List of Cheerleading Stunts - Body Positions

Body Positions

All of the Body Positions can be done at prep or extension level.

Liberty (Lib)

One or more bases holds up the flyer by the standing foot (usually the right foot) and the flyer balances weight on the standing leg. The flyer's other leg is bent at a 90 degree angle, and the toe is pointed and touching the right knee. This stunt is named for the way it looks similar to the Statue of Liberty. The name of this stunt is often shortened to 'Lib'.

One man

This stunt is a stunt done with one base but can be done with other bases helping to mount. The flyer begins standing in front of the base. The base grabs the cheerleaders waist and the flyer puts their hands on their bases wrists to help push off. The base counts 1, 2 and throws the flyer up as high as possible catching the middle of her feet at either chest level or full position. there are many variations that make this an elite stunt such as adding a spin or tuck up as the base throws up.

Scorpion

One or more bases holds up the flyer by the right foot and the flyer balances weight on that right straight leg. The flyer then grabs the loose foot and bends that leg upward behind the body until the toes are close to the back of the head, in a position resembling a scorpion's tail. The foot is secured in place by the opposite hand. A more advanced variation of the scorpion is the "Chin-hold," where the flyer tucks her foot underneath her own chin and holds.

Scale

One or more bases extend right foot. The flyer's other leg is held by his/her hand to the side and the leg is fully extended. The position is similar to the Scorpion, but one of the flyer's hands holds her ankle or calf (instead of her toes) and the other arm is in the High V position. Sometimes also called a 6 o'clock, or needle. When the flyer does the scale, the flyer would want to grab by the ankle and pull her leg into the scale.

Torch

The same thing as doing a liberty except you're doing it to the side and your torso faces to the side.

Heel Stretch

It is a stunt in which the base/bases holds one foot of the flyer while she holds the other foot in her hand and brings it beside her head.

Bow and Arrow

Variation of a heel stretch. The flyer grabs her left foot with the right hand, and pulls her leg straight up beside her head. Then she pulls her left arm and upper torso through the hole the leg and arm made, holding it straight.

Cobra

Variation of a bow and arrow. With the left foot still held by the right hand, the flyer wraps her left arm around her leg so her hand is behind her head. Then she grabs her left hand with her right hand, pulling her straight leg closer to her face.

Needle

Variation of liberty facing a regular scale and a needle is the flyer's position in the air. Where in a normal scale the chest is either parallel or higher than the hip on the supporting leg, a needle scale the chest is down beside the main support leg. Also, the leg that was supported by hands in a regular scale is now "free" and is pointing to near as north or "12 o'clock" as flexibility allows the flyer to obtain. The flyer also maintains balance by holding onto her own ankle. This is like doing a scorpion, but with your leg straight.

Arabesque

From a lib, the flyer points their leg out behind them and attempt to turn their hip socket out so when the leg is out straight, the front of the leg is facing the audience and their arms are in a "T" position. May also be pulled on someone kneeing.

Hitch

A hitch is a variation of the prep or extension. Usually in a pyramid. 3-5 people in a hitch pyramid. The two out-side flyers are usually on one girls shoulders (Shoulder sit.) the two middle flyers are in an extension and give there left or right foot (depending which side)to the girl in the middle who holds the feet by her shoulders. This can also be done in a prep stunt, where one base stays at prep level and the other goes up to extension.

No-hands/Chin Chin

When the flyer takes her foot and bends it under her chin and it sits there with no-hands

Running Table-top

When 4 flyers are bent over with a flat back like table-tops and the other flyer that is in a half quickly runs across their backs and goes into a half on the other side

Chair

The base lifts the flyer onto his palm which he extends upwards into a Liberty position. She sits on his palm while he holds the ankle of one leg against his chest with his other arm. The flyer stunts with her arms and free leg.

Pretty Girl

When the bases put the flyer in a extended position or half, and when the flyer gets thrown into the air, the flyer puts her hand behind her head and lifts her leg into the lib position while in the air. Another way of doing this stunt is by going into a lib position and placing your hands on your knee like a proper "pretty girl" and or 1 hand on your knee and & the other is behind your head or on your hip.

Basket Toss

Flyer is thrown from an extension where she then hits a position with her legs in the air and her arms are extended reaching for her toes (or in a pose/ hand position) then lands in a cradle position.
The bases support the flyer's feet with their hands held on to one of their own wrists and one wrist of the other base. The flyer's feet are placed side by side on top of the bases' hands. The backspot is supporting the flyer by holding onto her thighs.