Abduction: In general, refers to movements moving
outward from the center of the body. Hip abduction is moving the legs, knees
and feet outward. Shoulder abduction is moving the arms and hands out to the
side.
Adduction: Hip adduction is bringing the knees
together. Shoulder adduction is pressing the arms downward while out to the
side.
Aerial: A skill performed without the hands touching
the floor or the apparatus. Most commonly used to refer to an aerial
cartwheel or aerial (front) walkover.
Airborne Tumbling Skill: An aerial maneuver involving
hip-over-head rotation in which a person uses their body and the performing
surface to propel himself/herself away from the performing surface.
Amplitude: The height, or degree of execution of a
movement.
Arabian Mounter: A tumbling somersaulting skill,
which usually begins from a step or run tumbling skill like a round-off or
cartwheel, and consists of a ½ front salto and ½ front walkover.
Back: A backward somersault. See Back Somersault.
Back Flip: One of a number of terms for a back
somersault move that begins usually taking off two feet rotates hip over
head, then lands again on the feet. Also called Back Somersault, Back Salto,
Back Tuck, Back Pike, and Back Layout.
Back Handspring: A tumbling move where a athlete
takes off from one or two feet, jumps backward onto the hands and lands on
the feet. This skill can be as a step-out skill or landed on two feet.
Round-off back handsprings are the basis for almost all back tumbling
skills. Back handsprings are also called a Flip-Flop or Flic-Flac.
Back Somersault: One of the number of terms for a
back salto move that begins usually taking off two feet rotates hip over
head, then lands again on the feet. Also called Back Flip, Back Salto, Back
Tuck, Back Pike, and Back Layout.
Back Walkover: A control skill athletic move starting
and finishing on the feet and made by lifting one leg, arching back into and
passing through a handstand position by bringing one foot, then the other
over the top and stepping down from the handstand into a lunge.
Backward Roll: A non-aerial tumbling skill where one
rotates backward into/or through an inverted position by lifting the hips
over the head and shoulders while curving the spine to create a motion
similar to a ball “rolling” across the floor.
Backbend: A body position with an high degree of
bending with an arched back and stretched shoulders where the hands and feet
are on the floor.
Barani: A forward somersault with a half-twist. The
skill is most often done in the layout position and the twist is done with a
¼ in, ¼ out twist timing.
Block: The term "block" in gymnastics and
cheerleading is typically used to describe a rapid rebounding off of the
floor with the arms. The block comes from the shoulders exploding towards
extension.
Bounders: Any tumbling skill where two Salto's
(flips) are executed consecutively. For example: a front salto, immediate
front salto meets that bounder skill. Salto direction changes are also
allowed for the bounder skill. For example: back salto, punch front salto
also meets the bounder skill. One bounder skill is required for a tumbling
routine in a lower level high school routine.
Cartwheel: A gymnastic movement where the athlete
moves sideways (in the motion the wheel of a cart would follow) in a
straight line alternately placing the hands and feet on the ground and
finishing with the body coming up to a lunge landing position. The name
cartwheel is so named because when a athlete performs this, their arms and
legs move like the spokes of a turning wheel.
Connected Tumbling: Physical contact between to or more individuals
performing tumbling skills Simultaneously
Dive Roll: An aerial forward roll where the hands and feet are off of
the performing surface
simultaneously
Double Back: A tumbling skill with two consecutive
backwards somersaults done in the same skill movement. Double backs can be
done in any body position – tuck, pike, open, or layout. This skill is
prohibited in cheerleading.
Double Front: A forwards double flipping salto. This
skill is prohibited in cheerleading.
Double Full: A gymnastic tumbling skill consisting of
a single layout salto with two twists. Also called a Double Twist.
Double Lay/Double Layout: A double back salto
performed in the layout position. This skill is prohibited.
Double Twist: A single layout somersault with two
twists. See Double Full.
Execution: The performance of a routine. Form, style and the technique used
to complete the skills constitute the level of execution of an exercise.
Bent knees, poor toe point and an arched or loosely-held body position are
all examples of poor execution
Extension/Flexion: Extension of a joint is moving toward straightness.
Flexion is the opposite. E.g. total flexion of your knee is when your heels
are in contact with your rear. In the case of the shoulders, extension is
pushing your arm away from your torso rather as when doing a handstand and
pushing your feet as high as possible.
Flexibility: The ability to move a body joint through its full range of
motion, the range of motion through which a joint can move without feeling
pain. To have a wide range of motion in a joint. An example of the types of
flexibility required of athletes is to be able to do all three splits.
Flic-Flac: Also known as a Flip-Flop or Back Handspring. This tumbling
element is used in a majority of back tumbling passes on the floor exercise.
Flip: Tumbling element that rotates hip over head about the transverse
(horizontal) axis. Also called somersault, a salto or somie.
Flip-Flop: Also known as a Flic-Flac or Back Handspring.
Forward Roll: A non-aerial tumbling skill where one rotates forward through
an inverted position
by lifting the hips over the head and shoulders while curving the spine to
create a
motion similar to a ball “rolling” across the floor.
Front Handspring: A front tumbling skill that begins with a hurdle step and
rotates 360 degrees from feet to hands to feet again. Correct execution
includes a strong shoulder block and straight arms and legs. Front
handsprings can be stepped out or landed on two feet.
Front Limber: A non-aerial tumbling skill where one rotates forward through
an inverted position
to a non-inverted position by arching the legs and hips over the head and
down to
the performing surface landing on both feet/legs at the same time.
Front Tuck: A tumbling skill in which the tumbler generates momentum upward
to perform a
forward flip. (Also know as “punch front”.)
Front Walkover: A control skill where a athlete lunges into a split
handstand and continues to walk over and step out onto the feet. This move
requires both shoulder and back flexibility.
Full: A back somersault with one full twist in the longitudinal axis, done
in the layout position.
Handspring: A front or back tumbling skill that takes off the feet onto the
hands and back onto the feet. It is commonly a set-up for a front or back
tuck. See also Flip-Flop, Front Handspring, and Back Handspring.
Handstand: An inverted gymnastic control skill performed by supporting the
body on both hands, with the arms straight and the body vertical.
Hollow: A term referring to a athlete’s body position, where hips are turned
under, the butt is tucked in and the chest is rounded forward. This is a
very important body position in the sport of gymnastics/cheerleading and
must be memorized and strengthened. It is often subtly used in connection
with a slight arch position to initiate or control an athlete's movements.
Hurdle: This term refers to a athlete’s transition from a run to a tumbling
skill, most commonly a round-off or a front handspring. A hurdle resembles a
skip. In actual athletics competition, the hurdle is done from a full-speed
run. For training purposes, a power hurdle is often done where the hurdle is
done from a two-foot stand
Layout: In a layout a athlete is not bent at the hips nor the legs. A layout
is the term used for a rotating skill in which the athlete’s body is
essentially straight. A layout can be performed either hollow or arched.
Layout Step-Out: A tumbling skill used on beam and sometimes on floor.
During a back layout salto the legs are split and the landing is on one foot
and then the other.
Onodi: Starting from a back hand-spring position after pushing off, the
tumbler performs a
1/2 twist to the hands, ending the skill as a front handspring step out.
Pike: A athlete’s body position used in jumps and saltos with the body bent
forward at the waist with the legs kept straight.
Pointed Toes: Toe point is an important factor in athleteics. When the toes
and foot are pulled downward so that the line from the knee to the tip of
the toes is essentially straight and there is no angle in the ankle. This
emphasizes a long straight leg and body line.
Prone: Body position with the front of the body
facing the floor, body straight.
Punch: A athleteics term that refers to bouncing off of the floor as opposed
to jumping. “Punching" refers to an almost perfectly straight leg quick
plyometric movement. Punching movements allow athletes to more fully utilize
the inherent springing the floor. Jumping involves bending the legs and
pushing.
Punch Brani: A athletic movement like a punch front except add a 1/2 twist.
Can also be done in tuck, pike, and a straight position.
Punch Front: A front flip with take-off from two feet. Usually done out of
other tumbling elements Forward moving flip punching off both feet
Rebound: A gymnastics term referring to an airborne position not involving
hip-over-head
rotation created by using one’s own feet and lower body power to bounce off
the
performance surface from a tumbling skill. Also known as "Punch."
Rotation: This is the name for the circular motion around an axis of the
body. In gymnastics there are salto rotations and twisting rotations.
Round-off: A skill similar to a cartwheel, but with both feet landing at the
same time. It is almost always the beginning skill for all back tumbling
passes.
Running Tumbling: Tumbling that is performed with a running start and/or
involves a punch, cartwheel, round-off, round-off handspring, etc, used to
gain momentum as an entry to another skill. Any type of forward
momentum/movement prior to execution of the tumbling skill(s) is defined as
"running tumbling."
Salto: Another term for flip or roll. A rotation about the transverse axis.
A flip rotating about the waist.
Sequence: Two or more skills which are performed together creating a
different combination skill.
Set: A set is the initiation of most aerial skills. E.g. A set for a back
tuck is when the athlete leaves the floor stretching their arms towards the
ceiling, lifting their chest, and spotting the wall in front of them. A set
is often counterintuitive and therefore takes focus and determination to
maximize its effectiveness.
Shushunova: When a athlete jumps up in straddle position, and rotates her
body forward to become parallel to the mat or beam. She then falls to lie
face down. Also may done with ½, 1/1 or 1 ½ twists. On floor, this element
is often combined with other leaps such as Popas, Johnsons or wolf jumps. On
beam, the Shushunova usually takes place facing perpendicular to the beam.
Side Somi: A tuck in the sideways position. Can be
performed
, running, or from a cartwheel or round-off entry.
Somersault/Salto: An acrobatic movement where the body makes a complete
aerial turn (360 degrees) in the transversal axis. Can be done forward,
backward and sideward. Also called a flip or a somie.
Split: Any front or sideward body position in which the legs are extended
apart as far as possible in opposite directions with the ideal angle of the
legs being 180 degrees or more apart. Splits are designated as side splits
or straddle splits.
Standing Tumbling: A tumbling skill (series of skills) performed from a
standing position without any previous forward or backward momentum.
Step Out: On tumbling skills, this means that a athlete lands on one foot
and then the other as opposed to landing on both feet simultaneously. The
action is done is a straight line and resemble walking steps. Also called a
walk-out.
Stick: A slang term. To stick a landing is to land, and remain standing
without requiring a step. A proper stick position is with legs bent,
shoulders above hips, and arms forward. Sticking consistently takes regular
practice.
Straddle: In a straddle a athletes legs are separated with neither leg being
forward or backward of the other. A straddled pike is a straddle in which
the hips are closed or "piked" to some degree.
Tight: This term is used by coaches A LOT, but what does it really mean? A
tight body position is not simply straight, or extended, but taught. The
muscles involved in the extension are squeezed. Positions are held rigid so
that different parts of the body can move together. Any flexing in the
joints can reduce the effectiveness of certain motions. Much of a athlete’s
strength training is to enable "tightness".
Triple Full or Triple Twist: A backward flip with three twists.
T-shirt: Used as a projectile in-between rotations at each competition meet
Tuck Position: A athletes body position where the knees and hips are bent
and drawn into the chest with the hands holding the knees. This body
position is used in somersaults to rotate faster. Variation on the tuck
position includes the open tuck and cowboy tuck positions.
Tumbling: Any gymnastic or acrobatic skill executed on the performing
surface.
Tumbling Pass: This term is used to indicate a series of connected tumbling
elements.
Twist: A movement in acrobatic skills where the rotation is about the
longitudinal, or vertical, axis. This is the axis that runs from head to
toes. Twisting is usually defined in terms of which shoulder moves backwards
first. A right twist is defined as the right shoulder going backwards; the
opposite is true for a left twist. Twisting usually refers to an action that
occurs simultaneously with a somersault so the body is both twisting and
flipping.
Valdez: Initiated from sit on floor with back
walkover movement to a stand (individual element).
Walkover: where a athlete moves from a standing position through a handstand
position to a standing position while "walking" through the air with the
feet. Starting from standing on one foot, go through inverted split and one
footed bridge positions to return to stand. Can be done forward and
backward.
Whip Back: A backwards somersaulting tumbling movement similar to a back
handspring, except that the hands don't touch the floor. Whips are used as
both direct and indirect connections into other tumbling skills.
X-Out: Flip or somersault skill performed that involves spreading the arms
and legs into an “x” fashion during the rotation of the flip.
Important Note:
MP3/Video files are available to demonstrate some of the more
non-traditional cheerleading tumbling skills.
Example: side somi, onadi, arabian mounter (combinations), full twisting
lay-out step out, and gainer lay-outs.
Contact Complete Cheer &
Dance Championships to have the tumbling skill in question emailed to you.
