Cheerleading can be an entertaining way to cheer on your home team and also is a good way to get your heart pumping. Jumps are one of the most challenging part of being a cheerleader because they take a good deal of expertise and physical ability. You can learn to do the best cheerleading jumps possible with practice and a few tips that will help you focus on your body and improve your technique. Justin Carrier and Donna McKay note in their book "Complete Cheerleading" that any cheerleader can jump, and as you learn the basics you will be able to add more challenging jumps to your routines.
Spread Eagle Jump
Step 1
Stand tall with your feet together and your arms at your sides. Make your wrists straight and tuck your thumbs.
Step 2
Raise your arms into a high "V," keeping your thumbs tucked.
Step 3
Bend your knees and bring your arms down to cross in front of your knees. Your wrists will cross over each other but should not touch.
Step 4
Jump. Use your legs and jump as high as you can.
Step 5
Spread your legs apart as if you were doing the splits, keeping your toes pointed. Raise your arms at the same time back into a high "V" formation.
Step 6
Land with your knees bent and your arms back at your sides, making sure that your thumbs are still tucked.
Toe Touch Jump
Step 1
Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides with your thumbs tucked.
Step 2
Raise your arms into the high "V" formation. Keep your thumbs tucked and your elbows straight.
Step 3
Bend at the knees and bring your arms down to cross in front of your knees.
Step 4
Jump as high as you can and spread your legs apart coming as close as you can to touching your left toe with your left fist and your right toe with your right fist.
Step 5
Land with your knees bent a small amount and your arms back at your sides.
Herkie Jump
Step 1
Stand with your arms at your sides, thumbs tucked and feet close together.
Step 2
Put your arms into a high "V" formation, keeping your elbows straight as you raise them.
Step 3
Bend your knees slightly and bring your arms out of the high "V" formation by crossing at the wrists in front of your knees.
Step 4
Jump while also bringing your arms out to your sides, your left leg straight out in front of you and your right leg bent at the knee behind you. Keep your toes pointed.
Step 5
Come out of the jump by landing with your knees bent slightly and your arms back to your sides.
Tips and Warnings
- The steps for each jump should be completed very quickly. A complete cheerleading jump takes only a few seconds. Start with the spread eagle jump because it is one of the simplest cheerleading jumps to learn.
- Wear supportive athletic shoes when executing any of these jumps. They will help keep your foot and ankle in line, and also might help prevent injury when landing.
Things You'll Need
- Athletic shoes
References
- "Complete Cheerleading"; Justin Carrier and Donna McKay; 2006
- "Cheerleading"; Ursula Szwast; 2004
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