Quick answer: a diagonal is a motion in which one arm extends up and out while the other extends down and out on the opposite side, so both arms form one straight diagonal line across the body.
What Does It Look Like?
One arm takes a high V position and the other takes a low V position on the opposite side. When the angles are right, the two arms line up through the shoulders into one continuous straight line - like the diagonal stroke of a slash.
Left and Right Diagonals
Diagonals are usually named by the arm that's up: a right diagonal has the right arm high and the left arm low, and a left diagonal is the reverse. Some teams call them "high diagonal" or name them by direction instead - check how your coach calls them.
Hands and Arms
Both arms are locked straight with tight fists and straight wrists. The key detail is the angle: the high arm and low arm need to be exactly opposite each other, or the line breaks into two separate angles.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- A broken line - the high arm and low arm at different angles, so they don't line up.
- The low arm too close to the body, which is very common when athletes focus on the high arm.
- Bent elbows.
- Some athletes doing a left diagonal while others do a right - an easy mistake to make, and very visible from the front.
Where It Fits in a Routine
Diagonals add asymmetry to chants and dances, breaking up a sequence of symmetrical motions. In formations, teams often mirror diagonals - one side of the floor doing left diagonals and the other doing right - to create a V or chevron shape across the whole team.
Easily Confused With
- High V and low V - the two symmetrical shapes a diagonal combines.
- T motion - also one continuous line across the body, but level instead of tilted.
Related Motions
See the high V, low V and T motion, or browse the full motion chart.