Quick answer: a herkie is an asymmetrical cheer jump with one leg straight out to the side, like half a toe touch, and the other leg bent underneath with the knee pointing down. It's one of the oldest named jumps in cheerleading, named after Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer, who founded the National Cheerleaders Association in 1948.
What Does It Look Like?
At the peak of the jump, the straight leg lifts out to the side - ideally to hip height or above - with the knee facing up and the toes pointed, just like one leg of a toe touch. The other leg bends at the knee with the knee pointing straight down at the floor and the foot tucked behind. The arms are held in set motions chosen by the coach, typically different on each side, so the whole jump has an asymmetrical shape.
Left and Right Herkies
A herkie can be performed with either leg straight. Most athletes have a stronger side, so in a team routine the coach decides which side everyone will use, and the team drills it until every athlete matches.
Where the Name Comes From
Lawrence Herkimer was a cheerleader at Southern Methodist University in the 1940s who went on to found the National Cheerleaders Association in 1948 and run some of the first cheerleading camps. The jump that bears his nickname spread through those camps to schools across the United States - see History of Cheerleading.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- A low straight leg that doesn't reach hip height.
- The bent knee pointing forward or out instead of down - which turns the shape into a side hurdler.
- A bent "straight" leg or flexed foot.
- Leaning the torso away from the straight leg.
- Athletes jumping to different sides, or at slightly different times.
Herkie vs Side Hurdler
The two are easy to confuse. Both have one leg straight out to the side, but in a herkie the bent knee points down at the floor, while in a side hurdler the bent knee points forward towards the crowd. See What Is a Hurdler? for more.
Where It Fits in a Routine
Herkies appear in jump sequences - often connected with a toe touch or another jump - and in sideline cheers and chants, where they're a classic way to finish a cheer with a jump.
Level Context
Jumps aren't restricted by level in USASF All Star rules, but connecting a jump directly into a back handspring counts as tumbling and is first allowed at Level 3.
Related Jumps
See the toe touch, the hurdler, or the full jumps overview.