Jumps
The Counts
Throughout your execution
of any cheerleading jump, you should be thinking these counts in your head,
"5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2, 3." For the first 5, 6, 7
you just stand there with your feet flat on the floor and your arms by your
sides. Before you begin the jump, really focus on PROPER TECHNIQUE, not necessarily
height. Jumps in nice form look much prettier than jumps that are all over the
place but high. A lot of people work only for height and begin nasty habits
like leaning their chest forward, making a bad motion, or bending their knees
in a toe touch.
The Preparation
At the 8 count, bring your arms up into a tight high V. Keep your feet flat on
the floor. When you were younger you most likely would stand up on your tip
toes to get an added boost. That's not acceptable. Really use the motion to get
your height.
The Lift-Off
The jump occurs on counts 1 and 2. Swing your arms around in front of your
head, crossing down and then pulling straight out or up into the motion,
depending whether the motion that goes with the jump is a T, candlesticks, or
touchdown. Use the swinging motion to get height, and push off with your legs.
Hit the jump required after your arms go into the right position.
The Landing
At the 3 count, your feet hit the floor. Hold that for four counts, until 8,
with your arms by your sides. Then repeat the jump by hitting a high V on 8.
Toe-Touch
In the toe touch jump,
make sure your knees and the laces of your sneakers are facing up towards the
sky. Remember, form is more important than height. Also, don't lean forward
when you do this jump. The name toe touch does not mean literally touch your
toes - your arms should be in a T position for this jump.
Side Hurdler
Your right leg should be
extended out to the side in the same position as the toe touch, with your knee
and the laces of your sneaker facing upwards in a side hurdler. As for your
other leg, it should be bent to the side. Your arms should be in a T motion.
Front Hurdler
In the front hurdler,
your stronger leg (usually your right if you are a righty)
comes up in a pike position straight up in front of you, and your other leg
bends behind you. Hit a touchdown motion during this jump.
Pike
In a pike, your body is
bent in half with both legs extended straight out in front of you with your
toes pointed. Your arms should hit a
candlestick motion.
Double Nine
The body is bent in half, like a pike. One leg
straight like a pike with the other leg is bent. The bent leg forms a
"9" by touching the knee of the straight leg. The arms should match the
formation of the legs in a "9".
Stunts
Positions in Stunting:
Base(s)- This is the person(s)
holding the flyer up. The base(s) should Never take
their eyes off of the flyer.
Flyer- the person on top of
the bases, this person should not be afraid to be up high or to fall. The flyer
should hollow out her stomach and squeeze every muscle in the body. This takes
some weight off of the bases and makes the stunt (s) more solid.
Back Spotter- This person helps the
flyer get into the stunt, as well as, catching the flyers upper body during a
cradle. The spotter should NEVER take eyes off the flyer! The spotter must stay
behind the stunt not under it like the bases or the spotter will be considered
a base. The spotter is responsible for counting into the next stunt.
Front Spotter- Is a person who helps with a stunt from the
front. They can help in many ways some of the most used are:
1. Help lift by holding the base(s) wrists
2. Help lift by holding the flyer's ankles
3. In a stunt like a
4. Help catch the legs/feet during a cradle
5. Help with the toss in either a Basket Toss or a Cradle
etc
The flyer is to stand on
one leg while raising the other leg to the straight legs knee. The straight leg
is usually the right leg; the bent leg should be flat on top and pressed
tightly against the knee. The arms can be in any motion; typically a "High
V" is used. (a.k.a. "Lib").
Heel Stretch
The flyer should stand on
one leg, typically the right leg. The other leg is held in the air with the
same hand. The flyer should aim for the arm holding the stretched leg should be
in a "High V" motion. The stretched leg should be slightly in front
of the flyers body. The other arm should be in a "High V".
Bow-N-Arrow
This is quite a-bit like
a heel stretch. The difference is that the extended leg is up next to the head,
and is held by the opposite hand. (So, if the left leg is up the right arm is
holding it.) The other arm is in a "T" motion.
Arabesque
The flyer stands on one
leg, usually the right leg. While the bases are holding the straight leg the
flyer lifts the other leg straight behind her. The flyer wants to make a
90-degree angel with the straight leg.
Scale
The flyer stands on one
leg, usually the right. The bases hold
the right leg while the flyer grabs her left ankle and extends and straightens
her leg behind her. The flyer should
make sure to keep her bottom leg looked out at all times and her toe pointed.
Scorpion
This stunt is some what
like a scale only the flyer needs to hold her left root with both hands and
extend the leg directly behind the flyer.
Although the left knee will stay slightly bent, the flyer should try to
pull her leg as high up towards the sky as possible.
Motions
High
V- Arms
are at a 45 degree angle up to the body. Pinky fingers are to the back.
Low
V- Arms
are at a 45 degree angle down to the body. Pinky fingers are to the back.
T- Arms are at a 90 degree angle to the body. Pinky fingers are to
the back.
Broken T- Same as a T, but arms are bent. Do not bring it forward. Pinky
fingers are to the front.
Daggers- Arms are bent, hugging the body. Pinky fingers are to the front.
Low Touch Down- Arms are straight down, in-line with the body. Arms should
be tight to the body and slightly
forward. Pinky fingers are to the back.
Touch Down- Arms are straight up, in-line with the body. Bring arms to
ears, not ears to arms. pinky fingers are to the
front.
