All-Star Basing Help

Practice. Have your stunt group come in early or stay after practice. You’ll get it eventually.

Probably not what you want to hear, but for me a big thing was being willing to take corrections even if they feel wrong and time. It takes time for you to figure out the best group for each skill with your group. Be willing to put the work in, and your coaches will notice and be more willing to help you out. You got this! I’ve been basing for all 10 years that I’ve been cheering and my coach isn’t afraid to point out that I used to be the worst base on the team, by far. I started coming to stunt classes and taking corrections even though I didn’t think they would work at first, and now I like to think of myself of one of the better bases on my team.

Use your legs like crazy! Ask someone to video you while stunting, a lot of the time if feels like you're squatting to the ground when in reality you're barely dipping an inch. This will give you more power and strength compared to trying to work with your arms.

Don't be afraid to squeeze the foot. Some flyers hate it, but most of them like it when they can really feel you have a good grip. Make sure to have as much of your hand under the foot as possible, only leave your fingers on the outsides and top of the foot. Really try to have your entire palm under your flyers foot and leave as little of the foot bare as possible. Also try and spread your fingers out to help with stability and grip.

Squeeze your core! This will make a world of a difference, it will give the stunt more stability, and it will also help your body. If you don't engage your core, you will "hang" on your back and everything will start hurting. Also staying hollow may help with that.

In any stunt really, but especially in extended stunts, make sure you and your base partner are chesties! Try and stand as close as possible all the way from your feet to your hands, a lot of times you can see people standing almost like a lightning, hands together, chests apart, hips together, feet apart. Staying together really helps with stability and strength, as well as not hurting your back.

These are some really "basic" and "obvious" tips, but I hope they will help some, if not maybe someone else who's new to basing can take something from it. Feel free to pm me if you need any more concrete tips with certain issues!

Most kids who struggle with basing are not actually engaging their legs/core. They're leaving it all to the arms/upper which leads to the common "I can't base it makes my back hurt." You cannot rely on just arm/shoulder/back strength to drive an entire stunt.

From a new base, also former fitness instructor and martial arts practitioner, things I have learned so far are - have a good base for yourself with your legs so you can stand steady, including as others have said, keeping your core strong (similar to when you fly, I guess? I've not flown before); grip well and be prepared to adjust; and definitely don't rely on the upper body.
Work with your basing partner and pay attention to what they are doing where you can.
And as I found out, everyone flies differently and you will have to adjust for them too

I did the same thing when I was about the same age, I was a very observant flyer so I had a pretty good idea what I was doing when I was switched, but I found that my experience as a flyer has helped me be a better base. I know what I liked as a flyer and what helped me so I do the same for my flyers now. I know what it’s like to hit the ground so I make sure my flyer doesn’t no matter what. Using your legs and engaging your core is key along with lots of practice with your group. Even doing a few extra practices with a ‘veteran group’ on the team they can help and explain things in a different way (that make sense to you)then a coach can sometimes since they are doing the same stunt