Quick answer: a high V is a motion in which both arms extend straight up and out from the shoulders, forming a V shape above the head - one of the most fundamental and frequently used motions in cheerleading.
What Does It Look Like?
Both arms are fully straight and angled up and outward, mirroring each other to form a symmetrical V. Coaches often describe the arm angle using a clock face: arms at roughly "ten o'clock and two o'clock." The arms sit very slightly in front of the body rather than behind it - a common check is that an athlete can just see their fists at the edge of their vision without turning their head.
Hands and Arms
Like most cheer motions, a high V is hit with tight fists, the thumb wrapped over the outside of the fingers, and straight wrists, so each fist looks like a continuation of the arm. Elbows are locked straight. The shoulders stay down and relaxed rather than shrugging up towards the ears.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- Bent elbows - the arms look soft rather than locked.
- Uneven arms - one arm higher or wider than the other, so the V is lopsided.
- Arms too wide or too narrow - drifting towards a T or towards a touchdown.
- Arms behind the head - which also makes the athlete arch their back.
- Mismatched angles across the team - the most visible problem from the judges' table, because a line of high Vs makes any difference obvious.
Where It Fits in a Routine
The high V is one of the most common positions in cheer. It appears in chants, dances and transitions, often as a big "hit" at the start or end of a motion sequence, and it's frequently paired with a lunge or a jump landing. Flyers also often finish a stunt with their arms in a high V.
Easily Confused With
- Touchdown - also overhead, but with the arms straight up and parallel instead of angled out.
- Low V - the same V shape pointed down instead of up.
- Diagonal - one arm in a high V position and the other in a low V position.
Parent Questions
Why does my child practise something this simple so much? Because motions are judged on how precisely the whole team matches, not on difficulty. A high V that's slightly different on every athlete looks messy from the stands, so teams drill even the basic positions until everyone hits exactly the same angle at exactly the same time.
Related Motions
See the low V, touchdown and diagonal, or browse the full motion chart.