Prep
The core two-leg Prep-level stunt from which a huge amount of cheerleading is built. A strong Prep requires far more than simply getting the flyer to shoulder height: bases must stack underneath the load, the back spot must contribute to control and lift, the flyer must create an active and predictable body line, and the whole group must stabilise the stunt without constantly chasing it.
The stunt should be trained on an appropriate surface under suitably qualified coaching. A spotter is required under the current Level 1 framework at Prep level. Stop or regress for pain, uncontrolled collapsing, repeated flyer falls, ineffective spotting, significant fear or a stunt group that cannot safely control the load. This guide intentionally does not provide step-by-step hands-on spotting instructions.
What Is a Prep?
A two-leg stunt where the flyer's feet are supported at approximately the bases' shoulder level.
The flyer is elevated above the performing surface while the bases support the feet and a back spot contributes to safety, control and the group's approved stunt mechanics.
The important coaching feature is the structure: the flyer is supported on two feet at Prep level, with the stunt group organised underneath them.
A competition-ready Prep should be stable enough that the athletes appear to own the position rather than continuously correcting it.
The Stunt Is One System
Build the Platform
The bases support the flyer's feet while maintaining the strongest possible body position underneath the load.
- Stable feet.
- Knees aligned.
- Hips under the stunt.
- Elbows organised.
- Platforms stay level.
- Eyes remain engaged.
Control & Assist
The back spot contributes to upward movement, stability, communication and safety through the programme's approved technique.
- Stay connected.
- Move with the bases.
- Help keep the flyer centred.
- Support the vertical pathway.
- Watch the flyer.
- React early to instability.
Create a Predictable Body Line
The flyer should actively balance and stack rather than becoming passive above the stunt group.
- Stand through the feet.
- Ankles remain active.
- Knees stay controlled.
- Hips stay centred.
- Core remains active.
- Chest stays lifted.
The Prep Stack
When a Prep feels unstable, work upward through the structure rather than immediately blaming the flyer.
Bases: Get Under the Stunt
Stop Chasing
A stable stance gives the base something solid to work from. Continuous shuffling usually signals a problem elsewhere.
Stay Strong
Knees and hips should support the stunt without collapsing inward or drifting dramatically away from centre.
Stay Upright
Excessive forward lean creates a weak stack and increases the work demanded from the arms and lower back.
Support Efficiently
The arms should support the platform without being forced to compensate for poor lower-body position.
Stand on the Stunt — Don't Sit in It
Active Contact
The flyer should use the whole support relationship rather than collapsing weight passively into the platforms.
Make Small Corrections
Useful balance corrections should begin at the ankle rather than the flyer throwing the entire torso around.
Stay Over the Feet
Hips displaced in front of, behind or beside the platforms force the group to chase the stunt.
Stay Tall
Looking down or folding forward changes the flyer's centre and usually increases wobble.
Back Spot: Don't Become a Passenger
Stay Close
The back spot needs an effective relationship with the stunt, not a distant position from which they can only react late.
Contribute Upward
Assistance should support the vertical pathway rather than pulling the flyer backwards or changing the stunt's centre.
Read Instability Early
The back spot should recognise whether the stunt is moving forward, backward or sideways before the movement becomes large.
Watch the Flyer's Ankles
✓ Useful Ankle Control
- Feet remain predictably supported.
- Ankles make small corrections.
- Knees remain organised.
- Hips stay above the feet.
- Upper body remains relatively quiet.
- Balance errors are corrected early.
- Stunt settles quickly after hitting.
✕ Poor Balance Strategy
- Feet roll unpredictably.
- Flyer locks every joint completely.
- Knees bend whenever the stunt moves.
- Hips swing outside the platforms.
- Arms windmill for balance.
- Chest repeatedly drops.
- Every wobble becomes a whole-body movement.
Hips & Core Control
Hips Above Feet
Sitting the hips backwards or pushing them forward moves the flyer's centre away from the platforms.
Keep Weight Even
One hip lifting or shifting sideways transfers more weight into one base and creates a tilted platform.
Connect Upper & Lower Body
Core control helps the flyer remain one organised shape without excessive arching, folding or twisting.
Timing Creates Height
Feet Arrive Together
Consistent loading gives the group a balanced starting point.
One Shared Bottom
Bases, flyer and back spot should move through one coordinated compression.
One Upward Action
The group should change direction together rather than one athlete beginning the lift first.
Arrive in Position
Aim to hit the Prep already organised rather than lifting first and fixing it afterwards.
Diagnose the Direction of the Wobble
Check the Centre
Flyer hips may be moving forward, bases may sit behind the stunt or the load pathway may already have travelled.
Check Sitting & Pulling
The flyer may be sitting backwards or the group may be unintentionally moving the stunt behind centre.
Check Uneven Weight
One flyer foot may be heavier, one platform lower or one base further from centre.
Check Overcorrection
Flyers and bases may be continuously reacting to each other's corrections.
Prep Progression Framework
Exact grips and hands-on spotting methods should be taught through appropriate practical coach education and remain within each coach's qualification and competence.
Feet are received consistently and the group can control the compressed position.
Group reproduces a consistent dip and upward drive.
Flyer travels vertically through a coach-selected progression.
Introduce the position without requiring a long hold.
Establish the stacked position before increasing duration.
Demonstrate equal control when lowering the stunt.
Increase duration only while the stunt remains stacked.
Add upper-body choreography without disturbing the lower body.
Synchronise load, hit, hold and return counts.
Only once the Prep is controlled rather than merely survivable.
Development Drills
Empty Prep Position
Bases rehearse their expected stacked body position without flyer load.
Load-In → Freeze
Check flyer feet, base position and weight distribution before adding the drive.
Empty Dip Timing
Bases and back spot practise reaching the bottom and top of the movement together.
Floor Balance Hold
Teach ankle, knee, hip and chest alignment without elevation.
Quiet Upper Body Balance
Practise correcting small balance changes without throwing the arms or torso.
Prep → Three-Count Hold
Short duration encourages quality before endurance.
Front-View Freeze Frame
Compare platform height, flyer hips and left/right symmetry.
Side-View Stack Check
Compare base feet, hips, platforms and flyer hips vertically.
Multi-Group Prep Hit
Match dip depth, drive, arrival and final body position across stunt groups.
Short Coaching Cues
Prep Troubleshooting Lab
Diagnose the first thing that changes — not simply the athlete who appears to struggle most at the end.
| What You See | Likely Cause | Check First | Training Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep leans forward | Flyer or bases away from centre | Side-view stack | Rebuild Load-In and vertical pathway. |
| Prep leans backward | Flyer sitting or stunt moving backwards | Flyer hips | Centre flyer before adding height. |
| Prep leans to one side | Uneven flyer weight or platform height | Flyer hips and feet | Re-establish left/right symmetry. |
| One base is lower | Body position or platform height differs | Base legs and torso | Match platform height. |
| Bases continuously shuffle | Stunt centre is unstable | First direction of movement | Fix structure rather than chase. |
| Bases move apart | Stunt geometry widening | Base distance | Reset starting positions. |
| Base knees collapse | Lower-body alignment insufficient | Knees and hips | Reduce load and rebuild stance. |
| Base wrists hurt | Load or mechanics unsuitable | Stop and assess | Do not train through pain. |
| Flyer bends knees repeatedly | Whole-leg balance strategy | Ankle control | Teach smaller corrections. |
| Flyer sits into stunt | Hips behind feet | Pelvis | Stand tall over platforms. |
| Flyer arches heavily | Ribs and hips disconnected | Core position | Rebuild stacked torso. |
| Flyer folds forward | Looking down or hips drifting | Head and chest | Eyes forward, chest tall. |
| Flyer windmills arms | Large balance corrections | Feet and ankles | Develop quieter balance. |
| Stunt shakes after hitting | Athletes begin overcorrecting | First correction | Reduce movement and re-stack. |
| Stunt gradually lowers | Base endurance or stacking issue | Base torso and legs | Use shorter quality holds. |
| One flyer foot feels heavier | Flyer centre shifted laterally | Hip position | Correct flyer alignment first. |
| Group can lift but cannot hold | Power exceeds stability | Stack after arrival | Short hold work. |
| Group can hold but struggles to lift | Timing or power issue | Load-In and dip | Rebuild matched drive. |
| Prep changes under motions | Flyer upper body disturbs lower body | Hip stability | Separate motion and stunt control. |
| Different groups hit different heights | Drive timing differs | Highest frame | Clean groups side by side. |
| Technique deteriorates with fatigue | Capacity insufficient | First changing position | Reduce repetitions. |
| Significant fear | Position not predictable | Previous successful step | Regress appropriately. |
| Pain | Possible injury | Stop activity | Follow academy injury procedures. |
Prep Safety Standards
Current Level 1 rules require appropriate spotting at Prep level.
Train elevated stunts only on an appropriate cheer surface.
Hands-on spotting and catching belong within practical coach education and competence.
Athletes should know how the stunt will finish before loading.
Do not turn a Level 1 Prep into an unplanned release move.
Groups should follow their trained safety response when a stunt becomes unstable.
Repeated wrist, shoulder or back strain indicates mechanics need correcting.
Repeating unstable Preps simply rehearses instability.
Pain should never be treated as a normal requirement of stunt training.
Is the Prep Competition Ready?
GREEN · Ready
- Pain-free.
- Consistent Load-In.
- Matched dip.
- Vertical drive.
- Platforms arrive level.
- Bases remain underneath.
- Minimal base movement.
- Flyer ankles remain active.
- Flyer hips stay centred.
- Flyer chest remains tall.
- Back spot remains engaged.
- Stunt settles immediately.
- Controlled finish.
AMBER · Developing
- Small platform adjustment.
- Minor base shuffle.
- Flyer slightly overcorrects.
- One side occasionally heavier.
- Hold duration limited.
- Timing varies slightly.
- Motions disturb stability.
RED · Regress
- Pain.
- Repeated collapsing.
- Base knees buckle.
- Platforms regularly split height.
- Continuous foot chasing.
- Flyer cannot remain centred.
- Large balance corrections.
- Spotting inadequate.
- Uncontrolled dismount.
- Significant fear.
Hotshots Video Library
Front and side views showing a stacked stunt with minimal unnecessary movement.
Forward, backward and lateral instability examples.
Slow-motion comparison of load, dip, drive and arrival.
IASF Level 1 Context
Two-Leg Prep Permitted
Current Level 1 stunt rules permit two-leg stunts at Prep level.
More advanced positions, transitions and single-leg variations must be checked separately against the rules for the applicable level.
Prep Requires Appropriate Spotting
Once a stunt reaches Prep level, the relevant IASF spotting requirements apply.
This differs from some lower waist-level stunt exceptions.
Prep Coach Checklist
Have You Checked...
- Correct athlete roles?
- Appropriate spotter?
- Suitable surface?
- Base starting position?
- Flyer foot placement?
- Back spot position?
- Agreed counts?
- Agreed finish?
- Current legality?
Can You See...
- Level platforms?
- Bases underneath the load?
- Stable base feet?
- Flyer ankles active?
- Flyer knees controlled?
- Hips over the platforms?
- Chest tall?
- Back spot engaged?
- Minimal unnecessary movement?
- Controlled finish?