You are here:
- Home
- Recreation/Outdoors
- Cheerleading
- Cheerleading
Cheerleading/Questions Answered by Expert James
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Partner Stunting | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: So I graduated in 2009 and I was the Cheerleading captain at my school I have some experience in ... A: I don't know of any sites. Ive personally used and seen alot of methods be used. When I was in ... | |
| lib stunt | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: This is my first year of cheer at my school and im a flyer. We are working on libs right now and so ... A: In general really the tighter you can keep your entire body the better you will do on any one legged ... | |
| Partner stunting Flyer | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: Hey James I have been doing partner stunting now for about 2-3 months now but I only get practice ... A: There's no doubt that as a flyer you have to multi-task in your head at a quick pace and definitely ... | |
| Collegiate Cheer | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: Im currently a senior in high school. For my junior year I was on JV, and now, my senior year, I'm ... A: Well unfortunately I can't give a specific guess on odds because I admittedly am not familiar with ... | |
| Co-ed stunting | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I am a senior in high school and have always been a base on my all-girl team. I am planning on ... A: I'm gonna be honest, I get this question ALOT. But most of the cheerleaders who ask it aren't as ... | |
| Quiting | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: This is the first year I've done cheerleading and I am SUPER stressed out... I'm the slowest girl on ... A: That's unfortunately not something anyone can answer but yourself with the advice of your mom. I ... | |
| Cheerleading | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: Well hello. Well im in 9th grade on a JV Cheerleading team. We are preparing for competition in ... A: Well actually this is going to sound callous (and I am very sorry for the length in reply) but you ... | |
| partner stunting | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: i'm a sophomore in high school and I want 2 be a college cheerleader but I've noticed most if not ... A: You're right, most collegiate female cheerleaders are flyers. I can think of a few that have ... | |
| cheering in college | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: Hey, okay so I am on my high school's varsity squad. I've been cheering for about 6 years but I have ... A: Yea, the blunt matter is if you go to a major university most will want you to be able to fly. Just ... | |
| toss hands/partner stunting | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm new to cheer this year. I have some history of dance and circus, but I have joined an adult ... A: If you havent heard this already you'll probably get a giggle out of it but one of the basic ... | |
| starting a squad | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking to start a squad simply because of the fact that i cant get on a squad because i dont ... A: Getting people shouldnt be too difficult as long as you're in an area with a decent population. ... | |
| help! | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: i have a couple of questions to ask: 1.i really want to be a flier next year but i am 5.1 and 87 ... A: Well that would depend upon your level. I'm assuming this isnt for college (5'1 and 87lbs you'd have ... | |
| too tall? | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Okay i am 5"6 110 and a sophomore in high-school. I'm on a level 5 competitive team and also my ... A: That honestly is going to depend on a number of factors. Needless to say your skill level will help, ... | |
| Male cheerleader College preparation for cheerleading | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have been in cheerleading for 2 years, both in competitive cheerleading and high school. I am ... A: Unfortunately I do not. Please forgive the length of time it took to respond but I'm based on the ... | |
| coed stunting/flying. | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I'd love to fly in college. I'm 5'5 and about 125. I've always eaten extremely healthy and cheer on ... A: Absolutely you'd be able to partner stunt, I had a partner in college who weighed 135 but she was ... | |
| is it to late | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: My friend convinced me to do cheer with her but one problem is that i never cheered before and that ... A: Well you are talking to living proof that it's never too late. I never cheered until I was a 26yo ... | |
| newbie | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: i currently do lacrosse and i want to try out for cheerleading.what kind of workouts and ... A: First off you'll need to decide what you want to do. If you want to primarily be a tumbler then your ... | |
| project and Tumbling! | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I am in 8th grade and i am required to do a project of a career we are interested in pursuing when ... A: Well as simple as it may sound you already answered your second question. It's all mental, the coach ... | |
| Coed partner stunting workouts | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: James, I'm currently a male, high school junior, and recently tired out for the varsity cheerleading ... A: Thats a really good question. One of the harder things about cheerleading is that what lifts people ... | |
| Stunting | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I am 5'4" and i weight between 120-125(depending). I have really good body positions: I have a ... A: The short answer is you absolutely aren't too tall. Now the unfortunate truth is no, you're probably ... | |
| collegiate cheerleading | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I am very interested in cheerleading and wondering about my capability to try out for certain ... A: Honestly when it comes to specific teams there's no substitutions for asking the coach if there are ... | |
| Partner Stunts | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to do a partner stunt. Just a basic prep and extension. How do we load or go about ... A: A toss to hands. Just like you would do a chair. If you're new to doing it you may have to work on ... | |
| stunting | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: is it just stunting or is it called something else because i was interested. and also i use to do ... A: Its just called "Partner Stunting", thats for the most part what I did in college, myself and a ... | |
| First time Cheerleader Am I too old? | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: Hey I'm Samantha, I'm 13 and I would love to try out for junior varsity next year! My sister says ... A: That may be true, this could fall under the never give up category. You might have to practice all ... | |
| First time Cheerleader Am I too old? | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: Hey I'm Samantha, I'm 13 and I would love to try out for junior varsity next year! My sister says ... A: First off you are never too old, granted I'm a guy which does have its differences but I never did ... | |
| Partner Stunts | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: Hey Jim! So, I was browsing some of your past questions and answers and was like, "Whoa this is ... A: I stand behind the statement that nothing substitutes for actual stunting. Now don't get me wrong ... | |
| novice college male cheerleader | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: i want to cheer for the coed squad at my university. i have no vocabulary of cheer, and am not ... A: This sounds like the question I already answered. If its not feel free to let me know. If it is good ... | |
| male college cheer tryouts | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: hey jim, i've always been athletic, and throughout high school i played football, basketball, and ... A: Take out the walking on the football team and this sounds like me a few years ago when I became ... | |
| College Cheerleading | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: I am a gymnast and have been involved with the sport for seven years. As much as I would love to ... A: This is a different variation on a question I get a good bit. As you may have read in some of my ... | |
| college partner flying | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I am 5' 6" and 123 lbs,I swim and cheer so most of my weight is in my leg muscles.Iam on an all ... A: This is a difficult question to answer just because there are so many variables so it will be kind ... | |
| first time flying (cheer) | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: ! i want to be a flyer but the only problem is i weigh about 92-94lbs do you think i will be a fyler A: That depends on the size of the rest of the girls. In general you are definitely small enough to be ... | |
| Workouts | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: Jim- So I cheered throughout high school and I was always a base. Now its my second year in college ... A: You're absolutely right, you do have plenty of time. That is a difficult question to answer really. ... | |
| Cheerleading | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: My name is Lori i have a question about cheerleading.Um I would really like to be one but am not an ... A: Then you have plentyof time to learn. There are alot of ways to go about it. first off for your ... | |
| Coed base tossing | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: I'm working with a coed team now and I have a tendency to try and throw my flyer with my arms more ... A: Practice some power lifts in the weight room, where you probably use mostly leg. I mean really ... | |
| college cheering | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: hey jim, i have been cheering ever since i was 3 and did competitive cheering for 6 years. i am now ... A: To do them, i mean really there are is no substitution for actually stunting. And typically (even ... | |
| college cheering | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: hey jim, i have been cheering ever since i was 3 and did competitive cheering for 6 years. i am now ... A: I'll be as honest as I can. But it will be a long answer. Making a co-ed university team at your ... | |
| WEIGHT PROBLEM | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: hey i've been having a weight problem since march. my mom put me on birth controll and my doctor ... A: That is for your doctor and nutritionist to answer. Off the top of my head I would say possibly talk ... | |
| Tumbling Block | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: My daughter has a standing backhandspring for about 3 years and a roundoff backhandspring two plus a ... A: Well as far as the actual tumbling I have to admit that is outside of my area of expertise. I'm a ... | |
| Teaching begginers | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I am going to have to teach a couple new guys how to partner stunt. I've been cheering for 3 going ... A: Teach them straight flicks and have them do those until they hate the thought of them. Once their ... | |
| pyramids | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I'm not real sure what is considered a "pyramid". My daughters 2nd grade squad (I coach) ... A: wow, that is a difficult question not b/c of what a pyramid is but because each governing body has ... | |
| Mental Block!! | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: i have been a cheerleader since i was 4 and now i am 12. One day i was working on two handpsings to ... A: I know this is not going to be the answer you want to hear but please believe me. This is a problem ... | |
| getting in shape and getting heathly | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: My squad wants to start getting in shape and eating a whole lot better but we really don't know how ... A: There are some good workout ideas here to help you get started. ... | |
| mental block | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: i have a 8 yr old daughter she does competitive cheer she almost has a standing tuck had a running ... A: Wow, this is difficult because of how young she is. With an older cheerleader you can rationalize ... | |
| cheerleading | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: ok hi, I am an upcoming senior and before my school is starting a cheerleading squad.. do you think ... A: The fact of the matter is simple. Its never too late. I never cheered until college. Now when you ... | |
| Addressing the COACH... | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: James, Hey there! I see that Kimmi is on vacation and I have read your profile regarding the ... A: I have to admit im not sure that i'm the most qualified to answer this question. I have worked stunt ... | |
| Small Varcity and Jr. Varcity squad mixed | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: Hey Jim!! Can I ask a question? my squad consist of 13 girls in a high school and we are having ... A: I'm sure we could probably come up with a few things. What skill level are you all? Also one thing ... | |
| scorpion / hand position | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: My daughter takes cheerleading. The coach told me to help my daughter practice her scorpion at ... A: I have one photo of me and one of my partners putting up a scorp after a basketball game. Its not ... | |
| Cheerleading Scholarship | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 17 year old junior at Bluestone High school in Skipwith, Va and I'm wondering how do I go ... A: This is really difficult to answer. I would take the list of schools i am interested in attending ... | |
| Cheerleading-I want to fly not Third | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: Hey I've been on my schools cheerleading team since september and love it and we're finally ... A: I know you're going to hate this answer but probably not. In sports you really have to put it in ... | |
| nervous about tryouts.. | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: Tryouts are coming up and I'm very nervous!! I'm not very flexible so I can't do my splits, needle, ... A: Well im definitely not going to answer any weight gain questions. You would want to ask a doctor ... | |
| Cheerleading workouts | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you know of any creative and possibly fun cheerleading workouts that can be done ... A: Well the workouts i've done would more than likely be more appropriate for the older girls. And i'm ... | |
| flyer | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I'm a base/back spot on an all-star cheer team right now and with only two years of high school left ... A: It really all depends on what school you go to. I don't mean to hurt your feelings but there are ... | |
| hello | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: my name is Harley, and I am 12 yrs. old, and next year I will be trying out for the cheer leading ... A: Do any and all stretches that helps your flexibility. Do ALOT of saddle stretches. As well as ... | |
| Male Cheerleader | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm in college and i want to become a male cheer leader but really do not know what is required of a ... A: It really depends on what level you're trying out for and the coach. Some colleges have entry level ... | |
| join a squad ASAP | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: hi my name is brittany I am 16 yrs old and i'm interested in joining a cheerleading squad but the ... A: I would look on the web under UCA or NCA (two national cheerleading organizations) and i would think ... | |
| Flyer | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: I want to be a flyer but I have never cheerleaded in my life. Tryouts are in 8 or 9 months and I ... A: Well you're definitely going to want to practice the jumps, toe touches and pikes, things like that. ... | |
| Try out requirments | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: So I'm a guy looking to be a guy cheerleader. But i don't know what I'm supposed to do what I'm ... A: Its hard to say for a high school. I'm sure if you're the only guy it will be two fold. I'd guess ... | |
| stunts | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: do you have any tips for extension? ANSWER: Are you doing it with an all-girls squad or with a male ... A: Don't let yourself get out of control. We had a girl on our college squad once we hated to see ... | |
| cheerleading | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I have been wanting to be on a cheerleading squad since i was three!I love doing the jumps and ... A: Flexibility is a difficult thing to teach, i'm a guy so i never really had to be that flexible as a ... | |
| Try Outs- Toe Touches requirements | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: I want to try out for the cheer team next year, I'm in 8th grade, and its the highest level out of ... A: straddle ups , straddle hold one leg 5 sec then switch, Then once you know the right technique and ... | |
| Try Outs- Toe Touches requirements | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: I want to try out for the cheer team next year, I'm in 8th grade, and its the highest level out of ... A: Well if you're flexible you can work out and drop whatever couple of pounds you've put on. Toe ... | |
| flyers | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: ok i have a question for you!I have seen flyers my size and im not fat but im just tall and the ... A: There are alot of answers to that question. It depends on the level and type of your squad. I mean ... | |
| college | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: ive been cheering since my sophmore year and now im getting ready for college, I want to try out ... A: Wow, that can vary more than you could ever imagine depending on where you go to college at. I've ... | |
| One Man Stunts | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: Alright, well recently this guy on my cheerleading team has learned how to do a "toss to hands" and ... A: Hands to lib is 100 times easier. Chair to lib is 100 times more impressive and i've done both (as ... | |
| One Man Stunts | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: Alright, well recently this guy on my cheerleading team has learned how to do a "toss to hands" and ... A: Wow, i mean a lib is a semi-basic stunt but it's pretty difficult to explain over the net. I'm sure ... | |
| stunting and flex. | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: i need help with stretching for heel stretch and a scorpion i mand the high school team and i am ... A: First off I have to say that I am a guy so obviously I am and always have been just a base. However ... | |
| Flying | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I need more help with stretching my legs like for heel stretches and like my leg can go all the way ... A: First off I have to preface this answer by saying that I'm a guy so I can't say I've went through ... | |
| backspot | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I'm a backspot on a senior all-star team. I'm the smallest backspot and I don't think the ... A: Unfortunately being mostly schooled in partner stunts I can only answer half of your questions. The ... | |
| cheerleading | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I am in the 10th grade in high school and i have never been a cheerleader but everyone is always ... A: No, you are not wasting your time as long as you want to do it for you. No one has experience when ... | |
| question | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: i am 180 pounds am i to big to be a cheerleader A: Honestly, that is an impossible question to answer because there are so many types of cheer squads ... | |
| Male Flyers | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: We have started a small AllStar Cheerleading Program. We have 16 kids (1 male) and will be ... A: Well my opinion is that the judges should have to (at least in a perfect world) not view it as ... | |
| basing workout | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: hey, okay im trying out for my high school team.. i'm a base a and need to get stronger, what are ... A: Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. First off as a base any lift that gains you leg ... | |
| cheerleading | 9/15/2007 |
| Q: hi my name is alejandra perez and i just started 8TH grade and i want 2 do cheerleadin really really ... A: Sure miss, the best thing to do with splits is just work on them. I know that sounds too easy but ... | |
| Should I try out? | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I was thinking of trying out for the cheerleading squad at university. my problem however (apart ... A: This is really hard to answer, I guess first you have to see if they accept coed tryouts. Secondly, ... | |
| Work outs | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I'm a base and I was just wondering if you knew any work outs to get me in shape and also make ... A: First off let me preface the answer by saying I am male and I understand a female base would do alot ... | |
| flexibility | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: i need to know how to pull a scorpion and how to stretch for one thank you A: First let me preface this by saying being a male i've never went through it personally. However I ... | |
| College Flying | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: I'm a sophomore in high school, and I'm a back spot on varsity however i want to cheer in college so ... A: As far as "exercises" unfortunately you would have to ask a female b/c I'm not sure exactly what ... | |
| Flying | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: Ok my question is I want to be a cheerleader at the university of Kansas. I know that being a girl ... A: Once again I have to preface the answer by saying I am in West Virginia so not knowing your area I ... | |
| Flying | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: Ok my question is I want to be a cheerleader at the university of Kansas. I know that being a girl ... A: This is unfortunately a really difficult question to answer because it varies so much from coach to ... | |
| tryout tips | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I am going to try out for varsity cheerleading. I have tried out before, and didn't make it. I was ... A: Unfortunately that is very difficult to answer as a blanket statement. The answer would differ ... | |
| workout | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: ya i tryed out 4 my high school seiren squad or chick chunker lol but i was wondering if u had and ... A: The first thing I tell every guy when they ask for a cheerleading workout is that nothing replaces ... | |
| question | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: Hey, look I never cheered before and I'm gonna try out for my high school. but i'm scared and ... A: Honestly, unless they are your friends already (the guys I mean) in my experience its always easier ... | |
| question | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: Hey, look I never cheered before and I'm gonna try out for my high school. but i'm scared and ... A: It depends, someplaces will expect you to tumble, at my college if the guy can tumble great, but ... | |
| wight | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: how much do you have to weigh to be a flyer, say your really curvy do they say you have to weigh a ... A: There really is no easy way to answer this question, it honestly depends on the level and school ... | |
| Male cheerleading questions | 1/22/2007 |
| Q: What kind of workout would you reccomend for a male cheerleader who has some experience in cheering, ... A: Well obviously nothing substitutes for getting out there and partner stunting, so if you know or can ... | |
| back hand springs | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: When ever I do a back hand spring my coach tells me to keep my legs straght.The secont time i try i ... A: speed and arm strength are the key.. Most people who bend there legs are not going fast enough and ... | |
James
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions on the following subjects. Coed partner stunts at almost any level, group pyramids, all levels of male motions and beginning levels of female motions. I can also give out general tips for tryouts. I cannot answer questions on tumbling or choreography.
Experience
I have worked at multiple all-star gyms teaching stunt clinics and classes and have cheered on a collegeiate squad for the past 3 years.
Education/Credentials
I cheered for 3 years at the collegiate level at a major D1 University and was male captain my final year.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.