Squad Basics: What's a "Flyer"?

Over the next few weeks, we'll spend some time explaining the basic positions that make up an effective cheerleading squad so that when the season starts, the "Cardinal News" section of the site actually makes sense to the Wesleyan Community!

Every member of a cheerleading squad has a unique, yet equally important role. However, if you're used to more traditional sports with offensive positions and defensive positions, this is not so easy to see. One of the most visible positions though is the "flyer," or the squad member who leaves the ground during a stunt.

Flyer's have important jobs, obviously, but they're often under appreciated and seen as simply the lightest members of the team. Any cheerleader will tell you how very wrong this in. In fact, flying requires so much strength that the size of a flyer really has little to do with success of a stunt or stunt group! The most valuable member to any squad is one who is appropriately conditioned to handle any role- back base, base, spotter, flyer, tumbler, etc. This increases the overall versatility of the team, as well as cohesion and success as everyone understands how everyone works together.

However, the skills required for each of these positions are still different.To be a flyer, one must:

•  be confident. You are about to leave the ground and potentially fly through the air. If you do not believe in your own ability to be successful, you probably won't be.
• trust their stunt group. While you are largely responsible for supporting your own weight, your body will literally be in the hands of 2-4 team members. If you do not feel comfortable or trust them to "put you up" and "bring you out" safely, you will be too distracted to safely and correctly perform the stunt.
• have a strong sense of timing and balance. It is not easy to hear 8 feet in the air, give or take. You and your stunt group need to have practiced the point where you have your own rhythm and can easily communicate, non-verbally. As only one or both of your feet/ankles are supported by the bases, you need to be able to quickly and consistently find your center of balance and stay there.
• have strong core, leg, back, and arm muscles. Essentially, you must be incredibly fit. If you cannot complete several sets of pull ups,"supermans", leg lifts, push ups, sit ups, and a variety of other excersizes you will not be able to support yourself.

Does this sound like you, or something you'd want to try with a little more practice? Check out our Summer 2012 Workout and Contact the Squad to learn more about being a Cardinal Cheerleader!

Cheerleading: A "How To"

Watch any TV show or movie with a cheerleading squad and you would have to agree that it takes strength, flexibility, stamina, and a whole lot of trust to be a cheerleader. As Coach Andrea often reminds us, "cheerleading is a team sport in the truest form." Unlike on other teams, one member cannot compensate for another's weaknesses. If a flyer cannot hold themselves up or a base cannot support their weight the stunt won't leave the ground, no matter what.

But how to you condition properly so that you are flexible enough to hit a split and strong enough to lift a team member of equal or greater weight than yourself above your head for four quarters straight?
Google "Cheerleading Workouts" and you'll get thousands of hits ranging from Yahoo answers, suggestions from UCA (Universal Cheerleading Association) and NCA (National Cheerleading Association) and even a brief overview from the LiveStrong Foundation. There are so many options that it's hard to know who to trust!

If you really want to know what it takes, check out the Cardinal Cheerleading Summer Workout, on the "About the Cardinal Cheerleaders" page. You'll find a link to Coach Andrea's work out plan, as well as great resources for stretching, jumps, and arm motions.

Like the work out? Learn more about joining the team here!