If your coach does not know 100% of the skills involved with stunting and especially the safety requirements-DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY STUNT. Our coach, Mrs. Perron knows almost everything about stunting. She has gone to dozens of coaches and stunt clinics, read numerous books on this and has had 14 years of cheering/coaching experience. She is constantly trying to learn more in this area. Not only is she knowledgeable, but she is enthusiastic, works hard and always is concerned for our safety. She pays very close attention to detail and notices even the smallest mistake. Quite often it is these small mistakes that can bring down a stunt. She really does see everything in the stunt, she has to, but despite her well-trained expertise, flyers do fall and bases collapse. So far we have had an excellent safety record and with God's help we will keep it this way.

1. Attention- A coach should pay close attention to the stunt group. She should remain alert and watch to see if everyone is performing the stunt correctly. She must also pay attention to the environment around you and make sure there is nothing dangerous that could interfere with your stunting.
2. Perfection before progression- A coach should absolutely not allow you to do any advanced stunt until you have mastered the previous easier one. The point of this is to build upon skills you have acquired. As you gain strength you will also gain confidence. Unfortunately, the third reason you need to do this is for liability. The coach needs to keep a written list of all the skills needed and check off each one as her cheerleaders master them. This will show she took reasonable care in the instruction of her cheerleaders.
3. Limitations of your squad- A coach has to know the limitations of the squad. This goes along with #2, but to be honest there are some girls who will never have the strength or balance to perfect certain stunts.
4. Understanding of stunt mechanics- A coach must know exactly what is involved in executing a stunt. She must know what each person in the stunt group should do and make sure they do it correctly.
5. Safety Always- I can not say this enough. SAFETY IS THE COACH'S #1 PRIORITY. Not only does the coach need to think this, but she must also create a mind set within her squad so the girls understand the importance of stunt safety.

1. Never leave the squad unsupervised, no matter what. If she is not present the cheerleaders do not stunt. If a girl is injured it is the coaches responsibility.
2. Give top consideration to protecting the head, neck and spinal cord.
3. Have a complete understanding of the mechanics of the skill her squad is doing. Know what a stunt should look like before you begin.
4. Make sure her squad knows how to execute the stunt before they begin. Sometime, not everyone has the same understanding of what they attempting to do. If possible use pictures and videos when introducing new skills. Following a stunt progression list will also help.
5. Understand where the more dangerous areas of a stunt are.
6. Adopt safety rules and enforce them.
7. Create a mindset within her squad that the girls understand the importance of safety.
8. Continue to stress safety even after her squad has masters a stunt.
9. Make sure the practice and performing area you are using is completely safe.
10. Always use mats in practice. Never perform a stunt without them until the stunt is mastered.
11. Make sure the practice area is quiet enough so that the stunt group can hear what is going on. There should be no unnecessary talking or laughter.
12. Work on the more difficult skills first at practice before the squad is tired.
13. Enforce all safety rules concerning appearance. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long fingernails can cause injury when performing a stunt.
14. Never push the squad to do more than they are ready to do. Strictly enforce the stunt progression rule.
15. Emphasize the importance of correct technique and good form from start to finish throughout the learning of the skill.
16. Use extra spots when learning a new skill. The diamond spotting technique is a great tool to at this time.
17. Always make sure the bases and flyers know where their spotters are.
18. Teach the proper spotting techniques the same time the stunt is taught.
19. Have everyone practice spotting so they understand the dynamics of each mount.
20. Never pair an inexperienced flyer with an inexperienced base or an inexperienced base with an inexperienced flyer. When our Junior High cheerleaders, who had never stunted before, wanted to learn stunting, our coach borrowed two girls from the high school squad. They worked with three of the new stunters, helping them to perfect their skills, before they were allowed to practice with the rest of the inexperienced squad.
21. When performing the stunt, make sure the base and flyer have exact timing.
22. Make sure the base person maintains correct posture and the flyer stays tight during the entire stunt.
23. Know any physical or mental limitations the squad might have.
24. Keep a checklist of all skills, from basic to more difficult. Check off each one as the girls learn them. Make sure the girls keep updated copies of this list.
25. Work at getting her squad in top physical condition. The daily practice schedual should include exercises which increase stamina, strength, and flexibility.
26. Realize that getting her squad ready mentally is half the battle.
27. Once your squad has mastered easier skills, let them know you believe in their abilities and are confident they can hit the stunt they are attempting.
28. Remember to always praise your squad. Positive words go along way in motivating your squad.
29. The learning of and building upon of new stunts is an excellent time to build mutual trust among your squad. This is a great time for a new squad to bond together and forge new friendships. Working as a group to accomplish a really neat mount makes everyone proud of not just what they can do, but what they have accomplished as a squad. This really does help girls get past a lot of their differences and grow closer to one another.

The most important person in your stunt group is your spotter. This is especially true when learning a new stunt. Their main responsibility is to catch or support the flyer or base in case the stunt starts to fall. In a way the spotters are like firemen, always prepared and ready to save the day. Even though the bases are supposed to hold and catch the flyer sometimes there are accidents and you need to call in your emergency team. They expect the unexpected to happen.

1. CLOSE- The spotter must always stay close to the flyer, even touching the flyer during the learning process. The position of the spotter is different during each stunt and during the learning of the stunt. For most beginning and intermediate stunts, this is going to be on the side or at a 45 degree angle. The spotter must be able to see the head and neck areas of the flyer. This is because the head, neck, and shoulders are the most important parts of the flyers body. The spotter never moves away from the stunt until the flyer has dismounted.
2. ALERT- The spotter must always be alert, maintaining visual contact with the flyer constantly. The spotter must remain quiet in order to hear a down call from either the bases or flyer. Do not let anything distract you from your job.
3. READY- Always be ready to shift positions in order to counteract movements of the flyer. Watch where the flyer's hips shift. You should stand with your feet apart, hands up. Your focus should be on protecting the head neck, and shoulder areas.
4. EMERGENCY- The spotters are like the fireman at a fire. When everyone else is running away from danger, you must rush in and save the day. You must be prepared to break the fall of the flyer. If you wrap you arms around the waist, or shoulders of the flyer, or scoop under the arm, you will save the flyer from harm. You must always protect the head and neck area. Don't try to force the stunt to stay up.

1. Always remember to protect the head, neck, and spinal cord of the flyer.
2. Bases are the main spotters, you are there to assist them.
3. When you are learning a stunt you also to assist the bases.
4. Make sure you know exactly how a stunt should be performed before you begin and that everyone else has the same understanding of what you are about to attempt.
5. If you don't feel confident enough to spot for a certain stunt, don't do it.
6. Always let your coach know if you have been injured or sick and don't over do it.
7. Along with your coach and the rest of stunt team, check the area for safety hazards.
8. Always warm up before doing a stunt.
9. Remember to use extra spotters when learning a new spot. The diamond spotting technique is a great tool to use.
10. Remember your main job is to catch or support the stunt and aid the bases with dismounts.
11. Stay in constant contact with the person flying. Either by touch or eye contact. If unable to touch the flyer then you should stand close enough to catch her.
12. Always expect the unexpected.
13. Continue spotting until the stunt is finished.
14. Never force a stunt to stay up.
15. Know exactly what the bases and the flyer should be doing in order to quickly know when the stunt is starting to fail
16. Always watch for safety hazards such as weight shifting, unstable flyer or base.
17. Learn the correct spotting techniques at the same time that the stunt is taught to the entire group.
18. Make sure your appearance follows safety guidelines.
19. Constantly be trying to improve your physical condition. Always trying to improve strength, flexibility and stamina.
20. Use the stunt progressive check list, mastering each skill before moving on.