Key Takeaways:
- Cheerleading has evolved over the years to include more complex choreography and flashy skills, including cheerleading stunting.
- Cheerleading stunts feature athletes who stand as a base and lift, toss, or support their teammates in the air.
- The invention of stunting is credited to Lawrence Herkimer in the 1940s. He made stunting popular and changed the face of cheerleading as we know it!
When cheerleading first began, the main goal was to build team spirit. When cheerleading stunts were incorporated into sideline chants and cheers to entertain fans, it also allowed cheerleaders to showcase a new level of talent and be recognized in a more innovative way.
What is stunting in cheerleading? Who invented stunting anyway? What is the most dangerous stunt ever attempted? Discover answers to all these questions and learn about the history of cheerleading stunts from the experts at Omni Cheer!
What Is Stunting?
Cheerleading stunting refers exclusively to choreography that involves one or more cheerleaders lifting other athletes into the air. This choreography may include still poses, tosses, or other dynamic moves.
Cheer stunts require three main positions: Bases, Flyers, and Spotters. Each position plays a crucial role in the success of the stunt and the safety of the athletes. Learn more about stunting positions in this blog.
History of Cheerleading Stunts
Lawrence Herkimer is one of the important figures in the history of cheerleading stunts. He’s the one we credit with making stunting in cheer popular. The clinics he held in the 1940s, now called cheerleading camps, served as places where new stunts were developed and taught, and these basic stunts eventually spread throughout teams across the U.S.
During the 1970s, competitive cheer stunts really took off, progressing from thigh stands to fulls. Pyramids debuted, which involved a large part of the team and demanded strength and synchronization. As basket tosses and pyramids started appearing as standard cheer routine stunts, it was clear that the skill level and athleticism expected from sideline and competition cheerleaders were changing.
By the 1980s, competitive teams, now known as All-Star teams, were created in the United States. These teams focused exclusively on competitions and combined gymnastics, stunts, and dancing.
Broadcasting Cheerleading Stunting for Popularity
The history of cheerleading stunts evolved when ESPN began broadcasting cheerleading competitions nationally. It was All-Star teams that helped usher cheerleading and its stunting element into mainstream America. As the popularity of cheerleading spread, All-Star teams created more cutting-edge stunts, and the skill level these teams achieved was phenomenal.
In the 1990s, other areas of cheerleading were evolving. Spring floors were introduced, and the competition mat size increased, which made room for bigger and better stunts. Basket tosses now involved twists and flips. The simple liberty had transformed, and now a flyer showed off her flexibility by performing scales, bow-and-arrows, and scorpions.
Cheerleading Stunting Regulations
Since cheerleading was still growing and not a sanctioned sport, there were no regulations or guidelines that restricted the development of new stunts. Each cheerleading team had the freedom to branch out and use any moves they wanted to create new stunts. While this allowed cheerleading to progress with innovation, it also put the athletes in danger.
Rules and Regulations of Cheerleading Stunting
As stunting became part of the competitive aspect of cheer, so did the pressure to reach a certain level of creativity and difficulty. Although these advancements made stunting even more entertaining and breathtaking, they also made it more dangerous. Injuries were becoming more likely with stunting, and cheerleading was labeled as one of the most hazardous activities for young athletes.
Since cheerleading is not yet a sanctioned sport, individual governing organizations are responsible for creating and annually revising their rules and regulations. While there is general acceptance of the rulings from these organizations, it isn’t uncommon for competitions to have their own stunting regulations. These regulations prohibit certain stunts and limit others, allowing tossing, twisting, and flipping only in specific ways and at specific heights.
Cheerleading Stunting FAQ
Who invented the Liberty cheer stunt?
The invention of the Liberty cheer stunt is credited to Jerry Starnes and Kris Shepherd, UCA instructors during the 1970s. They introduced this stunt during the 1976 summer camp season, completely revolutionizing the skills and expectations for cheerleaders.
Who was the first cheerleader to perform a backflip?
While there is no definitive record of the first cheerleader to ever perform a backflip, there are a number of notable cheerleaders throughout history, including:
- The first credited cheerleader was Johnny Campbell in 1898. He was a student at the University of Minnesota and led the students in a chant from the field.
- The cheerleader with the most consecutive backflips is Miranda Ferguson, a Texas athlete with a record of 35 backflips performed in a row.
- Many consider Paula Abdul the most famous cheerleader. She cheered for the Los Angeles Lakers before becoming a singer.
What are the most dangerous cheerleading stunts?
While there isn’t an agreement on the single most dangerous cheerleading stunt, basket tosses, high-speed rotations, and elite pyramids are on the high-risk list. These are considered dangerous due to the control and strength required to achieve consistent results.
Cheerleading Stunting Today
The history of cheerleading stunts is fascinating, and one thing is for sure: cheerleading would not be what it is today without the inclusion of stunting. Now that you know what stunting is in cheerleading, you can follow along as new stunt trends and techniques debut annually, along with new regulations, which keep the platform of cheerleading on a constantly changing path.
If you’re interested in incorporating cheerleading stunting as a coach or training for stunting as a flyer, make sure to check out our blog for recommendations and advice!
