Quick answer: a clasp is a motion in which the hands come together and clasp in front of the body, usually at chest height with the elbows bent. It's typically produced with a sharp clap and used as a ready or transition position.
What Does It Look Like?
Both hands meet in the centre of the body, roughly at chest height, and clasp together. The elbows are bent and held slightly out from the sides. From the front, the arms form a compact diamond shape with the hands at the centre.
Hands and Arms
The hands are usually brought together with a sharp clap and then held clasped - the clap gives the motion a sound as well as a look, which is why it's so common in chants. The clasped hands stay at a consistent height in the centre of the chest, and the elbows stay level.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- Hands drifting up to the face or down to the stomach.
- Hands off-centre, pulled to one side.
- Elbows at different heights, or pinned so tightly to the body that the shape disappears.
- Claps out of time - in a chant, a mistimed clap can be heard as well as seen.
Where It Fits in a Routine
The clasp is one of the most common positions in chants: teams often clap and clasp between words, using it as a ready position to return to before each new motion. It's also used as a starting position before a dance or chant begins and as a neutral transition between motions.
Easily Confused With
- Clean - another neutral position, but with the arms straight down at the sides.
- Daggers - bent arms in front of the body, but with the fists apart and up by the shoulders.
A Note on Naming
Some teams call this position a "clap" instead. Motion names aren't set by any governing body, so follow your coach's terminology.
Related Motions
See the clean, daggers and touchdown, or browse the full motion chart.