Quick answer: a hurdler is an asymmetrical cheer jump with one leg straight and the other bent, resembling an athlete clearing a hurdle. In a front hurdler the straight leg reaches forward and the bent knee points down; in a side hurdler the straight leg goes out to the side and the bent knee points forward towards the crowd.
Front Hurdler
The straight leg lifts straight out in front of the body, toes pointed, ideally to hip height or above - like one leg of a pike jump. The other leg bends with the knee pointing down at the floor. The arms usually reach forward, often in candlesticks, with the chest staying lifted rather than collapsing over the front leg. From the front, it looks just like a hurdler going over a barrier.
Side Hurdler
The straight leg lifts out to the side, as in a toe touch, and the other leg bends with the knee pointing forward towards the crowd. The arms are often in a T. Side hurdlers are often confused with herkies, which also have one straight leg out to the side - the difference is the bent leg, which points down in a herkie but forward in a side hurdler.
A Note on Naming
When people just say "hurdler," they usually mean the front hurdler. Jump names aren't set by any governing body, though, and arm positions in particular vary between gyms - your coach's version is the one that counts.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- A low or bent straight leg, especially in the front hurdler, which needs good hamstring flexibility.
- The torso collapsing over the front leg instead of staying lifted.
- The bent knee in the wrong direction, blurring a side hurdler into a herkie or the reverse.
- Mixed sides - some athletes using the left leg and some the right.
- Mistimed landings across the team.
Where It Fits in a Routine
Hurdlers appear in jump sequences, often connected with other jumps - for example a front hurdler followed by a toe touch - to add variety and difficulty. Because the front hurdler's straight leg points at the audience, it shows flexibility clearly from the front, where judges sit.
Level Context
Jumps aren't restricted by level in USASF All Star rules. What is restricted is connecting jumps into tumbling: a jump directly into a back handspring is first allowed at Level 3.
Related Jumps
See the herkie, the pike jump, the toe touch, or the full jumps overview.