47 cheerleading terms explained, including flyer, base, cupie, herkie and basket toss, each with a short definition.
Cheer vocabulary is split between the sideline and the competition mat. Sideline work brings the chants, the motions and the pom-poms, while all star routines bring stunt and tumbling terminology that sounds like a foreign language from the stands. The words related to cheerleading below cover both, from the roles in a stunt group to the names of individual jumps, and the words associated with cheerleading culture come with them. Use the cheerleading glossary further down to look up a single term.
Must-Know Cheerleading Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Base
- Basket toss
- Flyer
- Full out
- Handspring
- Herkie
- Jump
- Liberty
- Mount
- Pom-poms
- Pyramid
- Routine
- Scorpion
- Stunt
- Tuck
- Varsity
- Cheer
- Cradle
- Cupie
- Dance
- Extension
- Heel stretch
- High V
- Low V
- Motions
- Sideline
- Spotter
- Toe touch
- Tumbling
- Whip
Cheerleading Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Back Spot | The squad member standing behind a stunt, watching the flyer's waist and taking the head and shoulders in a fall. |
| Base | The person or persons who lift and hold the flyer. Everything above them depends on how still they stand. |
| Basket Toss | Two bases toss the flyer up from interlocked hands, the flyer performs a skill at the top and is caught. |
| Bobble | A wobble in a stunt that is recovered rather than dropped. |
| Bow and Arrow | A flexibility position where the flyer pulls one leg up beside the head and extends the opposite arm. |
| Callback | The second round of tryouts, where a shortened list of candidates is asked to return. |
| Chant | A short, repeated sideline call meant for the crowd to join in, shorter than a full cheer. |
| Cheer | A chant performed for the crowd, usually with stomps, claps and sharp motions to mark the beat. |
| Clean | Standing with arms straight down at the sides. The neutral position every motion starts and ends from. |
| Cradle | The dismount where the bases catch the flyer in a seated position before setting her down. |
| Cupie | An extended stunt where the flyer stands with both feet together in one base's hands. |
| Dance | The choreographed section of a routine, used to add style and hold the audience. |
| Deduction | Points taken off the score for a fall, a bobble or a rules violation. |
| Dismount | Any controlled way of bringing the flyer back to the floor from a stunt. |
| Extension | The flyer stands with legs locked, held above the bases' heads at full arm's length. |
| Flyer | The cheerleader lifted into the air in a stunt or pyramid. Also called the top or top girl. |
| Full Out | Running the routine exactly as it would be performed in competition, with every element in. |
| Handspring | An acrobatic move over the hands and back onto the feet, forward or backward. |
| Heel Stretch | A flexibility skill where the flyer holds one leg up by the heel, out in front, standing on the other. |
| Herkie | The jump named after Lawrence Herkimer, one leg straight out to the side and the other bent down. |
| High V | Arms raised in a V above the shoulder line. |
| Hit | Performing a routine or a stunt cleanly, without a bobble or a drop. A hit routine is the goal. |
| Jump | A dynamic move off the ground into a set leg position, scored on height, form and landing. |
| Level | The difficulty tier a team competes at, which sets which stunts and tumbling skills are allowed. |
| Liberty | A one-legged stunt where the flyer's free foot is drawn up to the knee of the standing leg. |
| Load In | The setup step where the flyer's feet are placed in the bases' hands before the stunt goes up. |
| Low V | Arms extended down and out from the body, forming an upside-down V. |
| Megaphone | The cone-shaped horn cheerleaders use to carry a chant across a stadium. |
| Motions | The sharp, fixed arm and hand positions used to punctuate words during a cheer. |
| Mount | The formation in which flyers are lifted into the air by their bases. |
| Pom-poms | The fluffy handheld accessories shaken during a performance to make movement read from a distance. |
| Pyramid | A multi-level structure built from several stunt groups at once. |
| Roundoff | A cartwheel that lands on both feet at once, used to build speed into a tumbling pass. |
| Routine | The full choreographed performance: stunts, tumbling, jumps and dance, scored as one. |
| Scorpion | A flexibility stunt where the flyer pulls the free foot up behind the head with one hand. |
| Sideline | The area beside the field or court where cheerleaders perform chants and cheers during play. |
| Spotter | The squad member whose job is safety, watching a stunt or tumbling pass and catching if needed. |
| Squad | The full team, including bases, flyers, back spots and tumblers. |
| Stunt | Any skill where cheerleaders lift or support another cheerleader off the ground. |
| Stunt Group | The small unit that builds one stunt together, usually two bases, a back spot and a flyer. |
| Toe Touch | The jump with a horizontal straddle split in mid-air and the hands reaching toward the toes. |
| Tuck | A jump or flip with both knees pulled tight to the chest in the air. |
| Tumbling | The gymnastic side of cheer: rolls, handsprings, tucks and full passes across the mat. |
| Twist | A rotation around the body's long axis, added to a tumbling skill or a basket toss. |
| Varsity | The top competitive squad at a school, above junior varsity. |
| Whip | An advanced no-handed backflip with a fast whipping motion, usually linked into a longer pass. |
| X Out | A tuck in which the flyer or tumbler kicks arms and legs out into an X shape before landing. |
#1 Base
In cheerleading, the base refers to the person or persons who provide the foundation for a stunt or pyramid, lifting and supporting the flyer aloft. They are vital to the stability and safety of cheer stunts.
#2 Basket Toss
A high-flying stunt where the bases toss the flyer into the air using interlocked hands, resembling a basket. The flyer performs a trick at the apex before being caught by the bases or back spot.
#3 Flyer
The flyer is the cheerleader who is lifted into the air during a stunt or pyramid. They must maintain tight body control and perform various positions while being supported by bases and spotters.
#4 Full out
The term “full out” in cheer is used to describe performing a routine with maximum effort and all elements, including the stunts, jumps, and dance moves, exactly as they would be in a competition.
#5 Handspring
A handspring is an acrobatic move where a cheerleader propels themselves over on their hands and then lands back on their feet. It often appears in tumbling sequences and can be front or back.
#6 Herkie
A classic cheerleading jump named after its creator, Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer, features one leg extended straight out and the other bent towards the ground, creating a distinctive pose in mid-air.
#7 Jump
In cheerleading, a jump is a dynamic movement where the cheerleader launches off the ground into a variety of leg positions, often including a toe touch, pike, or herkie. Jumps are scored on height, form, and landing.
#8 Liberty
A popular stunt in cheerleading where the flyer stands on one leg (usually the left), with the other leg bent at the knee and held up so the foot is near the knee of the standing leg. The bases support the flyer’s foot to maintain balance.
#9 Mount
In cheerleading, a mount refers to the formation where flyers are lifted or boosted into the air by bases. It is a foundational element for stunts and pyramids, requiring strength, precision, and teamwork.
#10 Pom-poms
Cheerleading pom-poms are colorful, fluffy accessories that cheerleaders shake and use during performances to add visual appeal and emphasize their movements. They’re iconic symbols of cheer spirit.
#11 Pyramid
A pyramid is a multi-level stunt that involves several cheerleaders, combining mounts and lifts to create a spectacular human structure. It’s a highlight in routines that showcases strength and balance.
#12 Routine
A cheerleading routine is a choreographed performance that includes stunts, tumbling, dance, and jumps. Performed at games or competitions, routines are scored for their precision, difficulty, and entertainment value.
#13 Scorpion
The scorpion is an advanced flexibility stunt where a flyer stands on one foot, grabs the ankle of her other leg behind her body, and extends it upwards towards her head, resembling a scorpion’s tail.
#14 Stunt
A stunt in cheerleading is a skilled move where cheerleaders lift or support one another to create a formation like a lift, pyramid, or basket toss. Stunts require strength, coordination, and timing.
#15 Tuck
A type of jump in cheerleading where the cheerleader pulls both knees to the chest tightly while in mid-air, often performed during a routine to demonstrate agility and control.
#16 Varsity
Refers to a cheerleading squad that represents the highest competitive level in school cheerleading, typically consisting of older or more experienced members than a junior varsity (JV) team.
#17 Cheer
A coordinated chant or shout performed by cheerleaders to encourage team spirit and motivate the crowd. Cheering combinations vary and can include stomps, claps, and jumps synchronized with vocal enthusiasm.
#18 Cradle
A dismount from a stunt where the flyer is caught by the bases in a seated position before being brought to the ground. It’s a fundamental skill in cheerleading that requires precise timing and trust among teammates.
#19 Cupie
An advanced stunt where the flyer stands on one base’s hands with both feet together, creating a “cup” shape with their legs. The cupie requires significant balance and strength on the part of the base.
#20 Dance
A sequence of choreographed moves often incorporated into cheerleading routines, encompassing various styles to add visual appeal and engage the audience. Dance in cheerleading emphasizes synchronicity and flair.
#21 Extension
A stunt where the flyer is lifted high above the bases’ heads, standing straight up with legs locked. This position showcases the flyer’s balance and the bases’ strength and steadiness.
#22 Heel Stretch
A flexibility skill where a cheerleader lifts one leg up by the heel and holds it straight out in front, typically while standing on the other leg. The heel stretch demonstrates agility and flexibility.
#23 High V
A basic arm position in cheerleading where the arms are raised at a 45-degree angle upward from the shoulder line, forming a “V” shape. This is a common position used in cheers and chants for visual effect.
#24 Low V
Similar to the High V but with the arms extended downward at a 45-degree angle from the body, forming an upside-down “V.” This position is also frequently used in various cheer routines for its strong visual appeal.
#25 Motions
In cheerleading, motions refer to the precise and sharp hand movements and positions, such as claps, punches, or touch-downs, used by cheerleaders to accentuate words and beats during cheers and routines.
#26 Sideline
The sideline is the area along the edge of the competition floor or field where cheerleaders perform chants, cheers, and dances to support their team and engage the audience during breaks in the sporting action.
#27 Spotter
A spotter is a safety role within the squad, responsible for observing and assisting flyers during stunts and tumbling to prevent injuries. They ensure that the flyer lands safely by catching or supporting them if necessary.
#28 Toe touch
The toe touch is a dynamic cheerleading jump where the cheerleader performs a clean, horizontal leg split in mid-air while reaching their hands towards their toes. It’s a prominent move in routines that showcases flexibility and athleticism.
#29 Tumbling
Tumbling refers to the gymnastic elements of cheerleading, including rolled and airborne skills like handsprings, tucks, and flips. It is an integral part of a cheer routine that demonstrates power and agility.
#30 Whip
A whip is an advanced tumbling pass where the cheerleader performs a no-handed backflip with a fast, whip-like motion. It requires significant aerial skill and is often used in succession with other tumbling moves to create impressive sequences.
FAQ
In cheerleading, what is the person on top of a stunt called?
The flyer, sometimes called the top or top girl. The flyer holds the position in the air while the bases below carry the weight and the back spot watches for a fall.
What are the people who lift the flyer called?
The bases. A standard stunt group has two bases holding the flyer’s feet and a back spot behind, with a separate spotter on the floor when the skill calls for one.
What do cheerleaders hold in their hands?
Pom-poms, which make the motions visible from across a stadium, and sometimes a megaphone or a printed sign for the crowd. Competition routines are usually performed without them.
What is the stunt where two bases throw a flyer in the air and catch her?
A basket toss. The bases interlock their hands to make the basket, the flyer performs a skill at the peak, and she comes back down into a cradle.
What is a cupie in cheerleading?
A stunt in which the flyer stands with both feet together in the hands of a single base, held at full extension. It takes the base’s strength and the flyer’s balance in equal parts.
What is a stunt in cheerleading?
Any skill where one or more cheerleaders lift or support another off the ground. That covers everything from a simple thigh stand to an extension, a cupie or a full pyramid.
Roles (base, flyer, back spot, spotter), stunts (liberty, extension, cupie, basket toss, pyramid), jumps (toe touch, herkie, tuck) and tumbling (roundoff, handspring, whip). The cheerleading glossary above sets them out in one list.
What are some Cheerleading terms for beginners?
“Base,” “Flyer,” and “Tumbling” are some Cheerleading terms beginners should start with. These terms describe foundational roles and actions that are essential to performing cheer routines.
What are some funny Cheerleading terms?
“Herkie” and “Cupie” are some funny Cheerleading terms that have unique names, these terms refer to a jump with one leg out to the side and one bent, and a one-legged stunt held at an extended level, respectively.
What is a famous Cheerleading phrase?
“Full out” is a famous Cheerleading phrase, used to describe performing a routine with maximum effort and all elements included, emphasizing the importance of commitment and energy in cheerleading.
