What Is a Rewind in Cheerleading?

Quick answer: a rewind is a stunt entrance skill in which the flyer starts standing on the ground, is thrown into a backward flip, and lands directly into a stunt position at height - a free-flipping release move rather than a transition between two already-built positions.

What Does It Look Like?

The flyer starts on the ground, and on a toss from the bases is thrown up and back into a backward flip, tucking and rotating in the air before the bases catch and set her into a stunt, such as an extension, as she comes out of the flip.

Who Is Involved?

A rewind is performed by a stunt group - the flyer performs the flip in the air while the bases and back spot manage the toss from the ground and the catch into the stunt.

Where It Fits in a Routine

Rewinds are typically used as a highlight entrance into a stunt sequence, replacing a standard stand-up load-in with a more visually striking flipping entry.

How the Term Is Used

"Rewind" describes this specific ground-to-stunt flipping entrance; exact technique and naming can vary somewhat between gyms and regions.

Related Skills

The rewind is related to other ground-level entrance skills such as the switch-up, both of which release the flyer from the ground directly into a stunt rather than repositioning an already-built one.

Level / Division Context

Under the USASF All Star rules (2026–27), a rewind is a free-flipping release move, which is only allowed from Level 6 - and even then not in Junior Level 6 divisions. Level 6 allows one flip with no twist, and Level 7 allows more. Most teams will never perform one.

What Judges Look For Conceptually

Judges are generally looking for a controlled, well-rotated flip, a clean catch into the stunt, and a stable, confident arrival at height.