How to do a Cheerleading Jump

The prep is the beginning of the jump. It is what starts your momentum and helps you leave the ground. A sloppy prep can lead to a sloppy jump so spend time working on your prep. And although there are variations of the prep, the instructions that follow cover one of the most common preps used. Jumps can be divided into either 3 steps or 4, depending on who is instructing. For simplification, we'll use 3 steps (prep, jump and landing) in this example, but knowing that sometimes there are 4 steps (prep, lift, jump and landing) might prove helpful. Keep in mind that all jumps are done to an 8 count. On count 1, your body should be very tight, your legs should be straight, your feet together and your hands should be clasped in front of you. You will hold this position through count 2. On count 3, you should step up on your tip toes and bring your arms into a high "V" position (hands in a fist). Hold this position through count 4.