Expert: Chris - 7/17/2010

Question
i'm on a jv cheer team. this is my first time cheering ever. i'm 5'3 and 100 lbs. and the lightest on my team. so naturally i'd be a flyer. i'm comfortable doing half or preps. But extensions are what i really dread. i went to uca cheer camp and we practiced going from halfs to extensions then back to halfs. i got it a couple of times but there wweren't consinstent. we i had to do staright up extension is where i really got nervous and fell. i kept hitting one my bases and she started crying and said her head was stinging. she also got really mad at me. everytime i get read to go up my left leg where she is always goes out and i always have to pull it back together. I really need tips on learning how to stay tight and keep my legs together for the hang drill to going up. i learned from experience my bases and spot will catch me at all costs. i'm really just worried about myself staying tight and not looking so scared in the stunt because i know all eyes will be on me.also cradling tips would be great.

Answer
First of all, this is going to sound dumb, but I hate extensions also. A lot of fliers I know actually tell me (and I agree) that extensions are one of the hardest stunts. Maybe you'll disagree, but even the littler kids I coach are better at doing extended one legged stunts than extensions. Hopefully that's a little bit encouraging for you.

As for staying tight one of my favorite drills is really easy, but requires someone to help you. It doesn't have to be someone involved in cheerleading either. All you have to do is lay flat on the floor with your hands at your sides. Make your body as tight as possible. Then have someone pick up your feet slowly raising your entire body. If you're doing it correctly your entire body will rise up (except your head and a little bit of your shoulders) and it will all be flat. If you're not totally tight your body will bend at the knees or the waist. If that doesn't make sense after you do it let me know. It really helps a lot.

When it comes to hang drills and keeping your feet together make sure you're squeezing your knees together. Your knees and ankles should both be glued together, not just your feet. If your left leg goes out when you're getting ready to go up there's a couple reasons this could be happening. First, your base could just be walking out because she's afraid of getting hit again. Obviously she shouldn't do this, but everyone's human. All you can do about it is try to fix what you may be doing wrong. Make sure that when you push off your bases' shoulders you're not pushing your feet out as you start to stand up. That's a REALLY common mistake that most new fliers don't even know they're  making. You shouldn't do anything with your legs other than straighten them as you go up. Make sure your knees and lower legs and feet stay totally perpendicular to the ground otherwise one of your legs may go out like you're explaining.

Don't be too hard on yourself because learning to fly is anything but easy. It can be scary too. Trust me, I've been there.

There's really no trick to staying tight other than doing it. If you're trying and you can't it just means that your muscles haven't learned how to stay tight yet. Once it clicks for you it will be a lot easier. The most important thing besides staying tight when you fly is making sure your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and head are all in one straight line. Your body shouldn't bend anywhere.

I hope this helps. If this didn't answer your question ask a follow up in case I misunderstood what you were asking. Good luck with flying and don't give up.