• Cheerleading terms and cheer vocabulary

You can't make it atop the cheerleading pyramid without knowing the right lingo. Soffe is here to help with a few definitions you'll need to know to keep your cheer in gear.

Check out these cheerleading terms and test your squad! A cheerleading team has to be in sync with each other to succeed! (And a matching wardrobe with group deal savings couldn't hurt either ... )

Take these terms to CHEERSPORT Nationals in February - you'll be glad you did! Don't leave anything to chance - learn more with Soffe's cheer glossary now.

  • Arch: A position in which the back is curved.
  • Base: The bottom person in the stunt who remains in contact with the floor, supporting the mounter in a stunt.
  • Basket-toss: Toss of a flyer into the air involving 3-4 tossers, 2 of which have their hands interlocked.
  • Calisthenics: A series of exercises used to develop strength, power and balance.
  • Chant: A short repetitive yell performed continually throughout a game. short routines with words sometimes involving the crowd.
  • Cheer: A longer spirited yell performed only during official breaks of a game. Sometimes using motions and stunts.
  • Cradle Catch: Occurs when the catcher(s) catch a mounter/flyer by holding her around the back and under the thighs.
  • Dismount: A method used to return to a floor position following a stunt.
  • Extended Stunt: One in which the supporting arms(s) of the base)s) is fully extended above the head. Stunts such as chairs, Russian lifts and T-lifts are extended stunts.
  • Extension: A stunt in which the arms of each base are fully extended above the head, supporting the mounter/flyer standing in the palms of the base(s).
  • Flash cards: Cards that show which words the spectators should shout back.
  • Flyer: The person that is elevated into the air by her base(s) to perform a mount.
  • Gymnastics Cheer: A cheer involving any use of gymnastics.
  • Hand Spring: A spring from a standing position to the hands, and back to a standing position.
  • Jump: A spring into the air with both feet off the ground to a given position with landing on one or both feet; any move where both feet leave the ground. Examples of jumps are toe-touches, side hurdlers, front hundlers, pikes, around-the-worlds, and double nines.
  • Layout: A straight or arched position.
  • Leap: A moving spring position in the air from one foot to the other.
  • Mount: Any skill in which one or more persons is supported in the air. Another word used is stunt.
  • Mounter (flyer): The person in a stunt, who is supported by one or more persons. (Also called a flyer)
  • Partner Stunts: Referred to as double stunts; a maneuver in which at least one mounter is supported by one base.
  • Pike: A position in which the body is bent at the hips and legs are straight out in ninety degree angle.
  • Pirouette: A turn in standing position on one leg to a different direction.
  • Pom Pom Routine: A dance routine performed with pom poms.
  • Pyramid: A stunt involving one or more [multiple] mounters/flyers supported by one or more bases and linked together.
  • Routines: A choreographed combination of dance steps. A sequence of moves.
  • Split: A movement or sitting position in which the legs are spread apart in alignment or sideways one in front of the other.
  • Spotter: A person who is in direct contact with the performing surface and may help control the building of, or dismounting from, a mount. This person may not provide primary support, meaning the mount or pyramid would remain stable without the spotter. The primary responsibility of the spotter is to watch for safety hazards.
  • Straddle: A position where the legs are straight out and apart.
  • Stag: A leap or pose in which one leg is bent and the other is straight.
  • Stunt: Any maneuver or 'set piece' including tumbling, mounting, a pyramid or a toss.
  • Toss: A throwing motion by the base(s) to increase the height of the top person with the top person becoming free of contact with the base(s).
  • Traditional Cheerleading: Organized group yell leaders characterized by the use of motions & stunt performance.
  • Transitional Stunts: Involves a top person moving from one stunt to another. The transtional stunt may involve changing bases.
  • Tuck: A position in which the body is bent at the hips and the knees are held tightly up to the chest.
  • Tumbling: Forward or backward rolls, inverted skills and flips.
  • Vault: A stunt in which the hands of the top person are used to assist in clearing a base(s) or prop(s)
We hope this cheerleading glossary helped you learn a few new cheer tips and tricks! Teach your teammates too and find the best cheerleading shorts with Soffe!