The Science of Cheerleading

8 count:The standard mark of time used to count out a section of a dance or routine.

All star:A cheerleading team that is not associated with a school or organization.

Back handspring:A tumbling skill where the cheerleader jumps backwards in a back-bend onto his or her hands and then quickly pushes from their hands to their feet.

Back spot (Third):A person who is in a correct position to prevent injury to the flyer. Their primary purpose is to protect the flyer’s head and shoulder while being caught. They also provide stability to the stunt.

Back tuck:A tumbling skill where the cheerleader jumps backwards and rotates head over heels, without putting their hands down, landing back on his or her feet. It can also be done in a forward moving direction, which is called a front tuck

Base:The person(s) that remains on the floor during a stunt while lifting the flyer providing weight bearing support.

Cradle catch:The end movement of a stunt or basket-toss where the bases catch the flyer under thighs and arms. Also called a cradle.

Extension:Basic stunt where each sidebase extends their arms fully with the flyer’s feet in their hands.

Flyer (also called a Top):The cheerleader that is lifted into the air by the base(s) during stunts.

Front Spot:Their primary purpose is to protect the flyer, to catch the flyer if she/he should fall forward during a stunt.

Jumps:A basic component of cheerleading that requires cheerleaders to lift both feet off of the ground. Each jump has specific feet, hand and leg positions.

Liberty (also known as Lib):A stunt where a base holds the flyer with one foot in both of the base’s hands. The flyer’s supported leg is straight and the other leg is bent.

Pop:When the bases are preparing to cradle the flyer, they bend at the knees to boost the flyer upwards and let go of the feet.

Round off:A basic tumbling skill that requires a cheerleader to end a cartwheel with both feet together. Usually used as a set-up for back handsprings, back tucks or tumbling sequences.

Routine:A choreographed sequence of motions, movements, stunts and/or tumbling put to music in order to be performed.

Squish (Load):Two bases will each hold a different foot of a flyer at their waist level. The flyer is squatted down so the flyer is not taller than the bases. This is how the flyer loads in to the stunt, before jumping and pushing off the bases shoulders, and the bases drive their arms upwards and extend the flyer.

Tumbling:Any gymnastics acrobatic skill that can be done on the ground.