How to Perform a Three Person Stunt in Cheerleading

The Three Person is an advanced and very difficult stunt commonly seen in co-ed squads. These directions are meant to incorporate single gendered squads as well. This stunt will earn a very high score from the judges if it is completed successfully.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cheerleading advisor or coach supervision
• A good surface, preferably matted
• A strong flyer
• A back spot
• A base

1. The back spot and the base stand facing each other approximately 15 inches apart. Looking at the mat, the back spot is on the left and the base is on the right. The flyer will run into this stunt, so she stands behind them several feet away.

2. The flyer runs into the stunt as if it were a run-in liberty. The back spot maintains a main base hand grip while the base is in secondary grip.

3. The flyer supports her weight in her arms located on the shoulders of her bases. The flyer shrugs her shoulders and straightens her body. She lifts her arms up into a “high V” to pull her chest up. It is imperative the flyer maintains her body’s integrity.

4. The base creates the same motions as in a liberty elevator. She switches her hands from underneath the foot at eye level to gripping the heel and toe while driving the flyer upward. Her extended arms reach slightly forward so she can keep control of the stunt.

5. The back spot switches her grip from the claw to moving behind the main base and pulling up on the flyer’s ankles or the main base’s back wrist.

6. The dismount is the same to a regular straight pop, but the back spot will pivot and return to her secondary base position. The bases must be sure to catch her as high as possible since there is not a back spot involved in this stunt.

Tips & Warnings

• To eliminate unnecessary frustration, master the technique used in lower-level stunts. Progress slowly. This is a really difficult stunt! Reward your efforts.
• In general, good body awareness will increase your understanding of stunting and enable you to expand your level of difficulty. This is especially important for the flyer!
• No one should talk while stunting except the coach or back spotter.
• The back spotter calls everything while stunting; she is in control of the stunt.
• Every stunt should be done to counts in order that everyone has the same timing. Timing is as important to proper stunting as strength and correct form.
• Everyone should know what position they are and what their job will be during the stunt. Stunting is a team effort!