College Cheerleading Stunts

What Goes Into a Good Stunt?

Stunts are performed through the practice and cooperation of three kinds of cheerleaders: bases, spotters and flyers. Each has their own set of skills and talents.

• The Bases are usually the tallest and strongest members of the team, and need to have absolute focus and confidence.
• The Flyers are the flexible performers that go up in the air above the bases, whether perched on their hands or tossed up in mid-air. They need to be completely trusting of the bases and spotters.
• The Spotters are the assisting efforts in a stunt, whether this means helping the flyers into the air or just making sure that a misstep ends in a catch, not a broken arm. They must be able to shift between being exactly where they're needed and being out of the way, as well as calling the timing on the stunts. Their attention is focused on the flyer throughout the entire stunt.

When learning a stunt, it is as important that the flyers, bases and spotters learn to trust and know each other as any particular move or technique. The best flyer in the world won't be able to do a simple extension move if she doesn't have complete confidence in the base's ability to support her, or the spotter's ability to provide her with the right support at the right time.

For example, in the cheerleading stunt known as the "cupie," the flyer starts simply enough, putting her right foot into the base's hands. However, the next step is a jump up into the air, placing the other foot into the base's hands as well.

There's no way to do this hesitantly, especially since the base depends on the momentum of the flyer's jump to push her up into the air, feet held solidly together. At the same time, the spotter's job in the cupie is to brace the flyer's ankles, providing front support as the balance is ensured. Of course, while all of this is happening all three have to be as bright and cheerful as the rest of the squad.

What Makes College Cheerleading Stunts Different?

College cheer stunts take these skills to the next level in several areas. First is in the number of cheerleaders doing stunts. Rather than one or two flyers there may be five, six or ten, basically as many as the squad feels is needed. Usually the stunts then need to be practiced by the squad until they are proficient in the moves. Once this stage is reached, the squad should feel prepared to perform them in front of the crowd.

College cheer stunts also tend to require more flexibility. One college level variation on the Liberty stunt is called the "Bow and Arrow." The base only holds one foot of the flyer, who holds the other foot in the opposite hand by the instep in a kind of vertical split, the leg inches from the flyer's nose. Holding this pose in perfect balance, the flyer will then stretch her other arm in a straight horizontal line, providing the "arrow" to her body and leg forming the bow. As mentioned before, usually it is not just one person doing this stunt – there are several, all performing at the same time.

There may be more technical dance training needed for college cheerleading stunts as well. Another advance move is the arabesque, a common ballet position. The difference is that instead of performing the move on a floor, or even on the relative security of a toe shoe, the flyer is once again perched above the base, spine completely straight (to avoid falling over).

Obviously, all of these stunts need to be practiced under the supervision of a knowledgeable cheer coach and with appropriate safety equipment – padding and mats at a minimum. However, with enough drill and practice, squads can fly and spin through the air with ease at competitions and games alike.