Stunts, in which cheerleaders are lifted and tossed intothe air, add excitement to cheers and routines. In order to stunt safely, you should master easier stunts prior to attempting more difficult ones. Even basic stunts done cleanly and solidly will attract the attention of your crowd. Remember to stunt only under the supervision of a qualified coach.
Beginner
The very first stunting concept every cheerleader should master is the step-up drill. A base and a top person are required for a step-up drill. For safety, a spotter can stand behind a top person. In a step-up drill a top person steps up onto the lunged leg of a base. The base must be steady and strong. The top person must be in control of her body and keep her leg locked. Once this concept is mastered, beginner cheerleaders can move on to learning an L-stand, a thigh stand, and even a shoulder sit.
Two Foot
Two-foot stunts are intermediate stunts. The most basic two-foot stunt is the elevator, also known as a half elevator or an extension prep. In an elevator, a top person stands in the hands of two main bases. These bases hold their hands just under their chin. A back base is not required at this level; however, it is a good idea to use one to ease the transition into more difficult two-foot stunts later. Once they master an elevator, cheerleaders can advance to cradling the elevator, in which the top person dismounts by being tossed into the air and caught in the arms of her bases. This stunt can also be advanced by moving on to an extension, in which the top person's foot is held above the base's head. In this stunt, a back base is required by safety regulations.
One Foot
One-foot stunts require strength and balance. The most basic one-foot stunt is a liberty. The top person begins by mastering the liberty position while standing on the ground. After mastering this, your stunt group is ready to extend this position overhead. The main base holds the heel and toe of the top person's standing foot. The secondary base grabs the arch of the top person's standing foot and the back wrist of the main base. The back base grabs the top person's calf and lifts up. The stunt should be centered over the main base.
Tosses
Basket tosses, where three or four bases toss a top person into the air, are exciting but are more dangerous than some other stunts. Detailed safety regulations pertain to tosses. Most notably, basket tosses should never be performed on hard surfaces such as asphalt or wood floors. In a basket toss, the main bases grab their own wrist and the opposite wrist of the other base, forming a platform from their hands. The top person jumps up and balances on this platform as the back base reaches underneath the hands to assist with the toss. A front base may be used for the tossing portion in order to get the toss higher. The front base would place her hands underneath the platform of hands as well, assisting with the tossing portion only and then stepping away. All bases dip and toss the top person into the air. At the peak of the ascent the top person hits a skill such as a toe touch, tuck position or a kick, before descending to be caught in the arms of the bases.
References
- Ms. Pineapple's Cheer Page: Beginner Stunts: Thigh Stand
- Varsity: Skills and Drills - Stunting Basics - Stunt Dictionary
- American Association of Cheer Coaches & Administrators: 2011-12 School Cheerleading Rules
- Varsity: Skills and Drills - Elite Stunts - Ground-up Liberty
- Varsity: Skills and Drills - Advanced Stunts - Kick Basket
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