The best athletes are those who are well-rounded in all areas of cheerleading. This sort of versatility will help athletes when looking to level up in all star cheer, try out for a high school team, or become a collegiate athlete. Becoming a better base in cheer stunting involves developing both physical skills and teamwork abilities. Here are some tips to improve: 

  1. Strength and Conditioning: Build strength in your legs, core, and upper body. Focus on exercises like squats, lunges, calf raises, planks, and push-ups to improve your overall strength and stability. Recently, Twisters began using resistance loops and medicine balls with our level 3 athletes to increase their upper body strength and stamina.
  2. Technique and Form: Focus on technique. Ensure you’re always squatting in your “tiny chair” and never arching or hunching your back when basing a stunt. Review videos of your stunt group and look at form. Your coaches can help make corrections and explain how to improve form when basing inversions, prep-level stunts, extended stunts and baskets. Ensure you understand the proper grips and footwork. Drilling these will help build consistency and muscle memory in your stunts.
  3. Communication: Clear communication with your flyer and other bases is crucial. Learn the verbal cues and signals used in cheer stunting to coordinate lifts, catches, and dismounts effectively. While the backspot often “leads” the stunt, telling your stunt group what you’re feeling can help improve communication. This level of peer feedback is most effective with our junior and senior teams who have more experience in stunting. Be sure to ask your coach questions about counts if you don’t understand, and always ask before the flyer is in the air.
  4. Flexibility: Build flexibility in shoulders and hamstrings to prevent injury. While we don’t often think of bases needing flexibility for stunting, it can prevent injury when catching a stunt that didn’t hit. It’s also necessary to maintain a stretching routine when you’re building strength to prevent muscle soreness.
  5. Safety Awareness: Always prioritize safety. Understand the risks associated with each stunt and know how to execute them safely. Pay close attention to counts, grips and positioning. If you’re unclear on anything the coach is asking of you, ask before you put a flyer in the air. Once the flyer is in the air, it’s more difficult to ask questions and obtain visual cues.
  6. Teamwork and Trust: Develop trust with your stunt group. Being a reliable teammate involves being consistent in your movements, actively listening to feedback, and supporting your flyer and other bases. Stay positive even if a stunt isn’t hitting the way you’d like it to. Negativity breeds negative results, while positivity encourages others to continue working hard and trying their best.
  7. Drills and Practice: Regularly practice stunts with your stunt group. Drill specific movements, transitions, and catches to improve muscle memory and timing. Use open gym to meet as a group and practice transitions you’ve been inconsistent on. Let your coach know so he or she can give you drills and let you know how to stunt safely during open gym time.
  8. Coach Feedback: Seek feedback from your coach and more experienced teammates. They can provide valuable insights and corrections to help you refine your technique and improve as a base. Be humble and open to critiques, as it demonstrates a “growth mindset”, which is vital to athlete success.

When you focus on improving your basing skills, you’re not just benefiting yourself, but you’re going to inspire your team, demonstrate your commitment to your sport, and build confidence in your teammates.

Twister Sports is located in Warrensburg, MO and offers recreational and competitive tumbling, cheerleading, dance, gymnastics and ninja warrior. Additionally, we have birthday parties, indoor batting cages, private lessons, full and partial-day summer camp, and a before & after-school program. For more information on our all-star cheerleading program and options for teams, visit twistersports.com/cheer.

Twister Sports
240 NW 13 Hwy
Warrensburg, MO 64093
660-238-0577
twistersports.com
jointwistersports.com