Welcome to the Cheer Zone Stunt Class! Here you will find step by step instruction on performing each of these stunts. I have been working on this section of my page for quite a while, so hopefully I have worked any kinks out that I may have had. If you have any questions concerning any of the following stunts please email me Oh yeah...one more thing, ALWAYS make sure that your coach/advisor is present, and you have lots of spotters before trying any of the following stunts.
The Extension:
hand placement: This stunt requires 2 main (or primary bases, each supporting one foot of the flyer. These bases should place their hands under the foot, allowing the fingers to wrap around the heel and toe. There should also be a back spotter.
loading: The 2 main bases start facing each other with their feet shoulder width apart. They bend their knees, lower their hips and hold their hands in position for the flyer. The flyer loads by placing her foot in the base on the right hands. She should keep ALL of her weight in her arms which should be placed on the bases shoulders. The back spotter will then grab the flyers waist.
lift: The bases dip and the flyers other leg should go into the base on her left hands. The bases drive the flyers feet straight up. The flyer will push off the shoulders of the main bases and straighten her legs on the way up. The back spotter should grab the flyers ankles. When the bases reach the top their arms should be "locked out" and tight. The flyer should continue to lift through her shoulders and stay VERY tight.
Single-Base Extension:
hand placement: This stunt has only 1 main base, and 2 spotters. The stunt starts with the main or primary base in a squatting position behind the flyer. The main base will then grab the flyers right foot, placing his/her right hand on the heel and the left hand around the flyers ankle. The side spotter grabs the front of the flyers shin and under the toe. The back spotter will grab around the waist of the flyer.
lift: The flyer starts by placing her hands around the back spotters wrist, and bending her right leg so that her shin is facing down (the shin should be parallel to the ground). Her body should be in an upright position. On a 1, 2 count the flyer bends her left knee slightly and jumps up while at the same time pushing off the back spotters wrist. The main base will drive the right leg up and then catch the left foot when it reaches shoulder height. The back base will catch the flyer around the ankle's and the side base will have the toe and the back of the calf. On another 1, 2 count the primary base will dip with her legs and press the flyer up until she is fully extended. The spotters will also assist in the lift.
Ground up Liberty:
hand placement: This stunt also utilizes 2 main bases, but their responsibility and hand placement are different. The primary or main base places his/her hands around the flyers heel and toe just like in the extension. The side base will place one hand under the flyers foot and the other around the flyer's ankle. The hand under the flyers foot should be their dominate one and placed between the main bases hands. The spotter starts at the sides then holds the lifted ankle and under the seat of the top person.
lift:The flyer starts just as if she were going into an extension pushing off the ground and off the bases shoulders The spotter and both side bases drive upward till their arms lock out. The flyer stags the foot on the knee, keeping her hips aligned and tight.
hint: You can also add a front spotter that holds the toe and shin of the flyer. It makes the stunt a lot easier to control.
Variations Of The Liberty:
The liberty is one of my favorite stunts because there are so many creative things that the flyer can do while in the air.
heel stretch: The name heel stretch is a pretty self explanatory name for this stunt. The flyer does exactly that. Here are a few things that you should NOT do:
1. DO NOT hold your extended leg at the bottom of your foot. It will cause you to flex your toe.
2. DO NOT grab the extended leg from the front. You arm should be behind the extended leg.
3. DO NOT bend your mounted leg to pull your heel stretch higher. This will only make it harder for your bases to hold you properly.
The flyer grabs the back of her heel with hand on the same side of the extended leg. Then she pulls it slowly toward her head, the knee should be pointing upward and the toe should always be pointed. The other hand of the flyer should be in a ½ "high V."
Scorpion: The flyer will grab the toe of her left foot with her left hand and pull it up very slowly toward the back of her head. The shoulder should twist around in such a way that the elbow of her left arm is facing upward. After pulling the scorpion the flyer should take her right hand and wrap it around her left wrist to help support the weight of her leg.
Aerobesque: This is a really beautiful stunt if performed the right way. The flyer will go up as if going into a ground up liberty except her arms will be in a "T" motion. The upper body needs be up-right and the lifted leg extend outward from the other leg. If you are doing it right the leg that is extended should be at a 90 degree angle from the leg that you are standing on.
Bow & Arrow: This is my one of my favorite stunts. It is extreemly difficult to do and the flyer must be VERY flexable. I advise getting it perfected on the ground before trying it as a stunt. The Bow & Arrow is somewhat similar to the heel stretch except you grab the extended leg with the opposite arm. For example, if you were going use your right leg you would hold it with your left hand. If the flyer is doing the stunt correctly her hand will be gripping the bottom of her heel and your arm will be behind your head. The flyers upper body should be straight and the extended leg should be straight up and down. Once the stretch is pulled the arm the other arm should go straight out in front of the leg.
The Basket Toss:
hand placement: This stunt requires 2 main bases 2 spotters and one flyer. The two main bases start by facing each other. Each will take their left hand and wrap it around their own right wrist. Then the bases will join by grabbing the other persons left wrist. When their hands are together it should form a little square.
loading: Before the flyer loads her main bases should be bent at the knees with their feet shoulder width apart. The front spotter should have both hands under the main bases "square." Next the flyer will place both hands on the bases shoulders and load into their hands. The flyer must hold all her weight making sure that there is not any in the bases hands. Once the flyer is set, the back spotter will place both of his/her hands under the seat of the flyer.
toss: On a 1, 2 count the all the bases make a small dip and drive upward at the same time. As the flyer rides the toss the bases should never take their eye off the flyer. The bases arms should stay fully extended and ready for the catch or cradle.
Twist Cradle or Full Down:
This dismount can be performed from any of the above stunts. But before trying the twist cradle make sure that your squad has master a regular pop cradle first. The only difference between a pop cradle and a twist is the flyer. The bases still throw and catch the same way.
As the pop for the twist is initiated, the position of the flyers head and shoulders will determine her body position in the air. Example: If the flyer wants to twist to the right she will turn her head and drop her shoulder to the right. The twist should be timed so that it is completed just before the catch is made. A good timing rule is to twit halfway up and twist halfway on the way down. The twist should be smooth and not stop until the rotation has completed. The flyer has to stay tight and hold her arms firmly to her body. Flying arms will increase risk of injury to a base when cradling.