Process+Analysis+Piece

Language Arts 8S Dani Jackson How To Do A Cheer Mount Final Draft Nov. 2, 2011

In order to be safe during a cheer mount, there are many steps and rules you must follow. You have to have all five people; the flyer, the main base, the side base, the front spot, and the back spot. You also have to be able to count off and start the mount correctly without skipping steps. And lastly, you have to be able to sponge and cradle correctly. If you are a flyer in the mount, then you have to be lightweight and small, but you also have to have strength in your legs. You have to be able to tighten your body, because it will help you stay balanced. After some practice, the flyer should be able to do cheers while in the mount. Besides the flyer, the main and side bases are the most important. They are the people who hold the flyer up in the air. The job of the main base is to be the main supporter of the flyer. The flyer steps into the main base’s hands first, so at first the most weight will be on the main base. This means that the main base should have a lot of upper arm strength. The job of the side base is also to support the flyer. The flyer’s other foot goes into the side base’s hands. After this, both bases will raise the flyer’s feet until they are level with their chest. The jobs of the front and back spot are very similar. The front spot holds the flyer’s ankles and helps lift the weight off of the two bases. The back spot holds the flyer’s legs and supports their back. The most important thing to do during these mounts is focus on everyone’s safety. You also have to focus on whether you are sponging or cradling. Sponging is when the two bases bring the flyer’s feet together while in the air, then slowly bring them down to the ground. Cradling is when the two side bases pop the flyer into the air. When the flyer is in the air they tighten their body and land in the back spot and base’s arms. So, it is definitely important to make sure that everyone is doing their job right. If they aren’t, then someone could really hurt. Everybody who participates in the mount has to help each other out. It’s also good if everybody learns and practices all of the positions, so if someone is gone then they can fill in for them. Cheer mounts require team work!