Cheerleading stunting, flyer help?

Question

Ok right now im the high school cheer team and im in a stunt group as a base. but my coach recently told me that she wants to make me a flyer because im the most felxible on the team. So what i want to know is some tips for someone whos never flown before. (I already have both heelstretches down.)

Answer 1

GV is right on, but I would also add that you need to spot the wall while flying. That means you pick a fairly high point as you are loading and keep your eyes on it through the entire stunt and dismount (unless it's a twisting mount or dismount, but it won't be for you for a while anyway.)

Let your base group balance you, but there are tricks you can do to straighten yourself out a bit. If your toes are pointing down and you feel like you are slipping forward off the bases hands lift your big toe to correct. If you are leaning back on your heels, push your toes down a bit. If your feet roll out to the side, lift your baby toes to straighten them again.

If you are really nervous have the bases get down on their knees so you aren't up too high. Be sure to do hang drills when learning to load. (Your knees are tucked up to your chest and your arms are locked out, with your hands on the bases' shoulders. They let go of your feet and you practice keeping your bum up and all of your weight stable.)

When you get to cradles make sure you do drills for those. Work your way up this list over a few practices.
1) Do a cradle drill and scoop the flyers off the floor and have them press their elbows against the bases' backs to help keep their heads in line with the base group. Have the bases let go and see if the flyers can hold their own weight up. (If not, they need to be doing ab exercises and remind them to stay tight.)
2) While they are in a cradle scoop, have them let go of the bases' shoulders and just do a gentle little toss (like a log roll but the flyer will just stay in catch position), then get a little higher and higher the next few next times.
3) The next step is to cradle from waist level. Set up like you are going into a prep but let the flyers stand up and lock their knees. Then give them a little pop and cradle them. Again try to get a little higher each time.
4) Next cradle from prep level. Again pop higher and higher each time.
5) Finally, cradle from extension level.

Here is a page with some basic stunts listed on it. It might help you a little with the basics.: http://geocities.com/aescougarcheer/StuntProgression.htm

Answer 2

Your coach is going to start you off low, but still don't think about how high you are or aren't! It'll physique you out! Find a spot on the wall that is higher than you and as you go up keep looking at it. I am a base and top and I know after being on the ground for a while i still get nervous about topping.

Make sure you trust your bases, even if you don't tell yourself you do, then while you are in the air you will feel safe knowing if you fall you will be caught.

STAY TIGHT! Most important thing, sometimes I lock my knees so hard and squeeze my butt so much i start to shake, not from nerve but from tightness.

Know all your skills, and how to properly do them. I assume you do, but research all the skills you may be asked to do, not just liberty skills any stunting skill. You don't want to be the one asking "What's that!?".

Also when and if you fall, don't flail and grab for someone on the ground, you will punch someone and no one will want to catch you again! Stay tight as a board and people will catch you like a helicopter.

Good luck, hope I helped :)

Answer 3

pull up a ton of scorpians and heel stretches every day. have a friend help you get you leg up. at least you'll be closer to it when try-outs comes along. don't forget about working on other things like jumps and tumbling! good luck

Answer 4

U hav to exersise to be a flyer. And some tips are don't be afraid always be straight.

Answer 5

1. dont let your fear over come you!
2. check out http://www.mspineapple.com/
when i was a flyer i used this website and it helped me alot! I hope it helps you to!