What Is a Switch-Up in Cheerleading?

Quick answer: a switch-up is a stunt in which the flyer starts with one foot loaded on the ground, is tossed upward from that foot, and lands on the other foot in an extended stunt position - a ground-level release skill rather than a mid-air repositioning of an already-built stunt.

What Does It Look Like?

The flyer begins standing with one foot placed in the bases' hands at ground level. On a toss, the bases release and send the flyer upward from that foot, and the flyer lands the stunt on the opposite foot, arriving at extension height having switched which foot is doing the standing.

Who Is Involved?

A switch-up is performed by a stunt group - the flyer times the switch in the air while the bases and back spot manage the toss from the ground and the catch at height.

Where It Fits in a Routine

Switch-ups are typically used as an entrance skill into a stunt sequence, adding difficulty to the load itself, in place of a standard load-in on one consistent foot.

How the Term Is Used

"Switch-up" describes this specific ground-to-height release, named for the flyer switching which foot they land on compared with which foot they started on.

Related Skills

The switch-up is related to the tic-tock in that both involve a change of standing leg, though a tic-tock happens while the flyer is already at height, while a switch-up begins from the ground as a release skill into the stunt.

Level / Division Context

Because it's a release skill performed from the ground into an extended stunt, a switch-up is generally introduced once a team has a solid foundation in standard loads and extensions, often from around Level 3 depending on governing body.

What Judges Look For Conceptually

Judges are generally looking for a controlled toss, a clean switch of feet in the air, and a stable, confident landing into the stunt.