Get Out Of The Way

Perfecting stunts is already a challenge, but it even gets harder to ace a move in front of everybody! Unfortunately, this girl didn't anticipate who seemed to be a referee in the middle of the scene. Well, it goes without saying that the court should be empty when there's a dance routine to be showcased!

However, referees are important officials on the court. It is worth noting that they are responsible for making sure that the rules are followed and that the players are playing fairly and safely. As such, we can't blame this guy for staying inside the court.

'Below The Belt' Move

The cameraman's perfect timing resulted in this hilarious shot of two cheerleaders in the middle of a stunt. We're not exactly sure what move they were performing when this happened, but we are certain this shouldn't have transpired. Perhaps, the man was a cheerleader spotter who supports and assists other dancers during stunts, jumps, and other gymnastic moves.

Basically, they are there to ensure a cheerleader's safety when performing, but in this case, it seemed that the spotter was the one who harmed his co-dancer–unintentionally, of course! We sincerely hope none of them sustained any major injury following this accident.

How Not To Perform A Stunt

Training is always fun with friends because not only will they help each other hone their performing skills, but we can also be sure that they will always have our back. But in this photo, it seems that the woman's pals didn't support her the way she expected.

More than this, the fallen woman's foot seemed to have hit her friend's face—ouch! Well, at least the victim was wearing a rash guard, which provides a layer of protection between the skin and the mats, thereby reducing the risk of injury. If any, we hope their friendship didn't end after this painful experience.

That Wasn't A Part Of The Routine!

Wow! These cheerleaders have done a fantastic job nailing their pyramid stunt and holding the position for a few seconds. We can only imagine how impressed the crowd must have been when they saw the girls with their proud faces.

Unfortunately, one of them didn't get the memo. If we look closer at the foreground, a cheerleader didn't bend the right way and hit her face on the ground. The truth is that back bending is practiced in cheerleading, dancing, and yoga. This move is a great way to open up the chest and shoulders area and stretch the flexors.

Face-Palm Flip

According to VeryWell Fit, cheerleaders face a high risk of neck injuries due to intricate stunts, including back flips. We can only guess that this poor woman failed to calculate her movements, and one wrong move ended in this hilarious but terrifying scene.

For 35 years, cheerleading at the college level had the highest rate of catastrophic injuries for female athletes, making up 70.5% of all such cases. Other sports with a high rate of severe injuries for women include gymnastics, track, field hockey, and lacrosse. As such, we're pretty surprised that many students still wish to be successful cheerleaders.

Whoops! Almost Made It

The thing with cheerleading is that it requires precision and extreme caution to nail a stunt unscathed. This person seemed to be performing their move on the mat so well but only a quarter to go, and they suffered a mishap. Luckily, they were able to recover well following this accident.

This accident could become problematic for people who experience anxiety in front of an audience. The best way to manage the pressure of performing in front of a crowd is to practice beforehand and be prepared. Take deep breaths and remember that mistakes are expected. Finally, focus on the moment and enjoy the performance.

Cheerleading Isn't Always Glamorous

This scene reminds us of Will Ferrell's big blunder when filming "Daddy's Home" in 2015. The comedian tried to do a half-court shot during a match between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, he failed, and the ball hit a cheerleader right in her face!

Ferrell was escorted out of the court and was dramatically carried by bodyguards. This woman didn't seem to be hit in the face, but we still feel bad for her because she fell. Even her teammates didn't anticipate the ball to reach her. At least she managed to stick her hand out.

Women Down! We Repeat, Women Down

Pyramids consist of several people carrying and climbing on the bottom "layer's" hands and shoulders to create an illusion of a triangular structure. In August 2017, a team of 60 girls in New Zealand set a Guinness World Record for the largest cheer pyramid ever created.

In this case, there are only five women performing this stunt and they still failed to do it correctly. To be fair, this move entails strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance to perfect. Given the short amount of time provided to cheerleaders during their number, it would be difficult to stay put and position themselves immediately.

Fear Is Not In The Mix

Cheerleading tossing involves one or more cheerleaders being thrown into the air by a group of other performers. It is often used to add excitement and energy to a routine. Still, it is important to ensure that the person being tossed is properly supported and that everyone involved is aware of the proper safety precautions and techniques.

It goes without saying that the person to be tossed shouldn't have a fear of heights. This woman, therefore, is not the best model for a cheerleading tryout advertisement. Perhaps she was trying to prove to herself that fear is just in the mind.

Blending In The Dancers

Viewers probably didn't immediately notice the woman on the ground because of the elaborate performance by these girls. We don't know if this move was a part of the routine, but even her co-dancers failed to see her face down on the court.

One of the most striking things about them is their uniforms, which may seem unassuming but are usually a part of the routines. Speaking of which, National Football League cheerleaders often brainstorm the designs of what they will wear during performances. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have kept their uniforms the same since 2002, but they added a western-style belt.

That Must Have Hurt

Cheerleading has its roots in the United States, dating back to 1884 when the male pep club of Princeton University began rooting for their football players. However, it is believed to have originated in Great Britain in the 1860s, with Thomas Peebles and Johnny Campbell as the first cheerleaders.

While men started the trend, it took around four decades before women began participating in cheerleading. Today, this recreational activity is mainly associated with women, which is probably why we see a lot of girls on this fail list. Still, just like what this image shows, men are willing to help their literally fallen counterparts.

When Cheerleading Is The Death Of You

Despite the dangers that come with cheerleading, many people still try their luck in making it big in this biz. These women's positions weren't stable enough to hold their stunt for a while, as evidenced by the girl on the left that was on the verge of falling.

They probably didn't quit their team even when this happened because there are many cheerleaders who were discovered and got their big break in Hollywood. An example of this is Stacy Keibler, who once dated "Ocean 8" actor George Clooney, appeared in "How I Met Your Mother," and has become a WWE star.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

From this woman's face, we can tell how frustrated she was when her teammate slammed on her body, causing both of them to fall. We surmise that this was a competition, which explains her undeniable reaction. There's no room for mistakes in times like this because it would affect the scores.

According to Varsity.com, one of the biggest cheerleading competitions is the annual NCA All-Star National Championship. Held in Dallas, Texas, it features teams of varying levels, from novice to professional, from across the United States. Teams must qualify for the event by performing at regional and national competitions.

The Pose Of Defeat

We don't have any idea what this woman was doing but perhaps, she fell down after a misstep while performing a cheerleading move. By the looks of it, she was able to stand on her own, but we hope she didn't incur any injury.

At first glance, it also seemed that she was doing push-ups, which, according to the American Council on Exercise, are one of the most basic and effective exercises for building strength and endurance in the chest and upper body. They can also be used as a part of a warm-up routine before cheerleading practice or performances.

You're Part Of The Game Now

Cheerleaders probably don't imagine themselves joining the game, but this woman accidentally became the center of attention during a football game. Captured in 2011, Dallas Cowboys' Melissa Kellerman was caught off-guard when tight end Jason Witten unintentionally ran into her during a game against the Miami Dolphins.

Kellerman had been standing with her back to the field when Witten was forced out of bounds after catching a pass at the start of the fourth quarter. Fortunately, she appeared to be unharmed by the collision. However, this opens the risk and dangers of being a professional cheerleader who is always on the sideline.

A Blurry Image To Forget

We have no idea what happened when this shot was taken, but we can assume that the person didn't finish the stunt strongly, ending in this hilarious pose. If only the shot had been clearer, we could have had a better look at the severity of the fall.

This opens the conversation on the importance of adept and fast camera operators. While viewers at home probably only worry about the outcome of the game and the match itself, people behind the lens are responsible for showcasing the event's highlights in real-time. According to LBBOnline, professionals use several filming techniques during sports events, like using a six-wheel quad.

How To Erratically Hold A Cheerleader

Either this was painful for the woman being held or awkward for the man carrying her weight; nonetheless, this picture sums up the hard work and endurance these dancers have to do and have to showcase a successful stunt.

More importantly, we can see how the spotter tried so hard to sustain the woman's weight through his facial expression. Bases and spotters play a crucial role in any stunt group, as they are the ones that lift the flyers into the air. While height and strength are important factors for a good base, form is a key element for an effective base.

Mascot On The Loose

The thing with performing multiple backflips is that it is challenging for a person to see what's behind them. So we can't blame this cheerleader for accidentally hitting the mascot while she was doing a backflip, which is not only popular among cheerleaders, but is also a challenging and impressive skill to master.

Backflips have been a staple of cheerleading for many years. According to a 2014 study conducted by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators, 94 percent of cheerleading coaches reported that their athletes could perform a backflip. Nonetheless, we are sure that being a mascot is difficult, too.

Don't Give Up

There's no "I" in "Team," the famous saying goes. The same value works in cheerleading, and this picture proves that it takes a village to perform a routine successfully. After all, coordination and teamwork are essential in cheerleading.

This is a sport that relies heavily on the ability of the team to work together in harmony and to use the physical and mental skills of each member to create a unified performance. According to Varsity.com, a lack of these elements can lead to serious injuries and internal issues. As this picture shows us, everyone has a role to play.

A Friend Is Concerned

As discussed in the previous item, everyone on the team entrusts the success of their performance to one another. Because this is a team sport, forging friendships among team members is inevitable. This is probably why this woman was so concerned when her pal did a flying stunt.

There's a common misconception that a flyer's job is easier than a base. Although base positions have the strenuous duty of lifting, catching, and keeping the flyer safe, the flyer role also requires substantial physical exertion. Flyers must repeatedly rehearse how to stand securely with their leg locked. They must build strength in their legs and backs to maximize flexibility.

Practice Really Does Make Perfect

Although this must have been fun to witness, a blunder like this could result in a painful body. Still, backflipping is not an easy feat and requires a lot of practice, time, and effort to master, which is why we say this woman was still training to perfect her move.

The record for the most backflips completed in one minute by a team was achieved in January 2022 in Vienna, Austria. Tobias Kahofer, Stefan Dollinger, Lorenz Wetscher, and Quirin Somavilla managed to complete a total of 69 backflips in the time frame. This incredible feat set a new world record.

Not For The Faint-Hearted

Another proof that a flyer's job isn't a walk in the park? This picture sums up what one has to go through during training, and it is daunting to imagine what they have to go through when their spotters don't catch them.

Moreover, this image reminds us of the "Trust Fall," which effectively fosters trust, solidarity, and connection among teammates. It is a great way to show that the members can rely on one another and that each supports the other. It also encourages communication and cooperation, as each person needs to work together in order to catch the person falling.

Friendship Over

We don't want to find out what happened to this woman because if we are to guess, her friend, who had an epic reaction, gave away the outcome. We wonder who made a mistake in performing this stunt—is it the base, spotter, or flyer?

Perhaps, the one hoisted found it difficult to balance herself, or somebody didn't support her properly. According to Sportsmanist, weight and height aren't always big factors in this sport. All it takes is practice until everyone aces their roles. The worst part of this situation is that there is no soft mat to fall on to.

Wrong Landing, Painful Ending

Unlike the previous item, this woman failed but didn't have to endure the hard pavement because it seems that this happened during training. But an interesting question would be: is she a cheerleader or a gymnast? These things may sound the same, but there are key differences.

For one, gymnasts often follow the hands of ballerinas while gymnasts clench their fists after a routine. Regarding choreography, the former tend to be graceful, while the cheerers opt for high-energy and staccato numbers. One of the most famous gymnasts is Nastia Liukin, who won five medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Professionalism?

"Dedication" is the only word that comes to mind when one sees this photo. Despite bleeding, this hardworking cheerleader showed determination when she continued with the routine and even became a base for her teammate.

This reiterates the dangers of this sport. Cheerleading ranks second only to gymnastics in the proportion of injuries that cause players to miss weeks or even an entire season. Stunts such as flying, tumbling, and splits put both flyers and bases at risk for concussions and fractures. Additionally, male cheerleaders are more likely to suffer injuries due to the intensity of their catches and lifts.

Not The Pyramid Everyone Is Expecting

From this angle, this seems like these women were in the middle of a fight. In reality, these girls were practicing a pyramid routine but failed miserably, resulting in this chaotic shot. Perhaps, some of our readers may feel that this had happened because there were no ale spotters around.

However, not many of us know that cheerleading was actually first done by men. It originated during a period when the majority of schools only accepted male students. This form was typically composed of athletes from other sports, such as basketball or wrestling, who were showing support for their fellow students.

A Side Kick?

An accidental kick to the face this hard would be enough to push the other woman to lose her balance, but because the other cheerleader was holding her hand, the group seemed to have finished the routine. We wish that she was wearing soft-soled shoes so that it wouldn't end in a much more horrible situation.

According to KDVR, it is important to find the perfect pair when cheerleading. It's essential to pick the right size to ensure that one can perform to the best of your ability. Be aware that many shoes are made with a narrow fit, so for people with wide feet.

Upside Girl

There's nothing wrong with this snap—at first. But if we look closer, the woman in the middle seemed to fall behind her co-cheerleaders. While what happened remains unclear, we think the person was performing a cartwheel, and the man was supporting her.

According to WingsGym, the gymnast begins in a lunge stance with one leg in front and one behind them. They then rotate their hands sideways and use their momentum to kick their feet over their head and to the other side of their body. Upon landing, they will again be in a lunge stance with the opposite leg in front.

Seconds Before Pain Sets In

Here is another picture showing how painful this could be. The face flatly hits the ground, and we can't imagine how many wounds and cuts she got after this accident. She must have fallen from a pyramid or flying routine.

According to estimates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, around 30,000 cheerleaders are treated in emergency rooms annually. The average age of those treated is 14.5. Unfortunately, some of these young athletes never fully recover from their injuries. Since the mid-'80s, the rate of ER visits from cheerleaders has tripled due to the increased complexity and difficulty of the stunts they attempt.

Got Your Neck

How hard is it to lift a flyer? We will let these guys tell the readers the answer. They struggled so badly, which goes to show that not doing enough research could lead to problems. Obviously, they weren't successful in what they were trying to do. More so, the man being hoisted seemed to have hit his pals' necks!

According to New Scientist, British weightlifter Andy Bolton holds the record for the heaviest deadlift. He managed to lift 1,000 pounds from the floor to his thigh. In comparison, the average man will likely struggle to lift 100 pounds overhead.

When Higher Doesn't Mean Better

Again, pyramids have become a staple in performances because a successful move easily impresses the crowd. This photographer captured these women in the middle of an attempt, so we wonder if they were successful, but we sure hope they did it without any accident.

The first step is to arrange the flyers on the floor and use spotters to help if needed, so everyone can become familiar with the body positions required to "hit" the pyramid in the air. Spend time ensuring each flyer can hit their stunt on cue perfectly. If the pyramid is two-and-a-half-high, the mid-bases need to be confident in their body positions.

Life Flashes Before Her Eyes

Anybody who has ever had the opportunity to try action-packed rides or attractions like ziplining or skydiving probably has an idea of how terrifying this could be for this woman. Flyers are arguably the focal point of a performance, so they should look their best when doing stunts.

Unfortunately, this cheerleader couldn't contain her emotions very well when she was tossed. Teams are judged on their ability to display high levels of excitement and energy, as well as showmanship and genuine enthusiasm, so we are not sure if this woman's team earned deductions or additional points because of her facial expression.

Chaos Everywhere

Chaos is the only thing we can think of when we see this shot. From the looks of it, the pyramid came crumbling down, and even the bases and supporters couldn't keep their balance because of the number of flyers that went down.

According to FlorCheer, pyramids were focused on the visual appeal of the angle and design, and they weren't about the height in the 1960s. This period saw the emergence of incredibly intricate structures ideal for capturing the perfect shot. Even though the actual stunts themselves weren't particularly difficult, they required a lot of precision and accuracy to be executed properly.

Almost Got It

This base and flyer probably didn't expect they would lose their balance once she climbed to his shoulders. Many readers may feel that the smaller the flyer, the better, but this isn't always true on all occasions.

What's important is that they master the fundamentals of body control. FloCheer notes that flyers must have excellent body awareness, be able to keep up with the counts of the routine and have the self-confidence to keep going even when the stunt doesn't go as planned. It takes more than just looking cute at the top of the pyramid—and in this case, this woman wasn't probably thinking about her facials.

Not The Cameraman!

We have seen cheerleaders on the sideline getting accidentally tackled, but in this case, these girls were protected by a terrified cameraman! It would have ended badly for him but luckily. The athlete seemed to have caught the ball right before it hit the lensman!

This reminds us of NFL cameraman Don Cornelli, who got hit in the face with a ball in 2021 while doing his job. He was capturing the game between the Patriots and the Falcons when Nick Folk was able to make a field goal. To everyone's surprise, the man managed to catch it with his face. His reaction was priceless!

That's What The Foam Is For

By now, we have established how difficult it is to perfect every cheerleading move and how dangerous training can be. This is why many fitness centers add foam and mats to lessen the risk of severe injuries in case things don't go according to plan, just like what had happened to this woman.

According to AZ Central, Tatami mats are an ideal flooring choice for martial arts and cheerleading training as they are durable, affordable, and easy to store. They are usually made of high-density foam to cushion against injury from impact. They feature interlocking puzzle-like borders for better coverage.

Girls Didn't Have Her Back

Poor girl! By the looks of it, she didn't find her balance when she was hoisted, or her teammates didn't work hard to sustain the momentum. We can tell from the audience's shocked faces that she hit the floor pretty hard!

Falls like this could make or break a group's score, so many cheerleaders choose to recover. WSA Cheer notes that when a stunt fails, it is important not to let it derail the rest of the routine. Take a deep breath and focus on the next part of the routine, striving to make it as perfect as possible. Dwelling on the mistake will not help!

It Takes Two To Cheer

Here, we see another set of cheerleaders who don't understand how important it is to learn about the basics of this sport. Not only does the base in this photo struggle so hard to lift his partner, he also risked himself falling.

It is important to train bases from a young age to engage their legs and core when initiating and maintaining a stunt. Bases should start the stunt with their legs bent low enough so that the flyer can comfortably stand with one foot in their hands. Additionally, engaging the core is essential. A weak core will increase the risk of back injury.

Carry On

These girls seemed to be having trouble with their routine, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the moment. These high school cheerleaders were having the time of their lives, and pretty sure they thought about their matching ribbons with much gusto.

However, they would probably look more like the stereotypical cheerleaders with their pom-poms. As per Children's Museum, cheerleaders and spectators alike have been rocking pom poms since the '30s; it's amazing! Initially, the pom poms were made from tissue paper, which was soon replaced with more durable plastic in the '60s. That same design is still used today.

The Show Must Go On

Another dedicated cheerleader, this woman gathered all her strength to continue with the routine and hoist her teammate, even with blood dripping on her face. There's no doubt that competitiveness runs in this woman's bones!

Kidding aside, there were plenty of notable figures that were first cheerleaders. Former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, George W. Bush, and Franklin Roosevelt all cheered and boosted their team's morale at some point. On top of these, celebrities like Ciara, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Sandra Bullock, Chrissy Teigen, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, and Eva Longoria have held pom-poms prior to making it big in the entertainment industry.

It's All In The Face

We talked about facial expressions as one of the most important elements of cheerleading, but in this case, these women couldn't care less about how people saw their expressions while performing. Perhaps, they were dancing and cheering simultaneously, which is reminiscent of Hayden Panetierre-starrer "Bring It On: All Or Nothing."

In the original movie, Marley Shelton was initially offered the role of Torrance after Kirsten Dunst said she wasn't interested. However, the former ultimately declined the role when she was offered a part in "Sugar and Spice." This led to Dunst reconsidering and taking the role, which became one of her most successful movies.

What Enthusiasm Looks Like

Again, with the facial expressions, we couldn't really tell if these girls were just so happy or if they were trying to hype the crowd. The enthusiasm, however, is undeniable, perhaps they won the competition, so we have to leave it to them to do a great job.

Apart from their faces, we also got curious about their hand positions, called the V motion. Start with the legs shoulder width apart and the arms straight up with the thumbs facing forward. Then, move the arms out to the sides at about 45 degrees, so they are the same width apart as the legs.

All Out Emotions

Just like in the other photos, these women tried to bring home the bacon with their varying facial expressions. It didn't matter if they looked ridiculous to some competitors, but all they thought about was how to impress the judges and get everyone's attention.

More than this, they probably encouraged the audience to join them in cheering. Chants are typically shorter, simpler, and repeated over and over, making a point. In contrast, cheers are more complex and longer, often incorporating stunts and pyramids to excite the crowd. If these women's energy transcends through our screens, we doubt they didn't convince the masses.

Action-Packed!

This woman's uniform with the word "Action" fits her reaction when she performed this stunt! But more than this, we couldn't help but notice how toned these girls are; peep their abs in this shot.

Cheerleading is an incredibly effective cardio routine that provides a fun way to exercise and offers many health benefits. It can help improve lower back strength, as it requires a great deal of flexibility and mobility, which in turn exercises the lower back. It is excellent for working the core muscles, as it involves a lot of upper body movement, which helps to encourage good posture.

'High School Musical' Feels

Anybody who watches cheerleading competitions is familiar with this facial expression. Sometimes, coaches train their team to practice pronouncing and making the sound of vowels to mimic enthusiastic facials like this one. Moreover, their uniform reminds us of "High School Musical," especially during the cast's performance of "We're All In This Together."

Interestingly, it was Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer, the National Cheerleaders Association founder and the grandfather of cheerleading, who is credited for introducing the modern cheerleading pom pom, which he patented and is still widely used today. The NCA delves into advanced tumbling, jumps, and dance. The Universal Cheerleaders Association focuses on pyramids and stunts.