Expert: Kelly Fitzpatrick - 10/6/2006

Question
HOW SHOULD YOU DO A BASKET TOSSPLEASE EXPLAIN WITH
DEEP DETAIL. wE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO GIVE OUR FLYERS HEIGHT.


Answer
Hi Nikita,

A basket toss must be performed properly by the flyer, bases and the backspot in order to attain maximum height. If even one person doesn't perform their basket correctly, then it won't go anywhere.

First the bases create the basket by grabbing one of their own wrists and one of the other bases wrists. The circle in the middle of the hands should be as small as possible. Next the flyer will jump in on the backspots count as the backspot helps her in. This next part is very important for height! The flyer must set into the basket with hardly any weight on the bases hands. The fly should be able to hold her own weight in her straight arms on the bases shoulders. Also the flyers chest and bottom should be up. It shouldlook like she's sitting in a chair. Then when you throw the basket make sure the bases use their legs and arms to throw at the same time. Their arms must extend all the way and then flick their wrists at the top. Then prepare to catch like a cradle. The backspot can either throw from hips, bottom, or under basket. The main thing for a backspot to remember is to throw striaght up not forward. The flyer must ride the basket with arms by her ears until gravity begins to take her down, then she goes into cradle position. Good luck!

Kelly