Dismounts/Baskets: What Goes Up Must Come Down
Now that we have covered the skills that happen in the air, we need to also know the best and safest ways to get out of the air. This blog covers common dismounts and baskets competed in Cheerleading:
1) Full Down
a. Freeze on the dip
b. On 3 (or whatever count the pop is on), open up the left side wall to a T-motion and opposite ruby slipper position. Once they’ve hit that position snap their arms and close their toes towards the spin.
c. **AGAIN** Reiterate keeping their feet under them. Don’t let them throw themselves back because that will make the next progression harder.
d. It is always easier to spin upright than laid back
2) Double Down (From Two Feet)
a. Same explanation of Full Down
b. Great Drill that I have found for this – Do Double AROUNDS (not the dismount) and explain to them that it is the same exact shape, motion, and snap as a Double Down Dismount. This teaches them to keep their feet under them and to spin upright and not inverted.
3) Kick Full Basket
a. This is a 3-step process – I have found that breaking it down for them in this way has been the MOST successful. This skill needs to be taught extremely slow & not be rushed, so that the flyers feel comfortable, and they have a good grasp on each step of the kick full. Rushing the explanation & not emphasizing key points in this will make it considerably more difficult for them to visualize the skill and perform it well.
b. Step 1 – A good, upright straight ride to the front. I like to emphasize that this is the only part I care about and need to see every time. EMPHASIZE EMPHASIZE EMPHASIZE. They need to be in an upright position, arms covering ear holes, facing the judges. If these things don’t happen, it will make the next two steps nearly impossible to perfect and make look good. I tell the flyers “Once you tap your ears, you are done, you don’t have to hold it forever, it’s just a tap and go”. Again: tell them it’s like a straight up extension & it’ll help them visualize it better.
c. Step 2: SNAP to your picture. Flyer goes from straight ride position and snap to their kick. Chest and Body square to the judges. Don’t let them be lazy on the SNAP part. Left arm snaps down and right leg kicks up to a good UPRIGHT kick.
I. Common Mistakes: They are leaned over in kick – They need to crunch forward and keep core tight like when they kick up a heel stretch. Always remind them to stay over themselves in every part of the kick full and to not worry about the cradle because it will come naturally.
II. Common Mistake: The flyer reaches down to touch their foot. NO NO NO. Tell them that they NEVER have to actually touch their foot. It ruins the picture and makes the roll over harder. I tell them that they need to keep it by their ear the whole time like they’re trying to wave to the judges. The judges won’t see their wave if they reach down and touch their foot.
d. Step 3: “Roll over like a dog”. They keep their picture up and roll it over to the left side wall and once they hit that wall, they CLEAN TO THE BACK TO A HALF. DO NOT tell them to just wrap because they will just throw their chest down and try to get to the cradle. Remember: the cradle will come naturally, so if you teach them to be upright the whole time, it will make performing the skill a million times easier. Telling them to clean to the back at a half helps them visualize that they must drive their feet all the way back underneath them and not be inverted.
I. Common Mistakes: Flyers hit their picture, but don’t swipe their leg across.
i. I like to tell Flyers that their “Hand and foot are in a relationship, and they don’t want to be broken up”. I hold them in their picture and physically show them that their arm and foot travel together across the front and not break apart.
e. Drills: A drill I have found most helpful is going to a 2 feet prep facing the right wall. Flyers put their arms tight by their ears, and thighs flexed. You dip, turn to the front, the flyer snaps to their good, upright picture, and ROLL over to a prep again facing the back wall. DO NOT walk them around. They must drive their leg over and around to the back. You want THEM to walk YOU around, NOT you walking them around.
f. Lastly: DO NOT RUSH THIS SKILL. It needs to be taught very slowly because it is a lot. Go over the explanation numerous times and ONLY throw it if the flyer is ready. Remind them that the skill should be very chill and relaxed, and they don’t need to throw their body around or get through it as fast as they can. Really extend to the ceiling in their ride and stay upright the whole time. Taking this skill slow will create a better result.
