Load-In / Smush
The compressed loading position at the heart of a huge amount of cheer stunting. A strong Load-In teaches the stunt group to receive the flyer, control weight, match their dip, create vertical power and maintain a predictable body line before progressing toward Prep, Extension and more advanced transitions.
At Hotshots, we use the term “Smush” for the compressed Load-In position used before progressing into skills such as Prep and Extension. The IASF term “sponge toss” refers to a release/toss action and has different legality implications. Level 1 tosses, including sponge tosses, are not allowed. A Smush must therefore never be confused with permission to release the flyer.
What Is a Load-In / Smush?
A controlled compressed loading position used to prepare a top person for a multi-based stunt.
At Hotshots, we call this position a Smush. The flyer's feet are supported by the stunt group while the athletes move into a low, organised position from which they can stabilise, transition or generate upward power.
The exact grip system used by a programme may vary. The universal coaching principles are more important: secure support, predictable weight placement, aligned bodies, coordinated timing and a controlled vertical pathway.
A Smush is therefore more than a position the group passes through quickly. It is one of the fundamental loading positions from which many later stunt skills are created.
Why the Smush Matters So Much
Teaches One Group Dip
Bases, back spot and flyer begin learning to move through one shared rhythm rather than four separate actions.
Teaches Load Transfer
The flyer learns to place weight predictably while the bases learn to receive it without collapsing.
Creates the Drive
Later Prep and Extension work depends on the group being able to create upward force together.
Exposes Problems Early
Uneven feet, mismatched timing and poor body positions are usually visible before the stunt ever reaches Prep.
Every Athlete Has a Job
Receive & Support
Bases create the main platforms under the flyer's feet.
- Stable foot position.
- Hands organised before loading.
- Elbows and wrists working safely.
- Body stays close to the stunt.
- Dip together.
- Drive together.
Control the Vertical Path
The back spot supports the group through timing, control and the programme's approved stunt mechanics.
- Stay close enough to be effective.
- Move with the bases.
- Help stabilise the load.
- Contribute upward assistance.
- Maintain visual attention.
- Communicate clearly.
Load Predictably
The flyer should actively contribute to the stunt rather than collapsing their full body weight into the bases.
- Commit to the entry.
- Place feet accurately.
- Keep weight centred.
- Maintain active legs.
- Keep hips organised.
- Stay tall through the upper body.
Bases: Strong from the Floor Up
Build a Stable Stance
Bases should not need to shuffle continually once the flyer's weight enters the stunt.
Bend Together
The dip should come from coordinated lower-body movement, with knees tracking safely.
Stay Under the Load
Bases drifting away from the flyer's centre create a weaker and less predictable platform.
Stay Organised
Avoid collapsing forward or allowing the stunt to pull the upper body dramatically out of position.
The Back Spot Is Part of the Power System
Stay Connected
A back spot positioned too far away cannot contribute effectively to control or upward movement.
Dip with the Bases
The back spot should not begin the upward action while the bases are still travelling downward.
Assist the Vertical Path
The back spot's support should complement the bases rather than pull the flyer away from the centre of the stunt.
Flyers Must Load Up, Not Away
Commit
Hesitant loading creates unpredictable weight and forces the bases to chase the flyer's feet.
Place Accurately
The flyer should know where the feet are going before the stunt begins.
Stay Centred
Avoid sitting dramatically backward or leaning away from the bases during the load.
Stay Tall
Looking down and folding over the feet makes the flyer's centre harder to control.
Flyer Feet & Platform Quality
✓ Predictable Load
- Feet arrive where bases expect.
- Foot position remains consistent.
- Weight is distributed predictably.
- Flyer does not curl toes or panic-grip excessively.
- Hips remain centred over support.
- Bases do not need to chase the feet.
- Both sides receive weight together.
- The group can immediately find one rhythm.
✕ Unpredictable Load
- Feet land in different places each attempt.
- One foot loads much earlier.
- Flyer rolls onto an edge of the foot.
- Weight shifts strongly to one side.
- Bases continually re-grip.
- Flyer looks down and searches.
- One base carries significantly more weight.
- The group cannot establish shared timing.
Dip Together — Drive Together
One Downward Motion
Bases, back spot and flyer should not create several competing dips at different times.
Change Direction Together
The group should reach the bottom of the dip at approximately the same time.
Send Power Up
The upward action should create a vertical pathway rather than sending the flyer forward, backward or sideways.
Smush Flow
Matched Timing Beats Extra Strength
Loads on the Agreed Count
Loading early or late changes the amount and direction of weight the bases receive.
Dip Together
One base dropping before the other immediately tilts the flyer's platform.
Matches the Group
Assistance should occur with the bases rather than before or after them.
Finishes Together
The stunt should arrive at the target position as one unit rather than being corrected after arrival.
Progression Framework
Exact grips, physical assistance and spotting positions should be taught through appropriate practical coach education and the Hotshots coaching system.
Every athlete can explain the entry, dip, drive and finish.
Check stance, body distance, arm position and safe alignment.
Bases and back spot reproduce the same dip and drive timing.
Flyer learns predictable foot placement and centred body position.
Establish a stable compressed position before adding a drive.
Develop shared timing while remaining at a controlled training height.
Introduce upward power using an appropriate coach-selected progression.
Progress to a stable two-leg Prep once timing and support are established.
Teach control in both directions rather than only lifting.
Multiple groups load, dip, drive and hit on matched counts.
Development Drills
Empty Group Dips
Bases and back spot rehearse matched dip depth, speed and upward timing without a flyer loaded.
Count-Only Rehearsal
Athletes verbalise and physically mark the stunt counts before loading.
No-Shuffle Load
Check whether bases can receive weight without immediately moving their feet.
Foot Placement Rehearsal
Flyer practises placing feet into consistent targets under coach supervision.
Smush → Freeze
Pause the controlled Smush to examine hips, chest and weight distribution.
Dip → Freeze
Check whether every athlete reaches the bottom of the dip together.
Dip → Drive Shape
Develop the shared upward pathway before increasing stunt height.
Slow-Motion Timing Check
Compare flyer foot contact, bottom of dip and upward drive frame by frame.
Multiple Group Dip Timing
Line groups side by side and match the lowest and highest points of the movement.
Short Coaching Cues
Common Problems & Fixes
| What You See | Likely Cause | Check First | Training Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flyer feet miss the platforms | Entry inconsistent or rushed | Foot placement | Return to controlled entry rehearsal. |
| One foot loads before the other | Flyer or base timing asymmetry | First foot contact | Slow the entry and clean timing. |
| One base carries most of the weight | Flyer hips shifted sideways | Flyer centre | Re-centre before adding power. |
| Bases shuffle backwards | Flyer loads away from centre | Flyer hip direction | Clean vertical entry. |
| Bases shuffle outward | Stance or foot placement too wide | Starting distance | Reset stunt geometry. |
| Base wrists appear overloaded | Position or whole-body support poor | Body alignment | Stop and reassess mechanics. |
| Base elbows flare unpredictably | Load not organised | Platform position | Return to stable Smush holds. |
| Base chest folds forward | Flyer weight too far away | Stunt centre | Bring structure back over the base. |
| Back spot moves before bases | Timing mismatch | Bottom of dip | Empty-group timing work. |
| Back spot pulls flyer backwards | Assistance direction incorrect | Vertical pathway | Re-establish centred support. |
| Flyer sits backward in Smush | Hips behind feet / fear | Flyer pelvis | Return to load-and-freeze work. |
| Flyer folds forward | Looking down or over-compressing | Chest/head position | Reinforce tall upper body. |
| Flyer becomes passive | Relies entirely on bases | Leg/core engagement | Teach active body position. |
| Flyer jumps away from bases | Entry direction incorrect | Hip pathway | Rebuild controlled vertical loading. |
| Dip is extremely deep | Group chasing power through range | Dip depth | Use smaller matched movement. |
| Dip is different each attempt | No shared rhythm | Counts | Rehearse without flyer. |
| One base rises first | Drive timing mismatch | Bottom of dip | Match direction change. |
| Stunt travels forward | Drive direction not vertical | Base and flyer centre | Rebuild straight upward pathway. |
| Stunt travels sideways | Unequal drive | Left/right timing | Compare both bases on video. |
| Stunt feels very heavy | Timing or positioning issue | Whole-group dip | Check synchronisation before strength. |
| Prep shakes immediately after catch | Problem began in Smush | Feet at load | Clean Smush before Prep. |
| Group needs repeated re-gripping | Platforms inconsistent | Flyer foot arrival | Return to controlled loading. |
| Flyer is frightened during load | Entry feels unpredictable | Confidence and counts | Regress to controlled successful step. |
| Pain | Possible injury or unsafe loading | Stop activity | Follow academy injury procedures. |
Smush Safety
Stunting should take place on an appropriate training surface with adequate space around each group.
New athletes should not experiment with Smushes or lifting positions without appropriate supervision.
Every athlete must know whether the stunt is holding, returning or progressing upward before loading.
A Smush must not become an improvised toss or release.
Base wrist pain or visibly compromised loading mechanics require regression rather than repeated attempts.
Bases repeatedly folding forward under the load need the stunt geometry corrected.
Spotter requirements change as a stunt progresses from a low loading position to Prep level and above.
Athletes should speak before a stunt becomes unsafe rather than trying to save every attempt.
Wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, knee, ankle or other pain should not be trained through.
Is the Smush Ready to Progress?
GREEN · Ready
- Pain-free.
- Flyer feet arrive consistently.
- Flyer remains centred.
- Bases remain stable.
- No continuous foot shuffling.
- Back spot is connected to group timing.
- One clear dip.
- One clear drive.
- Vertical pathway.
- Minimal re-gripping.
- Group can hold the Smush.
- Group can return safely.
- Counts remain consistent.
AMBER · Developing
- Minor foot adjustment.
- Slight left/right timing difference.
- Flyer occasionally looks down.
- Dip depth varies slightly.
- One base works harder.
- Back spot timing inconsistent.
- Stunt settles after small correction.
RED · Regress
- Pain.
- Flyer feet regularly miss platforms.
- Large side lean.
- Base knees collapse.
- Continuous shuffling.
- Large re-grips required.
- Stunt travels unpredictably.
- Group cannot match dip timing.
- Flyer loads away from group.
- Significant fear.
- Stunt cannot be safely controlled.
Hotshots Video Library
Front and side views showing foot placement, centred weight and matched group timing.
Compare how a small timing difference changes the entire stunt.
Side view showing how a clean Smush creates a controlled vertical Prep.
IASF Level 1 Context
Two-Leg Prep Is Permitted
Current Level 1 stunt rules permit two-leg stunts at Prep level.
A Smush can therefore form the foundation of a legal Level 1 progression into a two-leg Prep when all other stunt requirements are met.
Maintain Base Contact
At Level 1, the top person must remain in contact with at least one base unless the movement is otherwise legal as a release move.
Level 1 release moves are not allowed other than legal dismounts.
Coach Checklist
Have You Checked...
- Starting distance?
- Base foot position?
- Flyer foot placement?
- Flyer hip position?
- Back spot positioning?
- Weight distribution?
- Bottom of dip timing?
- Direction of drive?
- Target position?
- Safe return plan?
Can They...
- Load without chasing feet?
- Hold the Smush?
- Dip together?
- Drive together?
- Keep the flyer centred?
- Stay pain-free?
- Communicate clearly?
- Repeat the stunt consistently?
- Return safely?
- Meet the rules of the intended next skill?