What Makes a Great Flyer in Cheerleading

The flyer is the most visible position in cheerleading — the athlete on top of the stunt, performing breathtaking skills high above the ground. But being a great flyer requires much more than just being small or lightweight. It takes exceptional balance, body control, flexibility, confidence, and trust in your stunt group. Whether you are a new flyer or an experienced one looking to improve, this guide covers the key skills, drills, and mindset needed to become the best flyer you can be.

Essential Flyer Skills

Every great flyer must master these fundamental skills:

• Body control: The ability to maintain tight body positions while balancing on one foot or two feet above the ground. Every movement should be controlled and deliberate.
• Balance: Standing on one leg while performing positions like liberty, heel stretch, or scorpion requires exceptional single-leg balance. See our balance training guide for exercises.
• Flexibility: Flyers need outstanding flexibility for positions like scorpions, bow-and-arrows, heel stretches, and scales. Check our split stretching guide and scorpion stretch guide.
• Confidence: Fear is the flyer biggest enemy. You must trust your bases and commit fully to every position. Hesitation causes wobbles and falls.
• Communication: Great flyers communicate clearly with their stunt group — calling counts, signaling when ready, and providing feedback.

Flyer Position Drills

Practice these positions on the ground before taking them to the air:

• Liberty hold: Stand on one leg with the other foot at your knee. Hold for 30 seconds each side. Focus on a locked standing leg and tight core.
• Heel stretch: Stand on one leg, grab your other foot, and extend it straight up beside your head. Hold for 15 seconds.
• Bow-and-arrow: From a heel stretch, reach across and grab your extended foot with the opposite hand, creating an archer pose.
• Scale: Extend one leg behind you while reaching back to hold your foot. This builds the foundation for a scorpion.
• Scorpion: Pull your foot up and behind your head. This is an advanced position requiring exceptional back and shoulder flexibility.

Balance and Stability Training

Improve your flyer balance with these daily exercises:

• Single-leg stand (eyes closed): 60 seconds each leg — this trains your proprioceptive system
• BOSU ball balance: Stand on a BOSU ball and hold flyer positions — this challenges ankle stability
• Resistance band kicks: Stand on one leg while a partner pulls resistance bands attached to your other leg in different directions — simulates the instability of being in the air
• Lock drill: Stand on one leg and have someone gently push you from different directions. Practice maintaining your position without wobbling.

Building Trust with Your Stunt Group

The relationship between a flyer and their stunt group is built on trust:

• Practice together regularly: Consistency builds trust. The more you stunt together, the more your bases learn your balance tendencies and you learn their timing.
• Communicate openly: If something does not feel right, say so immediately. Your bases would rather adjust than risk a fall.
• Commit fully: The worst thing a flyer can do is pull out halfway through a stunt. Commit fully and trust your bases to catch you.
• Build relationships off the mat: Team bonding activities strengthen the trust that translates to stunting.

Mental Preparation for Flyers

• Visualization: Before each stunt, close your eyes and visualize yourself hitting the position perfectly. Your brain cannot tell the difference between a vivid visualization and actual practice.
• Positive self-talk: Replace doubt with confidence. Tell yourself “I can do this” before every stunt.
• Progressive challenges: Master each position at a lower level before progressing higher. Do not skip steps.
• Breathe: Take a deep breath before each stunt. Tension makes you rigid and harder to support.

Conclusion

Being a great flyer requires a combination of physical skills, mental toughness, and deep trust in your team. Focus on body control, balance, and flexibility, and the rest will follow. For more training advice, check out our guides on hitting stunts consistently, flexibility training, and tryout preparation.