Cheerleaders
jumping around on the sidelines may seem arbitrary and random, but
really, they are skills that require athleticism, flexibility and
strength. Jumps are used to accentuate a point in a cheer or chant,
grab your attention during a routine and show spirit at the end of a
great play or show of spirit from the crowd.
There
are eight different jumps that cheerleaders perform. Tuck, Straddle or
Eagle, Left and Right Side Hurdlers, Toe Touch, Left and Right Front
Hurdlers, and Pike.
All
of the jumps are performed the same way with the difference being the
body position at the top of the jump. Performance of the jumps can be
broken into 4 parts; The Approach, Height, Form and the Landing. I’ll
go through each of these, with some input from the NCA & UCA staff
on technique.
Approach
The
approach creates the momentum to follow through and help get height
when jumping off the ground. It is controlled and distinct in the
movement.
Start
your up with your feet together and arms in a High V position. On a
designated count, swing both arms downward in front of your face. As
your arms cross dip down a little with your legs. Timing is key here.
Your arms should be at their lowest point of the swing when the legs are
at the deepest part of the dip. This allows the arms and legs to
quickly explode into the air at the same time.
Height
You
should try to jump off the ground and get as much height as possible to
give your body time to hit the jump and land safely. This happens when
you get an explosive jump timed with the lift of the arms.
Form
Proper
jump technique puts your chest up with your shoulders slightly in front
of the hips. The arms (for most jumps) should be in a strong T
motion. Make sure that leg muscles are flexed and straight and toes are
pointed. As flexibility increases, allow your legs to extend as high
as possible and relax the hips.
Landing
If
you have given yourself enough height to hip the motion at the top of
the jump, you should have enough time to land properly. When landing,
you should land with both feet together at the same time. If you don’t
land even you can put unnecessary stress on your knees and ankles. If
you are not landing with your feet together lower the height of the
skill at the top of the jump until the flexibility and strength have
been developed to maintain safety.
Here is a definition of each of the eight jumps: