When people think about flexibility in cheerleading, they often picture a flyer stretching into a beautiful heel stretch or scorpion.
While flyers certainly need flexibility, it is a mistake to think flexibility only matters for the person who goes into the air.
EVERY athlete on a cheer team benefits from being flexible, whether they are a flyer, backspot, side base, or tumbler.
For flyers, flexibility is an obvious part of the job.
A flyer needs enough range of motion to hit positions safely, cleanly, and with control.
Better flexibility can make skills such as heel stretches, scales, arabesques, and scorpions easier to perform.
It can also help a flyer achieve and maintain good body positions instead of forcing the body into a position it is not ready for.
Bases need flexibility, too.
A side base may need to reach, bend, twist, and adjust while supporting a flyer, and having good flexibility can help them do those things more comfortably and effectively.
Good flexibility can help a base get into strong positions and make small adjustments without putting unnecessary stress on the body.
A flexible base can also move more comfortably during transitions, catches, and other parts of a routine.
Backspots have an important flexibility role as well.
A backspot is constantly moving, bending, and adjusting to help control a stunt.
They may need to position their body over or around a flyer while maintaining balance and timing.
Flexibility can make those movements more comfortable and allow the backspot to stay connected to the stunt instead of fighting against their own range of motion.
Tumblers sometimes get overlooked when flexibility is discussed.
However, flexibility is a major part of many tumbling skills.
A strong bridge, good shoulder flexibility, hip flexibility, and proper leg range of motion can all contribute to better body positions.
Flexibility can help an athlete create the shapes required for skills while also supporting cleaner lines and better technique.
Flexibility should not be viewed as a competition between athletes.
Not everyone will have the same natural range of motion, and that is okay.
The goal is to improve the flexibility needed for each athlete’s position and skills while doing so safely and consistently.
Flexibility is also not something that should only be worked on right before practice or competition.
Like strength, balance, and technique, it develops over time.
Consistent stretching and mobility work can help athletes make progress while giving their bodies enough time to adapt properly.
Taking a ‘Stretch Class’ can often help quite a bit with this!
There is another important point: being flexible does not automatically mean being a better cheerleader.
Flexibility needs to work together with strength, control, balance, body awareness, and proper technique.
An athlete who can get into a position but cannot control it has not truly mastered the skill.
Improving flexibility is another part of becoming a more complete athlete.
Whether an athlete flies, bases, backspots, tumbles, or does a combination of those things, improving flexibility can help them move better, perform skills more comfortably, and improve their body positions.
You do not have to be naturally flexible to benefit from flexibility training.
You simply need to be willing to work on it.
Whether an athlete is a flyer, backspot, side base, or tumbler, flexibility should be treated as an important part of their training and not something that only matters to flyers.
