Check out these cheerleading terms and test your squad! A cheerleading team has to be in sync with each other to succeed! (And a matching wardrobe with group deal savings couldn't hurt either ... )
Take these terms to CHEERSPORT Nationals in February - you'll be glad you did! Don't leave anything to chance - learn more with Soffe's cheer glossary now.
- Arch: A position in which the back is curved.
- Base: The bottom person in the stunt who remains in contact with the floor, supporting the mounter in a stunt.
- Basket-toss: Toss of a flyer into the air involving 3-4 tossers, 2 of which have their hands interlocked.
- Calisthenics: A series of exercises used to develop strength, power and balance.
- Chant: A short repetitive yell performed continually throughout a game. short routines with words sometimes involving the crowd.
- Cheer: A longer spirited yell performed only during official breaks of a game. Sometimes using motions and stunts.
- Cradle Catch: Occurs when the catcher(s) catch a mounter/flyer by holding her around the back and under the thighs.
- Dismount: A method used to return to a floor position following a stunt.
- Extended Stunt: One in which the supporting arms(s) of the base)s) is fully extended above the head. Stunts such as chairs, Russian lifts and T-lifts are extended stunts.
- Extension: A stunt in which the arms of each base are fully extended above the head, supporting the mounter/flyer standing in the palms of the base(s).
- Flash cards: Cards that show which words the spectators should shout back.
- Flyer: The person that is elevated into the air by her base(s) to perform a mount.
- Gymnastics Cheer: A cheer involving any use of gymnastics.
- Hand Spring: A spring from a standing position to the hands, and back to a standing position.
- Jump: A spring into the air with both feet off the ground to a given position with landing on one or both feet; any move where both feet leave the ground. Examples of jumps are toe-touches, side hurdlers, front hundlers, pikes, around-the-worlds, and double nines.
- Layout: A straight or arched position.
- Leap: A moving spring position in the air from one foot to the other.
- Mount: Any skill in which one or more persons is supported in the air. Another word used is stunt.
- Mounter (flyer): The person in a stunt, who is supported by one or more persons. (Also called a flyer)
- Partner Stunts: Referred to as double stunts; a maneuver in which at least one mounter is supported by one base.
- Pike: A position in which the body is bent at the hips and legs are straight out in ninety degree angle.
- Pirouette: A turn in standing position on one leg to a different direction.
- Pom Pom Routine: A dance routine performed with pom poms.
- Pyramid: A stunt involving one or more [multiple] mounters/flyers supported by one or more bases and linked together.
- Routines: A choreographed combination of dance steps. A sequence of moves.
- Split: A movement or sitting position in which the legs are spread apart in alignment or sideways one in front of the other.
- Spotter: A person who is in direct contact with the performing surface and may help control the building of, or dismounting from, a mount. This person may not provide primary support, meaning the mount or pyramid would remain stable without the spotter. The primary responsibility of the spotter is to watch for safety hazards.
- Straddle: A position where the legs are straight out and apart.
- Stag: A leap or pose in which one leg is bent and the other is straight.
- Stunt: Any maneuver or 'set piece' including tumbling, mounting, a pyramid or a toss.
- Toss: A throwing motion by the base(s) to increase the height of the top person with the top person becoming free of contact with the base(s).
- Traditional Cheerleading: Organized group yell leaders characterized by the use of motions & stunt performance.
- Transitional Stunts: Involves a top person moving from one stunt to another. The transtional stunt may involve changing bases.
- Tuck: A position in which the body is bent at the hips and the knees are held tightly up to the chest.
- Tumbling: Forward or backward rolls, inverted skills and flips.
- Vault: A stunt in which the hands of the top person are used to assist in clearing a base(s) or prop(s)
We hope this cheerleading glossary helped you learn a few new cheer tips and tricks! Teach your teammates too and find the best cheerleading shorts with Soffe!
