Episode 174: Stop Telling Your Cheerleaders to “Squeeze” — Do This Instead

“Squeeze! Stay tight!”It’s one of the most common cues in cheer—but squeezing harder doesn’t necessarily create better stability.In this episode of The Cheer Athlete, we look at what may actually be happening when a stunt keeps wobbling despite everyone trying to get tighter.We’ll break down the flyer, bases, and back spot separately, because the same wobble can come from very different movement limitations.You’ll learn why reflexive stability matters, what movement patterns you can watch on the ground, and how cues involving breathing, positioning, and control may be more useful than simply telling an athlete to squeeze harder.We’ll also talk about how movement screening can help you connect what you see during a stunt with what an athlete may need to work on during warm-ups and training.Want to start screening your athletes?The Mat Ready 10 Minute Screen is designed to help coaches identify what may be missing and track their athletes over time. I’m currently looking for the first 30 founding users to help me build it out.👉 LEARN MORE HEREConnect with Laura HEREWhen in doubt, breathe out.