What Is a Half-Up in Cheerleading?

Quick answer: a half-up is a stunt position in which the flyer is held lower than a prep, roughly between waist and chest height, often used as a foundational or beginner stunt and as a step within a longer stunt sequence.

What Does It Look Like?

In a half-up, the bases hold the flyer at a lower height than a prep, with less arm extension. The flyer typically stands on both feet, balanced and controlled, close enough to the ground that a dismount is short and simple.

Who Is Involved?

A half-up is built by a stunt group - a flyer, two bases and often a back spot, depending on the team's level and the stunt's context.

Where It Fits in a Routine

Half-ups commonly appear as an early stunt for less experienced teams, and as a transitional position within longer stunt sequences at any level - for example, briefly passing through a half-up on the way up to a higher position.

How the Term Is Used

"Half-up" describes the height category itself, distinguishing it from a full prep or extension.

Related Skills

The half-up sits below the prep in the general height progression, and is often the first two-leg stunt position newer athletes learn before progressing to a prep.

Level / Division Context

Half-ups are typically among the first stunts introduced at Level 1, and remain a useful lower-risk building block even as teams progress to higher levels.

What Judges Look For Conceptually

Judges are generally looking for the same fundamentals as any stunt - a controlled load-in, a stable and level position, and a clean, controlled dismount.