Stunting is the most exciting, fun part of cheerleading. It takes a lot of teamwork and a lot of patience every step of the way. Stunting is very dangerous, though, and there have been many incidents where people have been seriously injured during a stunt. It is very important to listen to everything your coach tells you to do. When learning a new stunt, make sure you pay close attention so you know what to do when it is your turn. The safer you stunt, the stronger and better you will become. The stronger you are, the easier it is to do harder stunts and the faster you will progress. Even though you must be safe and controlled in a stunt, they are still fun for you and for the crowd. This page is all about the different people that make up a stunt and stunting safety.

The highest person in a stunt is the flyer. The flyer is the smallest, lightest girl because it is easier to lift her. The flyer may be required to stand on one leg and do many other flexible positions while up in a stunt. This means that she should be limber and strong. The flyer is most at risk for being injured. By being dropped, a serious injury could be placed on her, or one of the people below her. That is why all must be focused while up in the air.

The next position is the base. There are usually two bases in a stunt. The bases are placed at the bottom of the stunt on the left and the right of a flyer in most cases. The bases are required to be very strong and very meticulous of where they are standing and where they have the flyer in the stunt. Sometimes the bases are men, but are usually women. The bases must be very close in height or else the flyer will not be straight in the air and will most likely fall. Bases are very important in a stunt. Without them, what would the flyer be held by? Bases must pay close attention to what the flyer is doing at all times. This will prevent an injury and keep everyone in your squad happy and healthy.

The final person in a stunt is the back spotter. The back spotter stands behind the bases and supports the stunt. The back spotter lifts weight off of the bases by holding the flyer’s ankles and lifting up. Back spotters also call the prep for a stunt. Back spotters are very important in getting a flyer down from a stunt, also.

Some stunts are preformed with only two people. This stunt consists of a flyer on top and either a back spotter or a base underneath. These are harder stunts that usually require a male cheerleader. Two people stunts allow you to get more flyers into the air to spirit and cheer.

Stunting is very dangerous so it is important to follow stunting rules. No jewelry should be worn during a stunt. Earrings can easily be caught on a bases clothing and ripped out of the earlobe. Rings can also get stuck on articles of clothing. If a necklace was to get caught, the flyer could be strangled. Hair should be securely fastened in a ponytail. If your hair is not in a pony tail it could get caught and ripped out. Also, hair could be whipped into your face if you are tumbling. It is also a lot neater looking and it lets the crowd see your beautiful, smiling faces. Listen to your coach and/or co. coach. If a coach switches stunts and half of your stunt group goes up in one stunt and the other group goes up in another, you could hurt the other people or yourself. Coaches also know what they are doing. So follow they’re techniques and you are sure to look cleaner and be safer all the way.