Expert: Kimmi - 10/19/2007

Question
one of the flyers on our squad keeps scratching one of the bases, but I'm a backspot so i can't see what happens . i asked one of the other cheerleaders watching and she said it was mine and the flyers fault but another cheerleader said it was only the flyers fault.(it is always when we cradle)

Answer
Hi Laurel,

   Without seeing what you're talking about, I can't possible tell you why this is happening when you cradle. Instead of asking the bases, have you asked the coach what's going on? He/She is going to be the best person to fix this issue. The only thing I can tell you is to tell the flyer to hit a high V at the top of the cradle and then catch the bases around their shoulders and neck. If she's not cradling like this, then she's cradling wrong and that might be the problem. If you're coach can't help you, have someone videotape your group cradling, and try to analyze what is happening. Just a bit of advice though, try to keep your team from placing blame on each other for these kinds of things. A stunt group needs to be united to really perform well together, and that can't happen if everyone is blaming someone else for problems. On my team, when something goes wrong, they get up and do it again, with no blame at all, just discussion of what went wrong. Yes, individual people need to fix certain things, but that is my job as the coach to point out, NOT the other group members. Good Luck, let me know how it goes!
Happy Cheering!
Kimmi