Q&A for How to Be a Good Flyer in Cheerleading

Ask your coach if you can switch bases, and if that doesn't work, talk to your base about it, perhaps framing it in a way that seems like you are unsure of your abilities, and not hers. Ask for advice, and maybe ask to practice with her to promote the trust between the two of you.

Squeeze your whole body and don't worry about whats going on underneath you. Just focus on the task at hand.

Practice, practice, practice. The more you do a stunt, the more comfortable you'll be doing it. Also, act confident even if you're scared. It will help you look nicer in the air. You will actually get more comfortable doing it if you don't act scared.

if you try to place your weight in the middle of your foot it will stop you from toeing or heeling. As long as you are tight and squeeze everything while holding that position you can just let your bases do the rest of the work (extending). You will have an easier and more fun time in the air. Also, trust your bases and be confident!

To know if you are a good flyer, you need to have confidence. Look in the mirror while practicing your motions. You can also always ask another flyer to judge you and give you tips!

To squeeze your butt you must stand on the balls of your feet and tighten your whole pelvic area. As my coach always said, "Pinch a penny in between your bum."

Take the position your coach gives you. Obviously, he/she thinks you would be better basing- and who knows? You may like it! An opportunity to fly still might come along. Keep stretching and being flexible to help with other aspects as well, such as jumps and tumbling.

Oftentimes smaller girls are flyers simply because they're too small to base. However, that doesn't mean you have to be petite to be a flyer. There is no specific weight requirement as long as you are physically capable of the movements flyers must do.

You just have to squeeze as tight as possible and ask your back spot to have a tight grip on you because you don't feel to comfortable.

A tighter body will make you spin faster, so wrapping aggressively while keeping your body tight will give you a better chance at doubling.

As hard as it sounds, cut out all the processed foods you eat like chips and candy. Avoid fried foods, soda, and too many sweets. Start an exercise regimen that includes cardio and weights.

You need to all meet up somewhere and get to know each other/become good friends.Think of it like this, you would be WAY more comfortable getting lifted by your friends right? Well if you get to know your bases then it should be like your friends are basing you!

Make sure you trust your bases. Never look down. Always smile and tell yourself that you can do this.

Well, if they say no, you may not be ready. If you are, just ask for an opportunity. If they say no, just be patient and keep practicing until you can prove yourself.

If your hip hurts, it might mean that you are rotating your hips to much or pushing yourself too much. If it starts hurting during practice, lay down and bend one of your knees and rotate to get rid of the pain.

Height and weight don't matter if you can hit the moves and do the stunts. If you can't, try out for another position.

Yes, you can be a flyer. When you are shorter, it is easier to propel yourself through the air and since you weigh so little, you will get a lot of height when thrown. As long as you're not afraid of heights, you'll be fine.

It doesn't matter what weight you are but typically smaller girls are flyers. As long as you're capable of doing all the flyer movements.

In order to distribute your balance easily, you should stretch often. I recommend a stunt stand to help you get a feel for what it's like to be in the air. You can pull body positions and it will help you squeeze and keep your balance.

Try to focus on two things at once, such as what you're going to do tomorrow, or after the practice or game. Next, try to focus on your routine if you have one when you're flying. That way, you won't be so focused on how high you are or how much you trust your base .

Practice on soup cans. If you feel yourself toe, then shift your weight and pull your toes to the top of your shoes.

Your coach is the authority, they know their team and how to arrange it, you could try to be a flyer and see how it goes.

Practice. If your friends are cheerleaders, go to the pool to practice so you won't get hurt if you fall. If you're not at the pool, always use mats.

The only thing is it's a little harder to lock out. Flyers come in all shapes and sizes, though.

I can suggest a technique that I used with my flyers and stunt group when we were learning to cradle in school cheer. We had our flyer stand on a table and our stunt group lined up on each side to catch her. She fell back into our arms, and it helped her tremendously because she learned that she can trust her bases and backspot, and maybe even front spot. It's kind of like a trust fall, except the flyer is on a table and her stunt group is catching her.

It really depends on how strong you are. If you are strong enough to get altitude, you aren't too heavy.

Just try your very best to not jump, even you aren't or people say you aren't. It's okay to mess up and maybe even jump out of your stunts (or in your in stunts). Just stay tight and let the bases and backspot do the work. Remember, trust is everything in a stunt group, so try and follow your bases instructions, even if you're not jumping. After all the bases are the ones holding you, not your coaches. But, listen to your coaches, too.

You don't have to be too flexible to fly, although you will be able to do cooler stunts if you are.

Yes, you can if you would like and your cheerleading team wants to.

Help her practice do it on a mat or in a pool so she can overcome her fear; if she can't overcome it, she may have a position she can't do.