Athletes involved
A "group stunt" will typically involve a flyer, two bases (one main and one side), and a back spot, or occasionally include a front spot. These can be all-girl or coed. A "partner stunt" will involve two athletes - aflyer and a main base. These tend to be coed, but all-girl versions do occur. A third athlete, a spotter, will be involved depending upon the skill level of the stunt executed and the rules and regulations for that skill. The flyer is lifted into the air during a stunt and is on top of the stunt or pyramid. Because many of the a flyer can perform require a high level of flexibility, this is a desired trait for the role. Flyers are also typically the shorter and leaner people on the team, but other members can act as a flyer depending on their abilities and the needs of the team. The flyer's main job is to squeeze her muscles together in order for her bases to be able to perform stunts from below her. The flyer can make or break the stunt since she has control over what is put up in the air.Bases
Bases are the athletes that hold the flyer or top girl in the air during the stunt. Bases are very strong and are usually assigned together based on height to create a level platform for the flyer to perform an action. The bases are responsible for understanding grips on the flyer's shoes so that the stunt can flow smoothly. It is crucial that bases stay in the same position when they toss so they are able to catch the flyer safely in a cradle position. Different levels of stunting come with different styles of grips for the bases.Safety - Cheer GlossarySpotters
Spotters are additional athletes whose primary responsibility is to watch the stunt and assist the flyer in the case of a fall or accident. Their main goal is to protect the flyer's head and neck from injury. Spotter involvement can range from nearly constantly holding the stunt, such as a back spot, to standing at the back of a cheerleading routine should an incident occur. * Front spot: Similar to the helping role of a back spot, the front spot will support and stabilize the stunt from the front. They are fairly rare, as most stunts are designed to be performed without one, but are sometimes added due to weaker bases or an uneven number of athletes. * Additional spot: Additional spots are typically used as a safety precaution, such as when a group is trying new or difficult stunts. Generally, they will only help the stunt if it shows serious signs of falling.Rules/safety
The safety rules for theTypes of stunts
Basic Two Leg Stunts
Modified Prep—Like a prep, start with hands cupped, then pop up to a stunt at waist level. While these are just the basic type of stunting, they are also the fundamentals of more advanced variations of stunts. * Thigh stand: A thigh stand is one of the most basic stunts. The bases either kneel on one leg or are in a lunge position with their front knees bent so that the flyer may stand on their thighs. This stunt is normally for the lowest of levels and younger athletes.http://rules.usasfmembers.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/USASF_Cheer_Rules_Overview_19-20.pdf?__hstc=138832364.42cbcfe2c194a1a74f5d519f57538b64.1580668694560.1580668694560.1580668694560.1&__hssc=138832364.2.1580668694561&__hsfp=645916085 *Load (also known as Sponge, Smoosh, Squish, Crunch): This is a fundamental position for cheerleading stunts. It is a loading position where the flyer holds their weight through straight arms on the bases shoulders, and the bases are holding the flyer's feet at their torso level. A group stunt usually jumps into this sponge position before dipping to move into another stunt position. It is a 'mount' or a way of entering into a stunt. *Prep: A stunt in which the flyer stands on two bases' hands and is held up at chest or chin height.This skill is a foundational skill for stunting and may also be referred to as a half or an a-frame. This stunt is learned before all other stunts since it is the most basic form of stunting with a stunt group. If one to were tryout this stunt is expected to be solid before being placed on a team. * Extension: In an extension, the flyer stands with each foot in the hands of a base similar to a prep, except instead of being held at chin level, the bases extend their arms and block out their shoulder so it creates a solid platform for the top girl. The flyer must hold her weight so that it is easy for the bases to hold her above their heads. ** Cupie or Awesome: The Cupie Is a variation of an extension where the flyer is held above the bases' heads with her feet held close together. If it is performed as a partner stunt, the flyer's feet are together in one fully extended hand of a single base. In a partner stunt, the difference between a cupie and an awesome has to do with what the male base is doing with his free hand. If the free hand is on the hip then it is a cupie, if the free hand is in a high V then it is awesome. * Teddy Sit or Split-lift: The flyer is in a seated straddle with the two bases holding one hand on her thigh and one on her ankle/foot. The back base holds up her buttocks or waist with her hands. The flyer must center her weight. This stunt is sometimes called a straddle sit. This stunt is only performed in NFL cheer or in lower levels. * Shoulder stand: In a shoulder stand, the flyer stands on the base’s shoulders. * Shoulder sit: In a shoulder sit, the flyer sits on the base's shoulders and wraps her feet around the base's waist. This stunt is an effective way to get the crowd engaged.One-Leg Stunts
* Lib: The Liberty or "Lib" is the most basic one-leg stunt. Both bases have a grip on one of the flyer's feet, with the main base typically holding the heel and toe and the secondary or side base holding the middle of the foot. This stunt can be held at chin (prep) level or at the extended level.Transition Stunts
Inversion
*Inversion: This is a transition stunt where the flyer's hands are on the bases shoulders and the flyers shoulders are below his/her waist, while the feet should be above his/ her head. **Rewind (backwards free flipping from ground level): A rewind is a cheerleading stunt where the flyer begins on the ground in a standing position. They are then thrown into the air where they perform a backwards flip and land on their feet. The bases or coed partner assist them by throwing them high enough to flip, and they also help initiate their rotation. The flyer must flip quickly and then let themselves out of the flip in time to land on their feet. They can land on one or two feet in an extended or prep level stunt. *Free flipping *Side-somi to stunt *Ground level handstand released to hand in handRelease
*Switch Up: A switch up is a stunt where a flyer begins the stunt on one foot, gets tossed into the air on that beginning foot, and lands on the other foot. This requires the bases to throw the initial foot and then catch the other one in an extended position, landing in a liberty or heel stretch. The flyer is the one who does the switching, they lift their foot out of the bases hands and replaces their other foot in the same spot to be caught by the bases. It may also be referred to as a tic-up. * Tic Toc: In this stunt, the flyer begins in a Liberty stunt standing on one leg, and is gently released so they can switch to standing on the other leg. This can be performed in a group stunt with two bases and a back spot, or as a partner stunt with just one base underneath. The action looks visually like a quick switch of legs, and the flyer appears to effortlessly hop from one foot to another. This stunt can be performed starting from and body position, not just a liberty. They can switch from heel stretch to heel stretch, scale to scale, heel stretch to liberty, the possibilities are endless. **Low to High (Full twisting tic toc to extended 1 leg stunt): This stunt begins on a single leg pressed to the top, then lowered into a prep still on the initial single leg. After reaching the prep, the bases throw and release the flyer’s foot and catch her other one in an extended position. The flyer holds her body position on her first foot throughout the first extended position and into the prep. Then, they flyer will switch their foot and replace it to land at the top landing in another body position. *Ball up *Straddle up *Helicopter release: This is a stunt where the flyer gets tossed into the air while doing a 360-degree horizontal rotation with their back parallel to the ground. This release should look similar to the blades of a helicopter. *Twisting release: This is a full 360 twist where the flyer is thrown above her stunt group and completes the twist before being caught in the straight cradle position.Twisting transition
Includes 1/4 twisting transition, up to 2 and a 1/4 twistBody Positions
Although a liberty is the basic one leg stunt, flyers will often perform body positions that showcase their flexibility. Some of these positions are quite difficult and may help increase a team’s score at a competition. All of the body positions can be done at the prep (chin) or extension (above head) level. * Scorpion: The flyer grabs their foot and bends that leg upward behind the body until the toes are close to the back of the head, in a position resembling a scorpion's tail. The foot is secured in place by the opposite hand. * Needle or Spike: A more advanced variation of the scorpion where the flyer’s leg is perfectly straight when held behind her back. * Scale: The flyer's leg is held by their hand to the side and the leg is fully extended. The position is similar to the Scorpion, but one of the flyer's hands holds her ankle or calf (instead of her toes) and the other arm is free. * Heel Stretch: The flyer holds the heel or middle of her foot, with one arm, and extends that leg in front of her, pulling her foot as close to eye level as possible. The other arm may do a range of motions such as a "high v". * Bow and Arrow: Variation of a heel stretch. The flyer grabs her foot with the opposite side hand, and pulls her leg straight up beside her head. Then she pulls her free arm and upper torso through the hole the leg and arm made, holding it straight. * Arabesque: The flyer extends and points their leg out behind them and attempt to turn their hip socket out so when the leg is out straight, the side of the leg is facing the audience. * No-Hands/Chin Chin/Cry Baby: The flyer takes her foot, bends it under her chin, then lets it sit there without any hands.Dismount
* Step down * Straight cradle: This is a dismount from a stunt where the flyer is being caught at the end of a stunt in a straight ride position. * Full down: This is a dismount that is more advanced than a regular straight cradle. The flyer will be tossed out of the bases hands and will complete a 360-degree turn, and will then be caught in a cradle position. * Twisting dismount * Free flippingBasket Tosses
The basic basket toss is not a difficult skill, but it is one that involves significant risk if not performed properly. The name "basket toss" comes from the interlocking grip the bases form with their hands in order to launch the flyer. The flyer is thrown from a load in position, at which their interlocked hands rest at the belly button, and may perform skills or tricks during the toss before being caught in a cradle position. The positions listed here are some of the more common skills performed during a basket toss, however, there are many variations and teams are always working to create new and innovative basket skills. Basket tosses are enforced to only be thrown whilePyramids
A pyramid is defined as two or more stunt groups connected by the top persons holding hands, feet, waist, or legs.http://rules.usasfmembers.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/USASF_Cheer_Rules_Overview_19-20.pdf__hstc=138832364.42cbcfe2c194a1a74f5d519f57538b64.1580668694560.1580668694560.1580670647056.2&__hssc=138832364.1.1580670647056&__hsfp=645916085 There are many varieties of pyramids ranging from simple waist level skills performed by younger teams, to multi person high pyramids performed by elite college teams. Typically a pyramid section will use all athletes on a team as it takes many people to lift, spot, and catch a pyramid. Pyramid sequences are often fast paced, and may involve a variety of heights, mounts, transitions, release moves, and dismounts.Two High Pyramid
This is the standard type of pyramid and the most commonly performed. Each flyer is supported by a base or bases who are standing on the performing surface.http://rules.usasfmembers.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/USASF_Cheer_Rules_Overview_19-20.pdf?__hstc=138832364.42cbcfe2c194a1a74f5d519f57538b64.1580668694560.1580668694560.1580670647056.2&__hssc=138832364.1.1580670647056&__hsfp=645916085 The flyers may connect with each other through many different grips such as holding hands or one person holding another person's extended foot or leg. One flyer may even act as a bracer for another flyer while she performs a flipping or twisting release skill.Two and a Half High Pyramid
This type of pyramid involves a third layer of people not supported by anyone standing on the ground. The bases will hold the middle level of flyers, usually in a shoulder level stunt, as seen in a standard two person high pyramid. These flyers will then hold additional flyers, usually at the waist level. Because of the height of this type of pyramid, they are usually only performed by very experienced college or club squads as the potential for injury is very high. The Swedish Fall, the Wolf Wall, and the L Stand are all popular variations of the two and a half high pyramid.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Cheerleading Stunts Cheerleading Stunts