When it comes to cheerleading, mastering jumps and motions is a fundamental part of building your skills and elevating your performance. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced athlete, developing these skills will take your cheer game to the next level. Let’s break it down step by step.

Start with the Basics: For Beginners

For beginners, vocabulary is key. Learning the basic terms and understanding what they mean is the first step in building your cheer skills. Motions and jumps are like the ABC’s of cheerleading—you need to know them inside and out.

  • Motions: Focus on learning the proper technique for basic motions such as High V, Low V, T, and Broken T. Practice until you can execute them without thinking.
  • Jumps: Start with foundational jumps such as Toe Touch, Pike, and Hurdler. Concentrate on technique, keeping your form clean and controlled.

Consistency is key. Spend time practicing these basics until they become second nature.

Elevate Your Skills: For High Schoolers

High school is the time to perfect your craft. Sharpness and precision become critical as you prepare for more advanced performances and competitions.

  • Motions: Get in front of a mirror and critique your own technique. Are your arms straight? Are your motions clean and sharp? Once you’ve evaluated yourself, ask someone else for feedback to identify areas for improvement.
  • Jumps: Work on height, form, and pointed toes. Focus on executing jumps that are clean and impressive.

Your goal is to stand out. By showing crisp, precise motions and strong jumps, you’ll leave a lasting impression.

Mastery: For Collegiate Athletes

By the time you’re trying out for a collegiate team or have been recruited, your motions and jumps should be perfected. At this level, it’s about executing with awe-inspiring precision and confidence.

  • Motions: Crisp and precise motions combined with expressive facials will set you apart. Collegiate-level cheer demands a higher level of performance.
  • Jumps: Your jumps should be high, clean, and consistent, with pointed toes and perfect execution.

Tools for Improving Jumps

Jumps require physical training and don’t improve overnight. Here are some tips to help you get higher, cleaner jumps:

  1. Stretching: Consistent stretching improves flexibility, which is crucial for executing jumps with proper form.
  2. Strength Training: Build muscles that you don’t use every day but are essential for jumps. Focus on core, hip flexors, and leg strength.
  3. Drills: Practice jump drills regularly to develop muscle memory and improve height and form.
  4. Repetition: Consistency is everything. Make jump training a regular part of your routine.

Final Thoughts

Jumps and motions are foundational to cheerleading and require consistent practice to perfect. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for a collegiate team, focus on building your skills step by step. Don’t forget—the staff at ACA Larose & ACA Thibodaux is here to help. Through classes and private lessons, we can assist you in developing or perfecting these skills.

Let’s get ready for success!