What Is a Heel Stretch in Cheerleading?

Quick answer: a heel stretch is a single-leg stunt position in which the flyer stands on one leg while holding the other leg extended straight up, typically gripping near the heel - a significantly more flexibility-demanding variation of a liberty.

What Does It Look Like?

The flyer balances on one leg, supported by the base, while the free leg is lifted straight up alongside or in front of the body and held near the heel or ankle with one or both hands. It requires substantial hip and hamstring flexibility to perform with control.

Who Is Involved?

A heel stretch is built by a stunt group - a flyer, a main base supporting the standing leg, an assisting base, and a back spot providing support from behind.

Where It Fits in a Routine

Heel stretches commonly appear as a stand-alone stunt, or as one position within a sequence of single-leg skills, often shown alongside or transitioning from a liberty or scorpion.

How the Term Is Used

"Heel stretch" describes the specific overhead, hand-held leg position; it's sometimes shortened informally in gyms.

Related Skills

The heel stretch is closely related to the scorpion - both are flexibility-based single-leg positions typically built from a liberty - but the leg is held in front rather than behind the body.

Level / Division Context

Under the USASF All Star rules (2026–27), a heel stretch follows the same height rules as other single-leg stunts: prep level from Level 2, extended from Level 3. Because it demands significant flexibility on top of single-leg balance, teams usually add it once they are confident with libertys.

What Judges Look For Conceptually

Judges are generally looking for a controlled, stable single-leg base, correct leg extension and grip, and a position held with visible control rather than momentary or shaky.