Cheer Roles Explained
Who does what in a cheerleading stunt - flyer, base, back spot, front spot and stunt group, explained in plain English.
Quick answer: every cheer stunt is built by a small team of specific roles - a flyer at the top, bases below, and a back spot (and sometimes a front spot) supporting from behind and in front. Together they're a stunt group.
Cheer roles aren't fixed for life - many athletes learn more than one, and coaches assign roles based on strength, size, flexibility and experience. Explore each role below to understand what it involves and how it works with the others.
Flyer
The athlete lifted, held or thrown at the top of a stunt.
Base
Supports and lifts the flyer from below.
Main Base
Leads timing and takes primary control.
Side Base
Matches, stabilises and assists.
Back Spot
Supports the flyer from behind and directs timing.
Front Spot
Supports larger stunts from the front.
Spotter
Responsible for a safe landing - often the back spot, sometimes a separate role.
Stunt Group
The small team that builds a stunt together.
Flyer vs Base
How the two ends of a stunt compare.
Base vs Back Spot
How supporting from below differs from behind.
Main Base vs Side Base
How the two basing roles split responsibility.
Back Spot vs Front Spot
Why one is universal and the other situational.