5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (2024)

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1Motions

2Jumps

3Pike

4Stunts

5Tumbling

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Article Summary

Co-authored byJanice Tieperman

Last Updated: January 26, 2024Approved

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These steps are simple things to get you or your squad on the way to becoming a better cheerleader!

Steps

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  1. 1

    Below is a list of things that you need to accomplish to get on your cheerleading squad.

    • Learn basic motions.
    • Learn basic jumps.
    • Learn basic tumbling.
    • Learn basic stunts.
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Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Motions

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  1. 1

    High V[1]

    • Stick your arms up in to a V position. Your arms should be a little more forward. Your elbows should be locked and your wrists should align with your arms. Your hands should be in fists. You should see your fists from the corner of your eyes.
  2. 2

    Low V

    • This is the same as high v, except your arms should be down and not up. Again, make sure that your wrists are not broken, your hands are in fists, and your elbows are locked. Your thumb should go OVER the rest of your fingers in all motions. The pointer finger should face the audience.
  3. 3

    Daggers

    • Stick your arms by your chest. Tuck your elbows and arms in but not so they are touching each other. Your hands will be in fists and your pinkies should be facing out.
  4. 4

    Touchdown[2]

    • From dagger position, bring your arms straight up. Your pinkies should be facing out in fists, your elbows should be locked instead of bent, and your ears should feel your arms a little bit. That's how much in your arms should be in. Make sure that your wrists are not broken..
  5. 5

    T[3]

    • Bring your arms straight out so your body looks a little bit like a T. Bring your arms in so you can see them out of the corner of your eye. Your hands should be in fists with no fingers out.
  6. 6

    Broken T

    • From a T position, bring your forearms in by your chest so your forearms are a horizontal position. Your pinkies should be facing out and your hands in fists.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Jumps

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    Herkie[4]

    • On count one, you are going to clasp with your arms tighter than dagger position and your hands are in a fist like position together.
    • On count two, bring your arms up to a high V.
    • On count three, swing your arms in a cross position and bend your legs.
    • On count four, bring your arms up to a T, hit your herkie. One of your legs will be out like you are doing the straddle splits and the other leg will be bent back. Your arms will be in a T position with fists.
    • On count five, land with your legs bent with your hands by your side.
    • On count six, hold that position.
    • On count seven, straighten out your legs.
  2. 2

    Toe Touch

    • On count one, you are going to clasp with your arms tighter than dagger position and your hands are in a fist like position together.
    • On count two, bring your arms up to a high V
    • On count three, swing your arms in a cross position and bend your knees.
    • On count four, hit your toe touch. DO NOT ACTUALLY TRY TO TOUCH YOUR TOES!!!!! This cannot be emphasized enough. If you do, then your toe touch will look completely messed up. Your legs will be in a straddle split position. Your arms will be in a T position and in fists.
    • On count five, land with your legs bent with your hands by your side.
    • On count six, hold that position.
    • On count seven, straighten out your legs.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Pike

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  1. 1

    On count one, you are going to clasp with your arms tighter than dagger position and your hands are in a fist like position together.[5]

  2. 2

    On count two, bring your arms up to a rocket (a high clap)and turn 90 degrees to either side.

  3. 3

    On count three, swing your arms in and bend your knees

  4. 4

    On count four, hit your pike. Your legs will be in a pike position, meaning that you are going to extends your legs together in front of you with your toes pointed. Your arms should be over your legs and in fists.

  5. 5

    On count five, land with your legs bent with your hands by your side.[6]

  6. 6

    On count six, hold that position.

  7. 7

    On count seven, straighten out your legs.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Stunts

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    Thigh Stand.
    You are going to need two bases, a flyer, and a back spot. The bases will be in a side lunge position. If your base is on the left side, he or she will lunge to the right side. If your base is on the right side, he or she will lunge to the left. The bases' foot that are facing each other will be side by side. The back spot is going to be in the back holding the flyer's waist throughout the entire stunt.[7]

    • On count one, the flyer is going to step his or her right foot on the right base's thigh that is lunging out. Still all of the flyer's weight will be on the left foot (The one that is on the ground). His or her hands will be on both of the bases shoulders.
    • Hold count one.
    • On count three, the flyer will put all of his or her weight on his or her right leg. The flyer will step up on his or her right bases leg.
    • On count four, the flyer will stand clean with her weight still on the right base's leg. The flyer will not step on the left base's leg yet.
    • On count five, the flyer will step her left leg onto the left base's thigh.
    • On count six, the flyer will stand clean. He or she will now be up on both of the bases' thighs. The bases will hold the flyer's ankles.
    • Hold count six on count seven.
    • On count eight, the flyer is going to hit a high v.
    • The flyer is going to keep hitting the high v.
    • The flyer will still be hitting the high v.
    • On count three, the flyer will bring her arms down in a T motion. When the flyer does this, the bases will grab her upper arm and her hand.
    • Hold count three on count four.
    • The bases will bend down still in their side lunge position.
    • The bases will pop up and the flyer is going to jump up forward, so he or she can land on the ground.
    • The flyer will land and the bases will let go of the flyer's arms and hands. The backspot can let go of the flyer's waist.
    • Everybody will stand clean. The flyer will be in the front, the backspot will be right behind her. The two bases will be side by side.
  2. 2

    Half.You are going to need two bases, a flyer, and a back spot. The bases will have their hands over each other and their arms down so the flyer can step on their hands. The back spot will be holding the flyer's hips, and the flyer will be holding the bases' shoulders.

    • The flyer will jump onto the bases' hands and the back spot will help her up.
    • The flyer is going to bump.
    • The bases will lift their hands up to their chins. Once the flyer is raised, the back spot will grab the flyer's ankles. This is really important.
    • The flyer will hit a high V.
    • Do go down, the bases will bump their hands down and then squeeze the flyer's legs together, the flyer will hold the bases' shoulders and squat, and the back spot will catch the flyer by her bottom.
    • Once the flyer is down, the whole stunt will clean and the bases will turn 90 degrees to the front.
  3. 3

    Shoulder sit.
    You are going to need one base, a flyer, and a back spot. The base should have one leg out in a lunge, the flyer should have her leg on the base's leg, and the back spot should be holding the flyer's hips.[8]

    • The flyer will push her self up and sit on the base's shoulders, one leg at a time. The back spot will help her up.
    • The base will wrap her arms around the flyer's legs to make sure she doesn't fall.
    • Once the flyer is up, the back spot won't need to hold her hips anymore.
    • The flyer will hit a high V.
    • To get down, the base will slide the flyer's legs off her shoulders, grab her hands, and bump down.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Tumbling

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  1. 1

    Forward roll[9]

    • Squat and lay your hands on the floor
    • Tuck in your chin and push off your hands and legs.
    • Roll forward.
    • Squat your legs against your chest and hold your arms up in front of you.
    • Get up.
  2. 2

    Cartwheel

    • Put your best leg forward and your arms up against your ears.
    • Move your whole body forward and slowly raise your back leg.
    • Once your hands reach the ground, kick your back leg over.
    • Kick your other leg over.
    • Land in a lunge position, with your arms up against your ears.
  3. 3

    Backbend

    • Raise your arms up against your ears and spread your legs apart.
    • Push your hips forward.
    • Bend your back and look at the ground.
    • Bend IN, not out.
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  • Question

    Do I need to have my back handspring down?

    5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (31)

    Community Answer

    Not usually, but it helps to have it, so you can make the team with higher ability.

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  • Question

    How do the cheer squads pick the flyers, do they just choose the lightest cheerleaders?

    5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (32)

    Community Answer

    Sometimes, but not always. You do not have to be small to be a flyer. The coaches will consider flexibility and the ability to pull body positions in the air.

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    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question

    Do cheerleaders have to have their hair long enough for hair ties?

    5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (33)

    Community Answer

    It's not necessary. As long as your bow fits in your hair well, it is perfect.

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    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Warnings

      • When doing stunts, make sure that you have mats on the ground and you have a trained coach watching your stunts. Also, everyone should focus on the task at hand when doing a stunt. If one person makes a mistake, then someone could get hurt. So, be very careful when doing stunts.

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      About This Article

      5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (46)

      Co-authored by:

      Janice Tieperman

      wikiHow Staff Writer

      This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 273,623 times.

      95 votes - 79%

      Co-authors: 41

      Updated: January 26, 2024

      Views:273,623

      Categories: Cheerleading

      Article SummaryX

      To get the hang of basic cheerleading, try mastering non-stunt moves, like the high V, where you raise both arms while making fists with your hands, or making daggers by tucking your elbows into your chest as you raise your fists. You can incorporate these motions into jumps like the toe touch, where you do a high V and bend your knees to build up momentum before jumping to try and bring your toes to your fingers. Keep reading for how you can do more complicated stunts and tumbles!

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      Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

      As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise. However, I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in this article about cheerleading. I can help you understand the different motions, jumps, stunts, tumbling, and other techniques involved in cheerleading. Let's dive into the details!

      Motions

      Motions are the basic arm movements used in cheerleading routines. Here are some common motions mentioned in the article:

      1. High V: Stick your arms up in a V position, with your elbows locked and your wrists aligned with your arms. Your hands should be in fists.
      2. Low V: Similar to the high V, but your arms are down instead of up.
      3. Daggers: Stick your arms by your chest, tuck your elbows and arms in, and keep your pinkies facing out.
      4. Touchdown: From the dagger position, bring your arms straight up, with your pinkies facing out and your elbows locked. Your arms should form a T shape.
      5. T: Bring your arms straight out so your body looks like a T shape. Your hands should be in fists.
      6. Broken T: From a T position, bring your forearms in by your chest so that your forearms are horizontal. Your pinkies should be facing out and your hands should be in fists.

      Jumps

      Jumps add excitement and visual appeal to cheerleading routines. Here are a couple of jumps mentioned in the article:

      1. Herkie: This jump involves clasping your arms tightly, bringing them up to a high V, swinging your arms in a cross position, bending your legs, and landing with your legs bent and your hands by your side.
      2. Toe Touch: In this jump, you clasp your arms tightly, bring them up to a high V, swing your arms in a cross position, and kick your legs out to the side while keeping them straight. Land with your legs bent and your hands by your side.

      Stunts

      Stunts are more advanced cheerleading maneuvers that involve lifting and supporting teammates. Here are a couple of stunts mentioned in the article:

      1. Thigh Stand: This stunt requires two bases, a flyer, and a back spot. The bases lunge to the sides, and the flyer steps on one base's thigh, gradually shifting weight onto each base's leg. The bases hold the flyer's ankles, and the flyer hits a high V position.
      2. Half: This stunt also requires two bases, a flyer, and a back spot. The bases have their hands over each other, and the flyer jumps onto their hands. The back spot assists the flyer. The flyer hits a high V position, and then the bases support the flyer as she comes back down.

      Tumbling

      Tumbling refers to the acrobatic elements in cheerleading routines. Here are a few basic tumbling moves mentioned in the article:

      1. Forward Roll: Start in a squatting position, place your hands on the floor, tuck in your chin, push off your hands and legs, roll forward, and then stand up.
      2. Cartwheel: Begin by putting your best leg forward and your arms up against your ears. Move your body forward while raising your back leg, place your hands on the ground, kick your back leg over, kick your other leg over, and land in a lunge position with your arms up against your ears.
      3. Backbend: Raise your arms up against your ears, spread your legs apart, push your hips forward, bend your back, and look at the ground. Bend inward, not outward.

      These are just a few examples of the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or would like to learn more about cheerleading, feel free to ask!

      5 Ways to Do Basic Cheerleading - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      What are the 5 basic cheerdance movements? ›

      Although there are many cheer motions, the clasp, high-V, T-motion, touchdown and cone are most frequently used in a routine. It is important to practice the correct technique of every motion and perform each one sharply.

      What are the basic step of cheerleading routines? ›

      Basic Steps
      1. Leg 2. Leg Positions. Left/Right Liberty. Left/Right Scale.
      2. Leg 1. Leg Positions. Left/Right Dig. Left/right side dig. Left/Right Hitch. ...
      3. Arm 2. Arm Motions. High V. Low V. ...
      4. Arm Motions. Arm 1. Half T. T Motion. Tabletop. ...

      What are three key moves in cheerleading? ›

      To help you boost your cheerleading routine, we will outline three key moves in cheerleading that every cheerleader should know. These moves are the High V, the T-Jump, and the Liberty Stunt.

      Is it OK to start cheer at 12? ›

      There is no age limit for cheerleading so technically you can start cheering at any age!

      Is 13 too old to start cheerleading? ›

      All of my friends started at like 7 so I feel like I'm too old for this and this is my first sport. I can tell you from personal experience, 13 is not too late. I started cheering when I was about 15, going into my freshman year.

      Is 10 too old to start cheer? ›

      Children do not need to be very young to begin learning cheerleading skills. Students can learn at any age! One reason that cheerleading for kids is so popular is that there are classes and competitive teams for all age-groups.

      How to do toe touches cheer? ›

      Stretch first.

      Then, slowly spread your legs into a "V," as far as they will go without lifting them from the ground. Gently reach your arms down toward one foot, and lean into the stretch as far as feels comfortable. Touch your toe and hold it for 10-60 seconds. Then, straighten back up and repeat with the other foot.

      What is a cheer routine? ›

      It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Cheerleading routines typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting.

      Is 14 too old to start cheerleading? ›

      No it is definitely not too late for you to start. I started cheering when I was either 13 or 14 and have continued to do it through high school and I'm hoping to continue in college. The fact that you already have some tumbling is great but remember it's not just tumbling, you need to be able to do jumps and stunts.

      What is TikTok in cheerleading? ›

      This stunt is when the flyer switches legs - from a right leg liberty to a left leg liberty. Tip: Make sure the Flyer looks straight ahead, rather than looking at her Base as she switches from one leg to another.

      What is the hardest move in cheerleading? ›

      Top 10 Hardest Cheerleading Stunts
      • #10: Straight Ride Basket. Also in: ...
      • #7: One-Arm Extension Liberty. Also in: ...
      • #6: Double Down. Also in: ...
      • #4: Switch Kick Double Twist Basket. Also in: ...
      • #3: Rewind. Also in: ...
      • #2: Arabian Layout. Also in: ...
      • #1: Two and a Half High Pyramid (2:2:1 Pyramid) Also in:

      How many basic skills are there in cheerdance? ›

      There are 5 movements that you need to do in order to perform well in a Cheer Dance. Aside from being somewhat in shape, someone who wants to be a cheer dancer needs to master these movements. Pike - is a set of movements that may be considered the fanciest among the five that are mentioned.

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