How to Do Advanced Tumbling in Cheerleading

There is certain skill set needed in order to be a member of an advanced cheerleading squad. In order to participate on squads that are highly-ranked and competitive, you must be able to do gymnastics. Practice advanced tumbling if you would like to cheer for high school, competitive or college squads.

Instructions

    • 1

      Perfect a back handspring. A back handspring, sometimes incorrectly called a backflip, is one of the first intermediate tumbling tricks learned. From a standing position, spring backwards, land on two hands and continue to flip until you land back on your feet.

    • 2

      Practice a backtuck, or backflip without hands. Start from a standing position, bend the knees and jump up to the necessary height to do the tuck. Keep the arms and legs tucked close to the body, flip backwards and land on two feet. A backtuck can also be performed after a running round-off to create more momentum.

    • 3

      Learn a layout. Keep the body straight while flipping back. Spring back with arms extended above the head. Once the head is back and the body is upside-down and vertical, swing the arms down to the body to create the momentum to bring the entire body over. The idea of a layout is to have no bending at the hips or knees. Gain momentum for a layout by running and doing a round-off prior to the layout.

    • 4

      Develop the layout into a half twist. Once the head is back, look to one side, turn the body 180 degrees in mid-air, and land facing the opposite direction that you started. Gain momentum for this skill with a running round-off.

    • 5

      Advance to a full twist. A full twist is done in the same way as the half twist, only there is only a 360-degree turn and you land facing the same direction as you started. This is the most challenging of the flips listed, and takes an enormous amount of height to accomplish.