Tag Archives: Balance

Cheer How-To Series, Extensions, Featured, Tips

Mastering Cheerleading Extensions: A Guide for Flyers with Troublesome Extensions

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
mastering-extensions-in-cheerleading-tutorial-tips
15
Sep
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published September 15, 2023

If you’re a cheerleader struggling with extensions, especially as a flyer, you’re not alone. It’s an area that many flyers find challenging, but it’s crucial for nailing your routine and impressing the judges. Today we’re gonna go over how to improve your extensions, with specific reference to a Reddit post that highlights challenges such as balance issues and hypermobility. Let’s jump right in.

cheer-flyer-extension-guide

The Problem with Extensions

A Reddit user recently highlighted a common issue among flyers — difficulty in maintaining balance during two-leg extensions. Whether it’s wobbling, falling forward, or not being able to keep your feet together, these issues can throw off your entire routine.

question from r/cheerleading

The Role of Joint Hypermobility

If you, like the original poster, have excessive joint hypermobility, it’s essential to adapt your technique accordingly. This could mean avoiding locking your knees too tightly, as hyperextension can contribute to imbalance.

cheer competition music cheap
Licensed Cheer Music for Competition Cheer Music

Tips for Flyers Struggling with Extensions

  • Find the Sweet Spot: Balance is about weight distribution. Try to find that perfect balance between your heels and toes.
  • Engage Your Core: This is more than just “squeezing”. Your core muscles are essential for stability.
  • Alignment: Ensure that your hips are stacked over your knees and your knees over your ankles.
  • Feedback from Bases: Communication with your bases can offer vital feedback for improving your form.
  • Practice Low: Try practicing the extension at a lower height to build confidence and fine-tune your form.
  • Foot Position: Experiment with keeping your feet at hip-width versus together to see which offers better stability, gradually moving to the desired position.
  • Consult a Specialist: If hypermobility is a concern, consult a physiotherapist familiar with cheerleading injuries.
cheerleading-flyer-extensions

Takeaway for Coaches

Coaches, if you’re primarily experienced as a base, it may be beneficial to bring in an experienced flyer to provide specific tips to your team. The simple directive to “just squeeze” might not cut it for everyone.

Extensions are a vital part of any cheerleading routine, but they can pose challenges, especially for those new to flying or those with hypermobility. With the right techniques and a bit of focused practice, you can turn your troublesome extensions into a showcase skill. And remember, communication with your team and coach is vital for identifying problems and implementing solutions.

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
Cheer How-To Series, Featured, Practice Tips, Safety, Tips

The Art of Balance in Cheerleading: A Closer Look at the Flyer Position

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
The Art of Balance in Cheerleading: A Closer Look at the Flyer Position
19
Jul
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published July 19, 2023

Balance, a fundamental concept in cheerleading, is often misunderstood, particularly in the role of the Flyer. The position’s nuances are vast, and while balance is indeed an integral part of it, the way flyers approach balance may surprise you. Today we’re gonna debunk some common misconceptions about flyers and their role in the balancing act that makes up an eye-catching stunt.

cheer-guide-to-balance

Redefining Balance

Let’s start by redefining balance in the context of cheerleading, particularly when it comes to flyers. While walking a tightrope or riding a bike, balance is primarily about the person’s ability to maintain their center of gravity. They can move their arms, legs, bend their hips, and do just about anything to keep themselves from falling. But for a flyer, it’s a different story.

The Flyer’s Role

A flyer’s job isn’t to perform 100% of the balancing act. They have bases beneath them to support their balance. So, if a flyer focuses solely on keeping themselves upright, it can result in too much movement, disrupting the base’s stability and potentially leading to a fall.

Instead, flyers should concentrate on drawing up to the center, contracting muscles in the right areas, and maintaining correct body lines. By doing so, the bases can more effectively perform their balancing tasks. Therefore, although a flyer’s role involves balance, it is a different kind of balance – a cooperative balance.

Balancing Practice for Flyers

A useful drill for developing this kind of cooperative balance involves body position holds with eyes closed. The goal is to keep the body still, maintaining perfect alignment. If the arms move away from the body or the line is broken, the exercise fails. With this practice, flyers focus on feeling the right muscle engagement and learn to move less to balance more effectively. The closed-eye aspect of the drill adds extra focus on bodily awareness, as the usual visual cues used for balancing are taken away.

This method helps flyers develop a more intuitive understanding of their body positioning and how it affects their balance in the air. It also facilitates communication and trust between the flyer and the bases.

The Coach’s Perspective

Coaches often overlook the unique balance demands of the flyer position. They may encourage flyers to maintain their balance independently, much like one would balance a broomstick on one’s hand. But the real challenge lies in harnessing the flyer’s potential to aid the balancing process.

Consider this analogy: a broomstick that maintains its straightness but adds a pull towards the center would be far easier to balance than a broomstick moving randomly. Flyers can be thought of similarly; they should participate in the balancing process but without causing unnecessary movements.

So, when we talk about balance in the context of a flyer in cheerleading, it’s not just about the flyer’s ability to stay upright. It’s about the flyer’s capability to hold their body lines, engage the right muscles, and contribute to a cooperative balance that allows their bases to support them effectively.

Understanding this distinction can make a world of difference in the execution of stunts and the overall safety of the team. It’s an art, a subtle dance of pulling, squeezing, and holding that, when done right, creates the breathtaking spectacle that is cheerleading.

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
Featured, News, Safety, Tips

Mastering Balance in Cheerleading: How to Perform a Scale or a Scorpion with Grace and Stability

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
mastering-balance-in-cheerleading
09
Jun
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published June 9, 2023

Today, we’re focusing on the crucial element of balance, particularly when executing complex stunts like a scale or a scorpion.

Cheerleading is a dazzling mix of dance, gymnastics, and acrobatics, and stunts like the scale and the scorpion are some of the most impressive and challenging skills to master. This article will guide you through the techniques to improve your balance and execute these stunts with poise and stability. Remember, safety first, so let’s start from the beginning.

Understand The Basics

Balance forms the bedrock of all cheerleading movements. It involves engaging your core muscles, maintaining a proper posture, and distributing your weight evenly. The more you practice balance in various positions, the more naturally it will come to you in advanced moves.

Mastering the Scale

The scale requires flexibility, strength, and balance. Here’s how you can perform a scale with improved balance:

  1. Warm-Up: A good warm-up is essential before attempting any stunts. It preps your muscles and reduces the risk of injuries.
  2. Stretch: Before attempting the scale, stretch your hamstring, glutes, and lower back. This can be done through yoga or pilates exercises. 
  3. Practice: Begin by lifting your leg to your side while holding onto something stable. As your strength improves, try to lift your leg without assistance.
  4. Work on Core Stability: A strong core will significantly improve your balance. Planks, sit-ups, and other core-strengthening exercises will help.
  5. Balance on One Foot: Start practicing your balance on one foot. You can increase the difficulty by closing your eyes or standing on an unstable surface like a balance board.
  6. Perform the Scale: Once you feel confident, lift your leg up to your side and grasp your foot with your hand. Try to extend your leg fully and hold the position.
balance-scorpion-cheer

Mastering the Scorpion

The Scorpion stunt is an advanced move that requires a high level of flexibility and balance. Here’s how you can master it:

  1. Stretch: This move demands flexibility in your back and legs. Stretching exercises that target these areas will help.
  2. Work on your Backbend: The Scorpion requires a strong backbend. Practice bridge poses and other backbending exercises to develop your flexibility.
  3. Develop Ankle Strength: Your standing foot needs to be strong and stable. Ankle strengthening exercises will help, such as calf raises and single-leg balancing.
  4. Practice the Scorpion with Support: Initially, have a spotter to assist you as you raise your leg and reach back to grab your foot. Use the wall for support if needed.
  5. Slowly Increase Difficulty: Gradually, you can try to perform the Scorpion without any support.

Remember, when performing any cheerleading move, safety should always come first. Never rush into performing a stunt, and always work at your own pace. It’s better to take the time to perfect your form than to risk injury.

Incorporate these tips into your cheer practice, and you’ll be well on your way to performing scales and scorpions with remarkable grace and balance. Don’t forget to enjoy the journey and celebrate every milestone you hit. After all, cheerleading is all about the passion, spirit, and the love of the sport!

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

130bpm 150bpm
SHARE YOUR CART