What Is a Cradle in Cheerleading?

Quick answer: a cradle is the controlled catch used to bring a flyer safely down from a stunt or toss - the flyer falls face-up into a straight-legged "V" or pike shape in the air and is caught by the bases and back spot with their arms.

What Does It Look Like?

To cradle out of a stunt, the flyer releases from their standing position and falls face-up, legs held straight and together in a "V" or pike shape rather than bent at the knee, and is caught horizontally by the bases and back spot, who absorb the landing with bent arms and knees before setting the flyer down.

Who Is Involved?

A cradle is a team effort - the same stunt group that built the stunt, typically a flyer, two bases and a back spot, works together to make the catch.

Where It Fits in a Routine

Cradles are used to end almost every stunt sequence and every toss skill, such as a basket toss. They're one of the most frequently performed skills in a routine, even though they're less visually distinct than the stunts they follow.

How the Term Is Used

"Cradle" is used both as a noun (the catch itself) and a verb ("cradle out" or "cradle down"), describing the act of bringing a flyer safely back to the ground.

Related Skills

Cradles follow almost every stunt and toss, including preps, extensions and basket tosses.

Level / Division Context

Because cradles are a safety-critical landing skill rather than a difficulty skill, they're used consistently across every level, from the earliest stunts a team learns onward.

What Judges Look For Conceptually

Judges are generally looking for a controlled, confident catch with no bobble or near-drop, and clean timing between the flyer's release and the group's catch.