Cheerleading Stunts

Courtney: "Why does everyone have to go on a diet?"
Sparky: "Because, in cheerleading we throw people into the air. And fat people don't go as high".

Funny as this dialog from the movie Bring It On is, having a background of cheerleading, it is quite true! I mean, as one of the character says, you cannot lift fat people and even if you are able to, they would not go as high in the air as expected! This brings us to the issue of cheerleading stunts. There is a plethora of stunts which are practiced by cheerleaders.

Athletes

This involves a number of cheerleaders standing on the ground and giving primary support to the flyer while he or she does a stunt. Those who form the base have to be the strongest ones and have to keep and eye on the one who is in the midair to avoid any injury or a mishap. A couple of females or a male comprises a base. Side Base applies only when it is a one-legged stunt. These are something like supporting actors and actresses, complimenting those forming the main base. Main base bears a major part of the flyer's weight. The hands of a side base are placed under or around the center of the foot of the flyer. This creates stability when moving side to side. In addition to this there is a back base, (behind the stunt) front spot (stands in front of the flyer) and additional spotter, who is not directly involved unless something goes wrong. So these were the athletes and their positions in a cheerleading stunt. Now let's take a look at the stunts.

Cheerleader Stunts

Split Lift
In this stunt, 2 bases hold the flyer's legs at the knee. They gradually walk apart till the flyer is in the position of a mid air split. This is one of the easiest stunts.

Extension Prep
In this stunt, the flyer stands on the hands of the base, at the shoulder level. The tow facing bases hold the feet of the flyer at the level of the collarbone, resulting in the flyer standing shoulder width apart. The flyer, in control of every stunt, get the base to be apart or closer.

Awesome
Also called Cupie, this stunt involves the flyer keeping his or feet together. They are either in one hand of a single base or with a foot in the hands of 2 bases. In case the free hand is on the hip, it is called a cupie. If the hands are formed in a high 'V', it is considered as Awesome.

Thigh Stand
Kneeling on one leg, the bases have their feet touching each other at the sides of their shoes. The flyer will be held at the waist by the back spot and then the flyer will dip and jump on the thighs of the bases.

Variations in Prep and Extension

Scorpion: Here one or more bases hold the flyer up by the foot and the job of the flyer is to balance the weight on that one straight leg. The loose foot is then grabbed and then bent upward, behind the body, till the toes are close to the back of the head. This posture is akin to a scorpion's tail. The other hand secures the position of the foot.

Liberty: The bases - one or more hold the flyer up by one foot and the flyer balances his or her weight on that. The other leg of the flier is bent and the foot is positioned at knee level of the flyer, nesting it besides the knee of the straight leg.

Torch: The base holds the foot facing forward, like a side base. The flyer on the other hand is doing a one legged extended stunt, facing 90 degrees sideways from the base.

Arabesque: It is a variation of liberty, except that it faces the side. After a liberty position, the flyer points his or her leg out behind them with arms in a 'T' position.

Front Stretch: It is a variation of another stretch, called the heel stretch. In a heel stretch the base or bases raise the flyer on one foot and the flyer holds the other foot in a stretch position with the same hand once in the air. Now in front stretch, the flyer grabs her foot in front with both hands.

Other Formations

Basket Toss: A very challenging and potentially risky stunt, basket toss involves propelling the flyer high in the air, anything between 10 to 30 feet from the position of loading. In this toss, a maximum of four bases, top straight up in the air for the flyer to perform cheerleading jumps in mid air. The name comes from the fact hat the bases form a square from locking wrists. It is a basis for many cheerleading tricks and jumps. For example, a toe touch basket toss.

Tick Cock: In this stunt, the flyer switches the foot in mid air, after being propped by the base or bases.

Launch: Almost akin to a toss, here rather than the wrist lock the hands are in form of a prep or extension.

Barrel Role: The bases are in a pike position and then they toss the flyer, wherein she lays flat, doing a 360 degree spin while in the air.

These were a few tosses and transitions included in cheerleading stunts. There are many more like squish, retake or double take, rewind, deadman and so on. Each of these have their own grandeur as well as a certain amount of risks. That is why these are performed only by those who trained in this to the core and are seasoned campaigners. In addition to this, there are these pyramid like stunts, which are called two and a half high stunts. These include the 'A' frame, the Swedish fall, table top and a few more. There is no rule that only these have to be done. It all depends on the squad and if they want to do something novel, sky is the limit!