Quick answer: a tuck jump is a symmetrical cheer jump in which the athlete pulls both knees up towards the chest at the peak of the jump, holding a compact, folded shape, then extends the legs again to land. It's one of the first jumps most athletes learn.
What Does It Look Like?
At the peak of the jump, both knees are pulled up together as high as possible towards the chest, with the feet together and the toes pointed. The torso stays upright rather than hunching down to meet the knees. Arms are usually in a set motion such as a high V or touchdown, depending on the choreography.
Tuck Jump vs Tuck in Tumbling
The word "tuck" describes the same body shape - knees pulled to the chest - in different skills:
- a tuck jump is a jump with no flip;
- a tuck in tumbling is a back flip performed in that tucked shape.
So "she has her tuck" almost always refers to the tumbling skill, not the jump.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- Low knees that only reach waist height.
- Knees apart instead of together.
- Hunching over, bringing the chest down to the knees rather than the knees up to the chest.
- Flexed or separated feet.
- Landing out of time with the rest of the team.
Where It Fits in a Routine
Tuck jumps are common in routines for younger and entry-level teams, and in sideline cheers and chants. Like the spread eagle, they're often used to build jump height and timing before athletes move on to more flexible jumps such as the toe touch and pike. Advanced teams use them less often in competition, because harder jumps earn more credit.
Level Context
Jumps aren't restricted by level in USASF All Star rules, so any team can perform a tuck jump. Connecting a jump directly into a back handspring counts as tumbling and is first allowed at Level 3.
Parent Questions
Why does my child practise jumps that aren't in the routine? Simple jumps such as tuck jumps build the height, timing and landing control that every other jump depends on, so they're a staple of warm-ups and conditioning even for advanced teams.
Related Jumps
See the spread eagle, toe touch and pike jump, or the full jumps overview.