sure there are no rocks in your area and that you are on a flat surface.

4.  Absolutely no laughing or fooling around during stunting.

5.  Always have the proper safety equipment like proper sneakers and mats.