Question by abbythegrey: How Can I Increase Flexibility for Cheerleading?
I am trying out for cheerleading this June. Tumbling skills aren’t required as my Coach is willing to teach them. But, in the meantime, how can I increase my flexibility so I’m capable of doing stunts and tumbling? Are there any streches I should do daily before tryouts?
Any other tips of physical preperation are appreciated.
Do you have any good streches that you can suggest? I already do crunches leg lifts.
Best answer:
Answer by *CheerChick*
Stretch!!!!!!!!! i promise this will help.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Get a yoga video and mat. Yoga is said to help with flexibility greatly.
work your legs because you need them the most in cheerleading..
if you stand with your legs apart and raise up and down you will work your leg muscles…. you should start from your ankles because you need them strong… spin them around then open your legs and stretch down and touch the floor… then you should work your abs and everything too… situps and pushups are good…. to work your arms go on a ledge and raise up and down slowly in a sitting position….
best of luck i am a retired gymnast and cheerleader so you can trust these will work…
just strecth daily… youtube will have some cool stretching videos too!
You can find stretches, exercises, and tumbling drills here that will help you out: http://aescougarcheer.com/Cheer101/basics.htm
Don’t forget to work on those jumps and motions as well.
Good luck!
I have my girls do v up and straddle ups. You lay on the floor and bring your legs into a pike position and then a toe touch position. I also have them do wall stretches where you lay on the floor with your bottom as close to the wall as possible put your legs up on the wall and let them drift down on either side (wall splits to the middle).
Butterfly stretches, straddle stretches and squats. Split stretches too. These are all good for jumps. For stunting squat jumps will help your legs and push ups will help your arms. For tumbling forward rolls, back bends, and hand stands are what I start out with.
Work on flexibility every day. Check out http://www.varsity.com they have good tips also boards.varsity.com is a great comment board where lots of questions can be asked and answered. Another site I like to get ideas from is
http://www.oakharborcheer.com or
http://www.cheerwiz.com
Good luck and I hope I helped