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🤸 Versatility in cheerleading athletes (S4.4)
Episode of September 22, 2026
Being a flyer, a base, or a back... it's not an identity. You are first and foremost a cheerleading athlete.
In this episode of the Kick's Cheer Podcast, Janie, Nadia and Keaven discuss a particularly important topic at the start of the season: versatility among cheerleading athletes .
Why learn to base on both sides? Why should aerobatics involve working on different positions? And above all, why can stepping outside your comfort zone open far more doors than you might think?
🔄 Versatility in cheerleading athletes: much more than a position
"Me, I'm an flyer."
"I only base on the right."
"I'm not capable of doing that on the other side."
These phrases can quickly become barriers.
A versatile athlete learns to adapt: switching sides in a stunt, trying another position, developing different techniques or working on a new skill when their team needs it.
The more tools an athlete has, the more possibilities their coach and choreographer have to build a fluid and effective routine.
🚪 Stepping outside your comfort zone opens doors
Versatility doesn't mean an athlete has to excel at everything immediately. It mostly starts with an openness to try.
A practice where someone is missing can become the perfect opportunity to base on the other side. A new pyramid may require a different technique. A change of club may also force an athlete to learn a new way of working.
Instead of thinking "I don't do it that way", why not try?
These small moments allow you to develop new skills that can become real assets later in the season… or in an entire career.
✨ There are many ways to shine
The spotlight doesn't belong solely to flyers.
Cheerleading requires an impressive combination of skills: stunting, tumbling, jumping, dancing, motions, stage presence, and showmanship.
An athlete who develops several of these aspects increases their chances of contributing to their team and having their own moments to shine within a routine.
The question then becomes less "What is my position?" and more "What can I bring to my team?"
👨👩👧 Parents: Trust the process
Versatility also depends on the parents.
Not all athletes progress at the same rate, and their physical abilities change dramatically, especially when they are young. Therefore, a position held today will not necessarily be the same one held in a few years.
One of the most important questions to ask is quite simple: is my child having fun?
If he is at an appropriate level, loves his sport and continues to progress, even if more slowly than others, this progress deserves to be encouraged.
💙 Being an athlete before being a position
Being versatile requires keeping an open mind, accepting that you may sometimes be uncomfortable, and trusting the coaches.
One thing remains: your position in a routine does not define the athlete you are.
Develop your skills. Try new things. Take advantage of opportunities that come your way.
Because in cheerleading, the more versatile you are, the more possibilities you give yourself.
🎧 Listen to episode S4.4 of the Kick's Cheer Podcast: Versatility in athletes .
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