How to Do Cheerleading Partner Stunting Safely

The sport of cheerleading is simply not what it used to be. The days of pom pom’s and side line cheers have been replaced with risky stunts and high level gymnastics. While the new style of cheerleading can be exciting to watch and exhilarating to participate in, proper training and safety guidelines need to be followed in order to avoid both minor and serious injuries.

Instructions

    • 1

      Maintain a physical conditioning regimine. Cheerleading stunts require a high level of physical fitness. Both the bases and the tops should do cardiovascular and strength conditioning regularly to avoid injury.

    • 2

      Practice in a safe environment. All cheerleading stunts should be practiced in a gymnasium with high ceilings and a spring or padded floor. The risk of injury is substantially higher from falling on a hard floor than a padded or spring floor. Because many high schools still consider cheerleading a club and not a sport, they often neglect to give their squad adequate space and gym time. In this case, students, parents and coaches should petition the school on the cheerleaders behalf and demand safe practice conditions. Cheerleaders should also avoid from practicing stunts outside and on trampolines.

    • 3

      Find a certified instructor or coach. All cheerleading stunts should be supervised by a certified instructor. Coaches can get certified through the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators: http://www.aacca.org/certification.asp It is the role of the certified instructor to teach cheerleaders how to properly develop their stunting techniques.

    • 4

      Use a spotter. Novice “stunters” should always utilize spotters for extra safety. It is always helpful to have an extra front and back spotter to assist in catching a top that may fall behind or in front of their base.

    • 5

      Pay Attention. The most serious injuries occur when your attention is not fully focused on the task at hand. No more than one person should be talking when stunting. The best way to avoid distractions while stunting is to delegate leadership to one person until after the stunt is complete, this could be the coach or a person in the stunt group.

    • 6

      Practice your skills. The old saying “Practice makes Perfect” rings especially true when it comes to cheerleading stunts. Beginners should concentrate on form, technique and getting to know your stunt group; increase stunt difficulty as your group becomes more confident in its abilities. While practice is necessary to increase your skill level, listen to your body; if you experience pain or fatigue, take a break. It is always better to take your time and stay healthy, than risk overuse and injury.