Parts of a Cheerleading Squad

Flyer

Smallest girls. For everyone’s safety, it is best to have a light girl who can balance her weight while she’s in the air. She needs to be able to become trusting of her bases. Tight clothing is required for the flyer to help the bases catch her easily and safely. For guidelines, see “How To Dress For Cheerleading Tryouts”.

Base

There are two (sometimes 4) bases that will throw the flyer into the air. The bases need to be strong, about the same height, and trustworthy. A base needs to be attentive to what the flyer is doing and willing to do whatever it takes, at all costs, to make sure the flyer is caught safely. This also means letting her land ontop of you if need be.

Spotter

A spotter is always available standing behind the flyer as she enters the mount/stunt. Usually assisting the flyer in the first portion on the stunt, the spotter grabs onto the flyers thights, ankles or feet (depending on the type of stunt) to stabilize the stunt. The spotter is essentially another base and is required to keep the flyer safe at all costs.

Front Spotter

Sometimes, like in a basket toss, a front spotter is needed. The front spotter adds even more stength and stability to the existing stunt. A front spotter also takes base duties as the stunt calls for.

Tumbler

Tumblers take “tumbling passes” across the field or mat. A roundoff backhandspring is required at high school level of tumblers. Even better, are those tumblers who can do standing back tucks, roundoff-backhandspring-backtucks, and full twists. Tumblers are usually gymnasts turned cheerleaders or the entire team is coached y a cheerleading tumbling coach and the training is integrated into weekly practices.

Captain

Is voted in by the former year cheerleaders or right after tryouts of the current year. Newbies sometimes don’t have a vote. Sometimes the coaches choose the captains for the squad. The captain is in charge of scheduling practices, holding any non-UCA/NCA cheer summer camps, calling squad members for updates, organizing cheer routines, mixing music and coordinating stunts. The captain is also responsible for making sure routines are competition-ready and by-the-book. She will lead any voting made by the squad.

Also, the captain is in charge of starting cheers on the sidelines, notifying the team of time-outs and when to do their routines on the field. The captain will coordinate with the cheer coach and boys’ team coaches for cheering time.

I hope this helped you to better understand the different roles on a cheerleading squad! It is best to understand that your role will be determined for you by the coach and veteran cheerleaders. Some of the decisions are made on tenure, but most are made on the individual’s strengths, weaknessess, body type and personality.

If you need to come up with a cheer for your tryouts, here is a great cheer: “A Cheer For Your Tryout Routine”

Good luck!