When you enter a jump, start with…

Jumps may be a basic move in cheerleading, but they’re used in choreography at elite levels in competitions, they are mandatory to know at tryouts and they are even used to hype up crowds after a performance or touch down. Jumps are an easy move to learn when beginning cheerleading and are great building blocks as you become more experienced and your choreography routines get tougher. It’s very important to develop good technique for both entry and execution of your jumps, so practicing your jump in repetition is not only good conditioning, it also helps build your muscle memory. Remember to properly warm up and stretch before any heavy physical activity. Basic Jump Entry Step 1: Start your jump entry with your feet together, your arms straight down on your side and your hands in fists. Step 2: Clap your hands and then put your arms into a high V position. Step 3: At the same time, bend your knees and cross your arms downward into an “X” position in front of your knees. Step 4: As you are continuing to swing your arm motion back out and up into a “T” or a “V” (depending on the final position you are executing), jump! Step 5: Upon landing from your jump, bend your knees slightly to absorb any shock and put your arms straight and down by your side with your hands in fists, much like step one. Step 6: Straighten your knees and clap for the finishing touch. *While executing these each of these steps, make sure they are down quickly and consecutively of each other. It is supposed to look like one continual motion. How to do a Tuck Jump The tuck jump is great for beginners who are not yet as flexible as a teammate with more experience and who don’t have jump entry down to a “T”. However, don’t be discouraged that this is just a jump for newbies. Tuck jumps are extremely popular for hyping up crowds. Repeat steps one through four above, then add this step before steps five and six: Tuck your knees into your chest with your toes pointed to the ground and your arms in a “T” or “V” position. Remember that you are keeping your upper body as straight as possible and you are pulling your legs up to your chest, not pushing your chest down to your knees.