There is no doubt that cheer stunts can add a lot of excitement to any routine, but they can also be hard to perform well. Discover how to put those flyers in the air by learning what it takes.
About Cheer Stunts
I’m sure that if you’re interested in cheerleading, you’ve seen a number of pyramids, lifts, and tosses in your time. To make these stunts look effortless, it is the job of the stunt team, but it is also something that takes quite a bit of coordination for them to succeed. The following are a few components of stunting that can help you better understand how it works:
Stunt Categories
It is generally accepted that cheer stunts can be divided into two basic categories.
- There are several types of partner stunts, such as lifts, which are smaller acrobatic moves that are performed by two people at once.
- As a larger production, mounts produce stunts involving all or most of the team, such as pyramids and other stunts, which involve the whole team.
Individual Positions
In cheer stunts, cheerleaders take on a variety of roles, including:
- It is important to remember that bases are the foundation of any stunt. It is these people who are firmly planted on the ground and provide a solid foundation for the flyers to build upon and keep their feet firmly planted on the ground. In order to maintain stability throughout a stunt, the base must be sturdy enough to carry the weight of the flyer in lifts and poses, as well as remaining stable throughout the entire stunt.
- The Flyers are the fearless, fearless souls who are able to reach the highest levels of any stunt due to their fearless nature. There are some times when this means posing on a base, and there are other times when it involves incorporating various jumps into the routine as well. In general, flyers tend to be smaller and more flexible than other types of aircraft. The athletes must have excellent balance and core strength, as well as being supremely confident in their abilities, in order to compete at the highest level. For a flyer to avoid contacting other flyers and to put the least amount of strain on the base, he or she must always be aware of their position and center of gravity at all times.
- During cheers stunts, there is a very important role held by spotters that is extremely important. The people who watch the flyers are known as the flyers watchers. When a stunt goes wrong, they can be relied upon to keep the head of a flyer from hitting the ground. The spotter must be able to focus on the stunt being performed during the performance, as well as be able to handle the weight of the flyer if he or she is required to catch the flyer. The spotter isn’t directly involved in the stunt itself, but it is very important that they understand all the counts of the routine even though they aren’t directly involved in it. It is important for them to be prepared for anything that may happen in the future. After the flyer has safely landed on the ground, they remain alert and watchful until the flyer has landed safely again.
Performing Stunts
Now that the various roles filled by cheerleaders during a stunt are defined, it’s time to talk about actually performing stunts. There are many ways to put a pyramid together. Whichever way your team does it, you can be sure that those moves are carefully counted out. Everyone’s movements must be coordinated to reach the end goal.
The entire squad needs to know exactly which move to perform on every count to make all fall into proper position. One person who is hesitant or can’t remember the next move could easily send everyone tumbling to the ground.
During cheer stunts, it’s typical for the majority of the team to remain quiet and focused while one person counts out the moves. However, it’s the practice of some teams for all members to count out the moves together.
Whichever method your team follows there should be no individual conversations going on. Everyone’s full focus must be on the business at hand so no one winds up getting hurt.
Staying Safe
To be completely honest, there is an element of danger to performing cheer stunts, and people have been injured during the course of a performance. However, you can lessen your risk by following these guidelines.
- Never attempt stunts without the direct supervision of a qualified coach.
- Participate in strength increasing exercises to become as fit as you possibly can.
- Always warm up before practice and events.
- Stay focused on each and every routine. Letting your mind wander for a moment can lead to a wreck, so be disciplined and alert.
- Practice your moves until you can perform every count by yourself. Don’t depend on watching someone else to know what to do next.
- Do make sure that the appropriate equipment is on hand for performing stunts, especially safety mats.
Cheer stunts take work, but they can also be fun to perform. There’s nothing like executing a perfect stunt and hearing the crowd cheering for you. It’s a feeling that’s hard to match on the ground.