Instructions for Beginning Cheerleading Stunts

Cheerleading stunts have become increasingly difficult and consequently more dangerous over the years as cheerleading has become more athletic and competitive. All cheerleading stunts are composed of four positions; the flyer, the base, the back spotter and the front spotter. Before attempting group cheerleading stunts, all the cheerleaders need to be trained in their various positions; bases need to know how to catch the flyer, the flyer needs to know how to fall properly, the back spotter needs to know how to count and call all the stunts, and the front spotter needs to be able to perform as an alternate base. The elevator is the most basic cheerleading stunt and should be perfected before attempting more difficult tricks like the cradle.

Instructions

  1. The Elevator

    • 1

      Position the flyer. The flyer should stand between two bases with her hands on their shoulders. The flyer should lean into the bases while holding onto their shoulders for support.

    • 2

      Place the back spotter directly behind the flyer with one leg between the legs of the flyer.

    • 3

      Position the bases. The main base should stand to the right of the flyer, with bent legs a little more than shoulder-width apart and with his back straight. The secondary base should stand in the same position but to the left of the flyer. The bases should be approximately 2 feet apart. The bases' hands should overlap and be held at the waistline.

    • 4

      Load in the flyer. On the counts of "one, two" the main base should bend down so the flyer can place her right foot in his hands. On the count of "three, four" the secondary base should bend down and she should place her left foot in his hands.

    • 5

      Lift the flyer. On the counts of "five, six," the bases should turn their hands to grip the flyer's feet by the heels and the toes and raise the flyer to shoulder height. The back spotter should help balance and lift the flyer from behind.

    • 6

      Stand up. Once the flyer is in position, the bases should stand straight up. The back spotter should help support the flyer, pushing her up by her buttocks. The flyer should lock her knees and raise her arms into a locked "V."

    The Cradle

    • 7

      Hold the flyer in an elevator between two bases. The bases each hold a foot of the flyer at shoulder level. The bases should be no further apart than the width of the flyer's shoulders.

    • 8

      Call the stunt. The back spotter should start by saying "cradle ready." He should hold the flyer by the ankles and on "down" should dip his legs while still holding the flyer up and level. The side bases should also bend at the knees keeping their hands and the flyer's feet at shoulder level.

    • 9

      Call "up." When the back spotter calls "up," he should lift the flyer into the air by straightening his legs and pushing the flyer's ankles upwards with his arms until they are fully extended. The bases should perform the same move.

    • 10

      Release the flyer. The bases and back spotter should "pop" the flyer into the air, using their shoulders as momentum and release her feet as she flies upward.

    • 11

      Use arm movements to enhance the stunt. The flyer can position her hands in a high "V" and then pull her arms straight to her sides and arch her back to prepare to be caught. The flyer's body should be straight or in a slight arch in the air. The flyer's legs should be together and her feet should be pointed.

    • 12

      Make the catch. The back spotter should bend his knees and make fists with his hands and catch the flyer with his arms under her arms. Catch her as high as possible in order to support her neck and back. The bases should catch the flyer at the thighs and lower back with knees bent to absorb the shock. The flyer should push her chest up and grab the shoulders of the bases at the catch.