Omni Cheer Blog

Being a cheerleader is more than just looking pretty and being loud. Part of a cheerleader’s skill set includes being able to hit very precise motions and stances, and knowing when to use each one.

Each member of a cheerleading team must perfect their stances so that their team operates as a unit and receives the maximum number of cheers from the audience and
points from the judges.

While a
cheerleader’s basic motions are the backbone of her ability, her stances are the support system. A motion will miss the mark completely without the body being in a tight, formatted stance.

Most moves and stunt forms in cheerleading are an extension of a basic stance, so it is always good to learn through progression, starting with the basics.

This is a general overview of some basic cheer stances with the focus being the position of the legs. You may perform them, or see them performed, slightly different. These stances can be used while a cheerleader is on the ground or when she is up in a stunt, and the position of the feet will vary from being shoulder width apart to being together, depending on when and how the stance is being used.

Front Lunge

Step forward with one foot and place that foot flat on the ground. Bend your forward leg slightly at the knee, while keeping your back leg straight. You can angle the back foot slightly away from your body to help keep your balance. Your body will respond to its position by dipping down slightly. Make sure that you move with that dip, but continue to stand straight with your shoulders back, your head up and your face forward.

Your arms can hit many motions while in the lunge stance, including hands on hips or a high V (both shown here). The front lunge can be done with either leg forward.

Side Lunge

Your legs should be just further than shoulder width apart with your feet facing forward. Bend one leg at the knee, while at the same time turning that foot out and away from your body. You can angle the straight foot slightly away from your body on your other side to help keep your balance. Your body will respond to its position by dipping down slightly. Make sure that you move with that dip, but continue to stand straight with your shoulders back, your head up and your face forward.

Your arms can hit many motions while in the lunge stance, including hands on hips or a high V (both shown here). The side lunge can be done either to the left or right side.

High #1

Stand up straight with your shoulders back, keep your head up and face forward. Turn one foot out and away from your body, bend that knee and come up on those toes while at the same time putting that same hand on your hip. Your other arm (opposite arm of the bent leg) should go straight up into the air, in the touchdown motion, with all but the pointer finger in a fist. You can do a right or left High #1, just always make sure that the leg and arm that go up are opposites.

Low #1

Stand up straight with your feet together and shoulders back. Keep your head up and face forward. Pull one foot up onto your toes by bending your knee while at the same time putting that same hand on your hip. Keep the other foot flat on the ground and bring that arm into a dagger with all but the pointer finger in a fist. You can do a right or left Low #1, just always make sure that the leg and arm that go up are opposites.

Get your legs ready to perfect cheerleading stances by using these strengthening your legs in your fitness routine.

Review our
How To Do Basic Cheerleading Stances: Part 1 article to make sure you know all the right moves to ‘WOW!’ at tryouts or your next performance.

Key Takeaways Mastering basic cheerleading stances is essential because they provide the foundation that supports clean motions, strong stunts, and overall performance quality. Precise, consistent stances help teams perform as a unified…

The Shoulder Stand is the advanced version of the Shoulder Sit, and is performed in a 2-person stunt group (plus spotters). Practicing the
beginner level Shoulder Sit is also a great way for your stunt team to work out any kinks, get familiar with the count series and build trust before attempting the Shoulder Stand.

Before any group attempts a stunt, they should discuss and decide on a standard count series. Each and every move a
stunt group performs should be done on counts, and it is typically the responsibility of the spotter to keep the beat and call it out. Timing is critical in stunting, and new teams need to practice their timing as much as they practice their actual stunts.

Many stunts begin with a two beat, “Ready, OK” count, where all positions bring their arms up and clap once on beat. This helps get everyone’s attention, lets them know to focus and assures the entire group that everyone is ready. From there the stunt group gets into formation, and the spotter begins the count series (typically based on an 8-beat count).

How To Perform A Shoulder Stand




Click above to view large image

Set-Up

Stunt Groups: 1

Spotter: At least 1

Bases: 1

Flyer: 1

Level: Intermediate

Base

• The base should get into a deep squat position with their arms in a T position. While their main body will face forward, the toes of their bent legs should turn slightly sideways. One of their bent legs will act as a platform for the flyer’s foot.
• Once in position, the base should bend and begin to raise their arms toward a High V position, and grab the flyer’s hands.
• As the flyer rests their foot on the base’s leg, the base should hold their position as the flyer pops up and begins to pull their other foot up onto the base’s shoulder.
• As the flyer’s foot is settling on the base’s shoulder, the base should release the flyer’s hand and bring that now free hand down around the flyer’s ankle. The base should pull down firmly to root the flyer and give them extra stability.
• As the flyer is bringing their other foot up, the base can release their hand (the spotter will offer the flyer help) and bring it down to grip the flyer’s ankle when it settles.
• Simultaneously, the base will start to straighten their legs so they end in the standing position.

Flyers

• The flyer will start this stunt by standing behind the base.
• As the base lifts their arms up, the flyer should start to lift their arms also, coming into a High V position and gripping the bases hands.
• Once the base has a firm grip on the flyer’s hands, the flyer should raise one leg and bring it up to rest on the base’s thigh.
• Once the flyer’s foot is in position, they should dip down then pop up, shifting their weight from their legs to their arms. During this move the flyer should keep her core tight and use the leg that is resting on the base’s thigh to gain air.
• The spotter will help lift the flyer, and when the lift has reached a point where the flyer’s arms are almost straight, she should begin to swing her leg up to rest her foot on the base’s shoulder.
• The flyer’s other leg will be pulling up also, and once the other foot is secure, it should come up to rest on the other shoulder.
• Once the flyer is secure, she will release the base’s hands and stand up straight, hitting a High V motion with her arms.

Spotter

• The spotter’s main responsibility is to support and guide the flyer, and of course keep her from hitting the floor if anything goes wrong.
• The spotter should stand directly behind the flyer with her hands on the flyer’s hips. The spotter’s grip should be firm, but not restricting.
• The spotter should follow the movements of the flyer as she dips and pops up, and help lift her onto the base’s shoulders.
• If the stunt group is still new, the spotter should release the flyer’s hips once she is in position, but grip her calves or thighs for extra support. If the stunt group is a little advanced the spotter can let go of the flyer. Letting go doesn’t mean the spotter’s job is over, they still need to stay directly behind the base and keep alert. They will also need to count out the series for the dismount.

*This guide should serve as an introduction to the basic steps for a Shoulder Stand stunt and should be used as a reference only. This guide should not be used to replace the instruction and supervision of a trained professional.

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How Stunting Started

When cheerleading first began, the main goal was all about
building team spirit. When stunting was incorporated into sideline chants and cheers as a new way to entertain the fans, it also allowed cheerleaders to show a new level of talent and be recognized in a different and innovative way.

Lawrence Herkimer is one of the important figures that can be credited with making
stunting in cheer popular. The clinics he held in the 1940s, now called
cheerleading camps, served as a place for new stunts to be developed and taught, and these stunts eventually spread throughout teams all over the US.

During the 1970s, cheerleading stunts really took off and began progressing from thigh stands to fulls. Pyramids debuted, which involved a large part of the team and 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 was changing.

By the 1980s competitive teams, now known as
All Star teams, were created in the United States. These teams focused on competitions exclusively, and combined gymnastics, stunting and dancing. When ESPN began broadcasting cheerleading competitions nationally, it was these All Star teams that helped usher cheerleading and its stunting element into main stream America. As the popularity of cheerleading spread, All Star teams created more cutting-edge stunts; the skill level these teams reached was phenomenal.

In the 1990s, other areas of cheerleading were being manipulated. 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.

Since cheerleading was still growing, and was not a sanctioned sport, there were no regulated rules and guidelines that restricted the devleopement 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 Stunting

As stunting became part of the competitive aspect of cheerleading, so did the pressure to reach a certain level of creativity and difficulty. Although these advancements made stunting that much more entertaining and breathtaking, they also became 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 a sanctioned sport yet, individual governing organizations are responsible for creating and annually revising rules and regulations. While there is a general acceptance of the rulings from these organizations, it isn’t uncommon for competitions to have their own set of stunting regulations – banning some stunts and limiting others so that tossing, twisting and flipping can only be done in a certain way and at a certain height.

One thing is for sure; cheerleading would not be what it is today without the inclusion of stunting. New stunt
trends and techniques debut annually, along with new regulations, which keeps the platform of cheerleader on a constantly changing path.

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