Perfect The Position: Backspot Edition (2024)

FAQs

Is being a backspot in cheer hard? ›

Being a back spot is hard. It takes a special kind of person to keep control of their emotions while also helping the rest of the stunt group to stay in control.

Build Trust With Your Top Girl

As a backspot, you should always work to make your top girl feel safe and secure in the air. From pulling up on her ankles or catching her during a dismount, your role is extra important in making sure the top girl and the stunt group as a whole feels safe and strong.

Backspots ensure the safety of the flyer, particularly during complex stunts and dismounts. They are also the “operators” of stunts, as they determine the direction of the stunt with their strength and hand positioning and give verbal orders to bases.

Bases are the athletes that hold the flyer or "top girl" in the air during the stunt. Bases are very strong and are usually assigned together based on height to create an even platform for the flyer to perform an action.

There is no age limit to joining a competitive cheerleading team.

Leg, shoulder, and core strength are particularly important for bases and backspots. There are a number of exercises that help in strengthening these areas. Strong legs are critical for bases in support of the athletes that they are holding up in stunts and in pyramids.

Prep ,(stunt): A multi base, two leg stunt in which the top person is being held at shoulder level by the bases in an upright position. Prep-Level: The lowest connection between the base(s) and the top person is above waist level and below extended level (e.g. prep, shoulder level hitch, shoulder sit, etc.).

It's the backspot who makes sure the flyers are kept safe as they're thrown up into the air for the many acrobatic feats cheerleaders are called to perform during their routines.

Level 1: cartwheels, round-offs, forward and backward rolls, front and backwalkovers, knee or waist level single leg stunt, two-footed prep, straight cradles • Level 2: backhandspring, front handspring, Level 1 tumbling connected to a handspring, prep level single leg stunts, extended two-footed stunts, half-twisting ...

Key Areas to Focus on for Cheerleader Strength Training

A strong core is the foundation of a powerful cheerleader. Focus on exercises like planks, Russian twists, and leg raises to build a solid core that'll help you nail those stunts and balance moves.

What does JV mean in cheer? ›

JV stands for junior varsity. Some schools might call their JV teams freshmen/sophom*ore teams since freshmen and sophom*ores usually make up the JV rosters.

Level 7 is the highest level in cheerleading, where the most skills are allowed. A common belief is that the higher level a team is on, the better it is. That is not true! The level does not indicate how good a team or athlete is.

MYTH: Being a flyer is less work than being a base.

TRUTH: Although bases have the strenuous job of lifting, catching and keeping their flyer safe, the flyer position also takes an abundant amount of physical effort. Flyers must practice over and over how to stand solidly with their leg locked.

Level 1: cartwheels, round-offs, forward and backward rolls, front and backwalkovers, knee or waist level single leg stunt, two-footed prep, straight cradles • Level 2: backhandspring, front handspring, Level 1 tumbling connected to a handspring, prep level single leg stunts, extended two-footed stunts, half-twisting ...