Kick Full in Cheerleading: Tosses With Tricks, Rules and Catchers
Kick full in cheerleading: a toss with a kick and a full twist. Which level allows it, how tricks are counted, catchers, accident data and coach duties.
Sport: Cheerleading · Level: Pro
Introduction
A kick full is a toss in which the flyer shows a kick in the air and then turns a full twist (360 degrees) before being caught in the cradle. That is how the rulebook describes the kick full: a skill, typically in a toss, that contains a kick and a 360-degree twisting rotation [3]. It is the combination of two "tricks" and is therefore not allowed from the start.
The honest answer to "From when may my team throw this?": at ICU level Median and CCVD level 3, a toss with one trick is allowed, but explicitly no kick full: during a twisting toss no skill other than the twist is allowed there [1][2]. Only at level Advanced or CCVD level 4 are up to two tricks allowed; the rulebook names the kick full as an example [1][2]. A kick double (two twists with a kick) is prohibited there too: with more than one and a half rotations no skill other than the twist is allowed, and at level Advanced more than 2¼ rotations are not allowed [1][2].
Why so strict? Because the toss is the area with the highest risk. In an analysis of catastrophic cheerleading injuries from 2002 to 2017 (54 cases), the basket toss was the most frequent element, 19 cases, or 35 % [5]. This guide explains rules, counting, prerequisites and safety data; no throwing technique. Build-up and protection belong exclusively to a qualified coach. How long the way takes cannot be promised in weeks.
What you need
A safe basket toss in straight ride: calm, repeatable, with a consistent catching position (see the basket toss guide).
A qualified coach: new or not yet secure elements may neither be practised without adequate protection nor shown [4]. Cheerleaders with coaches of the highest qualification level had about 50 % lower injury risk [10].
The right catching team: the rulebook requires: up to four tossing bases, one of them behind the flyer; all bases stand with their feet on the surface; the catch is made in the cradle by at least three original bases, one of them at the flyer's head and shoulder; the bases stay stationary, only a half turn by the bases as in a kick full basket is allowed [1][2].
The flyer's foot position: both feet must be in or on the bases' hands at the start [1].
The right surface:spring floor or thick mats. Concrete and vinyl on concrete had a critical height of about 0.15 m in a measurement, a spring floor more than 3.35 m; 10 cm thick landing mats on foam floors above 3.20 m [8]. Since 2006/07 basket tosses on hard floors are prohibited, and the rate of catastrophic basket toss injuries fell from 1.55 to 0.40 per million cheerleaders [5].
Strong bases: trunk strength and stability before explosive power; in a study on toss height the authors recommended building the bases' training in that order [7].
A level that allows the kick full: check beforehand whether your category permits it [1][2].
Step by step
1. Basket toss in straight ride
The team masters the toss without a trick: only the straight flight path, clean catcher positions, no travelling. Milestone: ten straight-ride tosses with the coach's release (practice value).
2. One trick, no twist
At level Median one trick in a toss is allowed; examples in the rulebook: toe touch, ball out, pretty girl [1][2]. Your coach decides which trick comes first. Milestone: the coach confirms that catchers and flyer master the trick cleanly.
3. The full twist alone
At level Median a twisting toss up to one rotation is allowed, but without any other skill [1][2]. The flyer practises the orientation for the twist separately (see the full guide). Milestone: the coach confirms that the twist alone is caught safely.
4. Connect kick and full
Only at level Advanced or CCVD level 4 are two tricks allowed, i.e. kick and full [1][2]. Build-up, catcher position and assistance are decided by your coach. Milestone: release by the coach, not by you.
5. Know the counting rules
Twists are counted cumulatively: up to 1¼ rotations count as one skill, over 1¼ up to 2¼ as two skills [3]. A "kick full" thus consists of a kick and a twist. Milestone: your choreography keeps the trick limits of your level.
6. Video and review
Watch every throw afterwards: catcher position, landing in the cradle, head protection. Milestone: the coach releases the kick full for the routine.
Common mistakes
Kick full at level Median. Prohibited [1][2]. Fix: only level Advanced or CCVD level 4.
Kick double. With more than 1½ rotations no other skill is allowed [1][2]. Fix: check the rulebook of the category.
Toss on a hard surface. Prohibited and the most dangerous variant [5]. Fix: only spring floor or thick mats.
Too few or wrongly positioned catchers. At least three original bases, one at head and shoulder [1]. Fix: settle positions before the throw.
Travelling bases. Tosses may not intentionally travel; only the bases' half turn is allowed [1][2]. Fix: bases stay stationary.
A new toss without the coach's qualification.Fix: ask about the coach's training.
Safety notes
This guide explains and motivates but does not replace supervised training. Kick fulls belong in training only with a coach, four trained catchers and a mat.
Catastrophic injuries: In the 2002 to 2017 analysis (54 cases) most involved the head (52 %) and cervical spine (32 %), and the basket toss was the most frequent element with 35 % of cases [5]. In an older analysis (1982 to 2002) basket tosses were at the centre of 8 of 29 cases; the authors recommend limiting basket tosses and pyramids to experienced cheerleaders who have mastered all other elements, and performing them only with spotters and landing mats [6].
Rules work: After basket tosses on hard floors were banned in 2006/07, the rate of catastrophic basket toss injuries fell to nearly a quarter [5]. After the "double down" (720-degree twist in the dismount) was prohibited for high school teams and below, head injuries and collisions fell [9].
Whoever catches carries responsibility: The catcher at head and shoulder protects the most vulnerable part. The rulebook explicitly requires this person [1].
After head contact: Stop training and have it checked by a doctor.
Pro tip
Train the catchers, not only the flyer. Trunk stability first, then explosive power: that is the order a study on toss height recommends for the bases [7]. Write down the catcher roles for every toss and have every person name their task. That is coaching experience, not a study, but it saves failed attempts.
FAQ
What is a kick full in cheerleading?
A toss in which the flyer shows a kick in the air and turns a full twist before being caught in the cradle [3]. It is the combination of two tricks and only allowed at level Advanced or CCVD level 4 [1][2].
From which level is the kick full allowed?
At ICU level Advanced and CCVD level 4, where up to two tricks are allowed in a toss; the rulebook names the kick full as an example [1][2]. At level Median only one trick is allowed, and during a twisting toss no other skill is allowed there [1][2].
How are tricks counted in a toss?
The rulebook counts twists cumulatively: up to 1¼ rotations count as one skill, over 1¼ up to 2¼ as two [3]. A kick full consists of a kick and a full, i.e. two tricks. Kick doubles are prohibited because with more than 1½ rotations no other skill is allowed [1][2].
How many catchers do I need?
At least three original bases catch the flyer in the cradle, one of them at head and shoulder; up to four bases may throw, one of them behind the flyer [1][2]. The bases stand with their feet on the surface and stay stationary; only a half turn by the bases is allowed [1][2].
Key Takeaways
A kick full is a toss with a kick and a full twist; it needs two tricks and is only allowed at ICU level Advanced and CCVD level 4, prohibited at level Median [1][2][3].
The catch is made in the cradle by at least three original bases, one at head and shoulder; bases stand with their feet on the surface and stay stationary, only a half turn is allowed; at level Advanced at most 2¼ rotations, no kick double [1][2].
The basket toss was the most frequent element of catastrophic injuries with 35 % of cases (2002–2017); after the ban on hard surfaces the rate fell from 1.55 to 0.40 per million cheerleaders [5].