Coaching cheerleaders can be a rewarding experience as you help them learn new skills, build confidence and cheer their home team to victory. A great deal of preparation and talent go into coaching a squad of cheerleaders, and teaching them stunts is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Flips are a common cheer stunt, but they come with a risk of injury. You can reduce or eliminate this risk, however, by teaching your cheerleaders proper form and execution. A few tweaks to your current lesson plans, and your cheerleaders will soon be wowing the crowds as they flip their way through cheers and routines.
Step 1
Gather your cheerleading squad together and describe what a flip is. Show your squad some pictures of various flips to help acquaint them with what you are going to teach them.
Step 2
Invite some veteran cheerleaders to demonstrate different flips. Have them show the girls the correct starting position, as well as correct spotting and ending positions.
Step 3
Divide the squad into small groups to begin practicing together.
Step 4
Work with each small group by breaking each flip into smaller movements. Use eight-counts to help your squad members grasp the correct order of movement for a successful flip. Practice on the ground first before allowing any squad member to flip in the air.
Step 5
Spot each squad member who is practicing the flip to help demonstrate to the spotters where to stand and how to position themselves.
Step 6
Gradually step back and allow the small groups to work on their flips under your close supervision.
Tips and Warnings
- Show your cheerleaders how to keep their bodies tight while executing a flip. This will help prevent injury, but will also create a more attractive flip. Plan to spend several days practicing flips before adding them to any cheer or routine. It takes hours of practice to successfully learn how to execute safe flips with correct form.
- Practice flips in a large gym with soft mats to begin. This will help prevent injury. Do not allow beginning cheerleaders to flip. Flipping takes mastery of other cheerleading techniques that beginners may not have. If you do not feel comfortable with the flipping technique of any of your squad members, do not allow them to execute flips without more practice. Flipping without complete mastery and without supervision can lead to serious injury.
Things You'll Need
- Pictures of cheerleading flips
- Soft mats
References
- "Coaching Cheerleading Successfully"; Linda Rae Chappell; 1997
- "Cheer! Three Teams on a Quest for College Cheerleading's Ultimate Prize"; Kate Torgovnick; 2008
