description Scorpion (Cheer) Overview
Scorpion is a cheerleading body position in which a flyer, supported above the floor, bends one leg upward behind the body and reaches back to hold the raised foot. The shape resembles a scorpion's curved tail and is performed on one leg within a stunt. It requires substantial back, hip, and shoulder flexibility as well as balance and coordinated support, and its legality depends on the rules of the competition division.
help Scorpion (Cheer) FAQ
What does a cheerleading scorpion position actually look like?
A flyer balances on one leg, bends the other leg behind the body, and reaches back to hold the raised foot, creating the curved-tail shape implied by the name. In a stunt, bases support the flyer above the floor, so it is more than a standing stretch.
How is a scorpion different from a heel stretch in cheer?
A heel stretch sends the free leg up in front or to the side, while a scorpion sends it behind the torso and overhead. Cheer rubrics list both as advanced body positions, but they test different ranges of motion.
What should a flyer learn before attempting a scorpion in an elevated stunt?
A sensible progression is controlled ground work, stable one-leg balance, and a clean heel stretch or scale before adding the behind-the-back grip. Because the flyer is elevated, practice should use trained bases and a spotter; an AAU cheer handbook describes the scorpion as an aerial one-leg skill. ([AAU cheer handbook](https://www.aausports.org/media/hwjpyicd/aau-national-football-cheer-handbook-2017.pdf))
Why does the scorpion require more than leg flexibility?
The raised leg needs hip extension and quadriceps flexibility, while the reaching arm needs shoulder flexibility and the torso needs controlled extension. The flyer must still keep the standing ankle, hips, and core stable on one leg.
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