Expert: Chris - 7/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear kimmi,
I'm 13, 4'10ish and weigh 80 lbs. I have been considering joining a cheer squad to try it and because of my schedule I have to join a junior level 3 squad instead of a senior squad. The girls on the squad are from 12-14, but I really want to be a flyer. I'm pretty flexible and can do the basic tricks (heel stretch, scale, aerobescue, scorpion etc.) so do you think I could be a flyer even though there will be girls younger than me on the squad? Thanks hmh

ANSWER: Hannah,

Just because there's girl younger than you on your squad doesn't mean you can't fly. You're sound very small...about my size at your age, and I've flown for 10 years. If you have your body positions coaches will be more likely to give you a chance because it would benefit the team to have someone like you in the air. If you've never flown give yourself a chance to make mistakes because you will. Everybody does when they're learning something new, and coaches know this. Don't get down on yourself if you can't do something right away because I always do that and it just makes me sad.

At my high school when I was a junior I was flying on 3 freshman so age doesn't matter. As long as you're similar in age to your teammates, age shouldn't matter with regards to stunting positions. If you're not given a chance to fly let your coaches know that you would like to try and that you can do body positions like scorpions and scales and stuff.

Let me know if you want any specific flying tips because like I said I've been flying for 10 years and now I coach kids too so I'm always giving them advice.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you sooo much for the help!! But i actually do need some tips.
One is about holding my weight, do you have any tips on practicing holding my own weight and balancing at home? Also i was confused because i have my right split but for some reason im still like an inch off the ground from my left. I'm not sure why i can't get my left and i do all the same stretches i do on my right. Thanks a ton! hmh

Answer
Well, the reason you only have the split on one side is because one side is just naturally more flexible no matter what you do. It happens to everyone. Most coaches and teams prefer body positions when the flier is standing on her right leg. If you can do your right splits then that means you should be able to do a scorpion, arabesque, and a scale while standing on your right leg. The heel stretch and bow and arrow require flexibility on your left leg if you do them standing on your right. The way I worked on flexibility when I was at the point you're at is to just constantly pull heel stretches and stuff. Instead of just doing the same stretches on both legs do more stretches on your less flexible side. If you could get a bow and arrow I'm sure your coaches would be thrilled because those are the hardest and therefore least common body positions.

There's really no tips for stretches besides keep doing it. You can't force flexibility and it's just going to take time.

As for holding your own weight all you have to do is exactly that-hold your weight. Stand on one foot at home (try your right since most stunts are on the right) and practice keeping your entire body really, really tight. Another thing you could try will require another person to help you. Lay on the floor with your legs straight and together and your arms by your sides. When your whole body is flat on the floor have someone lift up your legs. If you're tight then your whole body should come off the ground without bending. The only thing still on the floor should be your head and a little bit of your shoulders. You'll probably bend the first time you do it, but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. That's a great exercise that helps all the fliers I've coached.

If you ever see one of those things you can stand on that's supposed to simulate flying DON'T stand on it. They're nothing like stunting in real life so don't even bother with them.

Whenever you fly make sure your head, shoulders, hips, and feet/foot are all in one straight line. Stand with your weight evenly distributed all over your feet/foot rather than standing on your toes or heels. Your coaches might tell you to imagine a string attached to your belly button that's pulling you up. That never really made sense to me, but I still use it as advice because it seems to work for some people.

The most important thing to remember when you fly is to pull up with your body. If you're standing on one foot make sure you're not trying to put weight on the foot that nobody's holding. That sounds obvious but every single flier I've ever coached has done that at some point. It's a natural instinct and if you can overcome that you'll be making good progress. Standing on one foot at home while pulling your whole body up will help with this concept.

Those are my general flying tips. When you start cheering, if you want more specific advice, or even now if this didn't all make sense, just ask another follow up and I'll be happy to help.

Good luck.