0:00:02 > 0:00:04Three teams. They all want to win
0:00:04 > 0:00:07but only the team that can throw highest,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09flip fastest, and pull off jaw-dropping stunts
0:00:09 > 0:00:12will take home the prize.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15First place goes to...
0:00:15 > 0:00:18They'll have to be totally fearless because the journey ahead
0:00:18 > 0:00:20could make...or break them.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Forget pom-poms, this is the world of cheerleading.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Three of the UK's top cheerleading teams are battling for a major
0:00:51 > 0:00:53cheer championship title.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57They have just months to crack a tough competition routine
0:00:57 > 0:01:01of jaw-dropping stunts and hardcore gymnastics
0:01:01 > 0:01:04that they'll perform in front of thousands.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08To compete, that's what everyone is in for.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09The training that we put into it
0:01:09 > 0:01:12for a two-and-a-half minute routine is like, wow.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16- The pressure is on for all teams. - I'm really, really nervous.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Now the pressure is on.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Each team will need to hold their nerve
0:01:20 > 0:01:23and work together to bring home that trophy.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Coming up: Ascension Eagles' Amanda takes a tumble.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30You just went like this and panicked.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34A new mascot gives Rising Stars a boost.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36She's going to stay and watch us train
0:01:36 > 0:01:39and she's going to be like a little cheer puppy.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And champions Unity All Stars face their worst fears.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44The worst thing, I would say, is
0:01:44 > 0:01:48I wouldn't be able to recover in time for competition.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55The Cheerleading Championships are just three months away
0:01:55 > 0:01:58and East London's Ascension Eagles have been struggling
0:01:58 > 0:02:01to master the showpiece of their routine - the stunts.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I'm worried about this practice.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08A gruelling training session with an American coach showed up
0:02:08 > 0:02:11weaknesses in Lillie's stunt group,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14so coach Angela decides on a surprise shake-up for the team.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20You are now going to be with Georgie in her stunt group
0:02:20 > 0:02:21with Amanda and Diana.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Emily has gone to Lillie's group so you can get changed -
0:02:24 > 0:02:27your stunt group is actually here so we'll get started.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Zach, Olive, Louise, let's go!
0:02:29 > 0:02:32These are the new stunt groups.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35It takes a while to get to this, and even then there's no guarantee
0:02:35 > 0:02:38that this will be the answer or the correct groupings.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42I think everyone is going to be surprised with the change.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44We've had these stunt groups for quite a long time
0:02:44 > 0:02:48but for some reason it stopped working.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Hopefully, this will work.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51It's going to be tricky.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Guys, technique!
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Use your legs, don't drop your arms, extend. Flyers, stay tight.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01We're only on five. Here we go. Five more. One, two, three.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03It's very important that the stunt groups work
0:03:03 > 0:03:06because we could fall in competitions and it looks pretty bad
0:03:06 > 0:03:09for the flyers because it looks like it's their fault.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Three, four, five...
0:03:14 > 0:03:1712-year-old Lillie is one of the team's star flyers,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20but this season she's struggling to stay in the air.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Our stunt group is failing really badly
0:03:24 > 0:03:27because we're always falling and stuff.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31If you fall over or something, you just have to get back up.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34You fall on your face, you have to stand back up and go again.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It's just part of the sport.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41People say it's so easy but once you do it, it's really hard.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44I'm going to practice at home and at the gym as hard as I can
0:03:44 > 0:03:47cos I really don't want to let my team down
0:03:47 > 0:03:49because my team is like everything to me.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Like, that's the one thing what I do this sport for.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Determined to save her stunts,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Lillie gets her dad, Graham, to step in to base position.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01Five, six, seven, jump!
0:04:01 > 0:04:03One...three.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Oh! My ankle clicked!
0:04:05 > 0:04:08You're tipping my feet!
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Do some cleaning while you're there!
0:04:15 > 0:04:17THEY LAUGH
0:04:17 > 0:04:18Dad!
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I started cheerleading about a year ago. Now that I have come to
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Ascension Eagles my life has changed and it has become so much better.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Cheerleading does make me feel special
0:04:31 > 0:04:35because I can just be myself and show people what I can do.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It makes me feel like I'm the only person that can do it.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I know I'm not, but it makes me feel like, do you know what,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I can do this.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46It makes me feel like I could achieve the impossible.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Come on, Dad.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59OK, now you come down.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02I'm just going to go to sleep for an hour and a half or something!
0:05:04 > 0:05:06With the competition season fast approaching,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10if Lillie and the Ascension Eagles stand a chance of beating their
0:05:10 > 0:05:14rivals, they need to perfect another skill in their routine - tumbling.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Tumbling is where gymnastics meets cheerleading,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and it can mean big points in a competition.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Travelling across the floor in a combination of acrobatics,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29somersaults and flips, these moves look even more impressive
0:05:29 > 0:05:31when everyone flips together!
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Synchronised tumbling is quite important to the score sheet
0:05:35 > 0:05:38so you want to double up or have three or four people
0:05:38 > 0:05:42tumbling at the same time, and that's how you make it creative.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Personally I think tumbling is the best part of the routine
0:05:45 > 0:05:49because just the fact that you get to show your skills
0:05:49 > 0:05:51and show what you've worked towards.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55I would say that tumbling is my, like, my passion
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and plus I think it's the best thing what I'm good at.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02But tumbling doesn't come as easy to some members of the team.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Especially Amanda.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06You just went like this, and panicked.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Feet up, look to the ground, you're fine.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09I don't like tumbling.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12It's...
0:06:13 > 0:06:14I find it scary.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18I just have this fear that I'd fall,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20that I won't do something correctly,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22I would land in a bad position
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and I'll probably break my leg or something.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29You'll be here on Wednesday at six o'clock every week from now on, OK?
0:06:29 > 0:06:34Amanda is naturally talented, especially when it comes to tumbling.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37She does find it difficult to tumble, and she has a bit of a mental block
0:06:37 > 0:06:40but she is absolutely more than capable of doing them.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Tumbling needs training, and Amanda needs to train harder
0:06:44 > 0:06:46so her flips don't become flops.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47You don't come to tumble class
0:06:47 > 0:06:50so that means you've obviously got all your tumbles, and you won't
0:06:50 > 0:06:53throw your tumbles in practice and you're more than capable.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55So either you come to tumble class and you work on it,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58or you throw your tumbles in practice. All right?
0:06:58 > 0:07:03She sometimes over-rotates in her tumbling, lands on her bum, her head,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05but she hasn't really learned how to control her power yet.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10Amanda... Charlie. Anyone else who needs work on their tumbles?
0:07:10 > 0:07:14You're required to attend the tumble class.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16You guys aren't really strong stunters
0:07:16 > 0:07:19so you have to be strong tumblers, otherwise you won't get the points.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23I really want to get through my fear of tumbling.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25I want to know I can do it by myself,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I don't need no one there so I need to work on it, work on it.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34Tumbles can make or break a winning routine, but need expert training.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38That means extra classes with tumble coach, Gareth.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Amanda has turned up for tumbling today, which is a rare treat.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45And stop there. Yes, Amanda.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I was just saying what a pleasure it is to have you here today
0:07:48 > 0:07:49on a Wednesday.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50Arms up.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Amanda has a huge amount of power when she's tumbling.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Lift. That's it!
0:07:58 > 0:08:02When you have that amount of power, you need to train consistently with
0:08:02 > 0:08:05your tumbling, otherwise you don't learn how to use that power
0:08:05 > 0:08:07in a safe and effective way.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Go again. Stand-up.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15So there's a snap action, which you're not doing.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16Do it again.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Because of Amanda's lack of attendance to tumbling sessions,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21she doesn't know how to use that power
0:08:21 > 0:08:25so she actually becomes perhaps a little bit nervous of the power.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28So her head stays up, arms stay by her ears, knees come to her chest
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and then her hips lift in, will create rotation, as opposed to
0:08:31 > 0:08:35this action which is causing a whip and her to land on her face.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Isn't it? And set, head stays in.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Better effort. Good.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's going all right now. I know what I'm doing wrong.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Today I'm going to correct it.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Arms up.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50That's fine. Yep!
0:08:52 > 0:08:55How much run up do you want before a forward dive roll?!
0:08:56 > 0:09:00- Lift, kick, perfect, good. - I don't have to be scared.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I know I can do it. Bigging myself!
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Chest up.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Roll, round off, flick.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Good.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16If you don't come next Wednesday, you're joining my level one team.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- No!- Yeah, I need you to come next Wednesday to get your tumble.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21I don't want to be in that team.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23I like being in the team that I am right now.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27I don't want to leave my team to go in a lower-level team,
0:09:27 > 0:09:28that's bad.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I'm just going to keep coming to tumble classes
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and work on my tumbles in my free time.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38I will see if I can do it, just wait until the day comes.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45The competition season is drawing near,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49and all three cheerleading teams are training harder than ever.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Cheerleading is very tough. - There's nothing really like it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55It's not just something that comes easily to you,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56you have to work hard.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01- It's hard work, it tires you out. - I'm constantly doing it.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- You eat, sleep, cheer.- You're dedicated, you're committed to it.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Because you really want to win.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11In Surrey, reigning cheer champions, Unity All Stars,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13are hoping to hold onto their title.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17But it all looks a bit up in the air
0:10:17 > 0:10:20after flyer Becky fell and seriously hurt her ankle.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24When someone has an accident within the gym
0:10:24 > 0:10:27it gives them a bit of worry, like,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30to think that cheerleading is quite a dangerous sport.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32I hate to see any of the girls hurt
0:10:32 > 0:10:37because I've been in that position myself and it is a horrible feeling.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42Today, Becky's at the hospital to find out how bad the injury is.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44The worst thing they could say is, I don't know, maybe
0:10:44 > 0:10:49that I wouldn't be able to recover in time for competition.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Just cos obviously I wouldn't be able to take part and things.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Cheerleading does mean an awful lot to Becky.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58She's very sports orientated so let's just hope that
0:10:58 > 0:11:00her recovery is going to be quick.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06An MRI scan will show if her ankle is bruised or broken.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14If this is as bad as she fears,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17it could rule her out of the cheerleading competition.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24It's time to get the results.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30So you can see this little fragment of bone here,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33you've got a fracture.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- OK?- Mm-hmm. OK.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Looking at the swelling, the degree of the swelling, the bruising,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42the pain, the loss of function, they're all signs of fracture.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45So we'll put you in a below knee Scotchcast, non-weight-bearing.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49I think you're going to be at least 8-12 weeks before you return.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52It's important to get this right, OK?
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- OK.- You like your cheerleading, I can tell.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00OK. All right, let me shake your hand. Well done, keep your chin up.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03This is devastating news for Becky...
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Cheerleading will wait.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08..and could leave her championship dreams shattered.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- Thank you.- Bye then.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I honestly thought it was going to be a few weeks.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28If it does take 12 weeks, it's right around the first competition,
0:12:28 > 0:12:29and so...
0:12:31 > 0:12:34..if it is, I will probably have to miss out on that and then...
0:12:39 > 0:12:41There will be other competitions, poppet.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I'm just really frustrated about it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47But Becky won't be beaten.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51So, with her ankle in plaster, and determined to learn the routine from
0:12:51 > 0:12:56the sidelines, she's straight back to see Head Coach Tori in training.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- How are you, my love?- Good, yeah. - How is it feeling?
0:12:59 > 0:13:03- I thought you had a pink cast on? - Yeah, I do.- Why are you hiding it?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06You'll be back in no time, you'll be fine, don't worry.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09In you go, let's go and get everyone to sign your boot.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Injuries are absolutely the biggest worry for us,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15as you know, before competition, but injuries happen to everyone
0:13:15 > 0:13:16and you have to be prepared for it.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20You can't let it faze you. You always have a backup plan in mind.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It is really devastating for the team because everybody
0:13:23 > 0:13:26has their place on the team, like we all work as one
0:13:26 > 0:13:31and we all move as one so if we lose one of them people,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33then it's basically like... a heartbreak.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38I hope you get well soon, Beck.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42It's a set-back, but Team Unity won't give up,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46and they push on with the routine with Becky watching on.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Like Ascension Eagles, they're tackling their tumbles.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56Their competition dreams depend on a knock-out tumbling routine
0:13:56 > 0:13:59that Coach Dave hopes will wow the judges and set them apart
0:13:59 > 0:14:01from their competitors.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I would say Unity is very big on tumbling.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08We put a lot of focus on it, and a lot of emphasis on it.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10If you have a team that has a lot of tumbling,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14so a lot of athletes can tumble, you're already one step ahead
0:14:14 > 0:14:16of every other team in your division.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20One member of Unity All Stars working hard on his tumbles
0:14:20 > 0:14:25is 13-year-old Ajay, one of only two boys on the team.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27My name is Ajay and I live in north London.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Cheerleading has changed my life
0:14:32 > 0:14:37because before I didn't really care about anything, but now I care about
0:14:37 > 0:14:42everything, and also cheerleading has helped me discover who I really am.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I'm smaller than 99% of the people at my school.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51I feel like no-one notices me, and I feel no-one really knows I'm there.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55When I'm at cheer, I don't feel like my size limits who I can be.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I know who I am, I know who I want to be,
0:14:58 > 0:14:59and I am as big as I want to be.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I think it's a sport dominated by girls
0:15:04 > 0:15:06but it would be great if more boys did it.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Ajay lives with his four brothers and sister in London.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Us three share this room, them two share the room next door -
0:15:14 > 0:15:17we call it the baby room because they're babies.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- And I just have a room for myself. - Because she's the only girl.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23This is cheer zone.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28This is my sister Taylor's room, we call it Cheer Central.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30She started cheerleading before me.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34My mum took me to practice and then bribed me to do it.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37I was bribed with a video game and I think £10!
0:15:40 > 0:15:43But now Ajay is just as cheer-crazy as Taylor.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50This is one of my trophies that I won.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55First place for ICC Summer Jam Festival for my solo.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Taylor wins a lot more stuff than me
0:15:57 > 0:16:01so if I can come first this year, I will be able to level up with her.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- Who's the best cheerleader?- Me.- Me.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08It's actually me.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:16:10 > 0:16:14As soon as his school day is over in central London, Ajay has
0:16:14 > 0:16:15a long journey ahead of him,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19travelling out of the city to Unity's Cheer HQ in Surrey.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22I'm not sure how far Sutton is
0:16:22 > 0:16:25but I know it takes almost an hour on the train.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28It's hard to do this twice a week because you have to know
0:16:28 > 0:16:31if your train is running or if the train isn't running.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35I only do this because I really like doing cheerleading.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Unity All Stars demand perfection,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44so hitting their high standards means lots of hard work for Ajay.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It's Ajay's first season with us. He's been on other teams
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and unfortunately he's come with a lot of bad technique,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55and we're trying our hardest to take that bad technique
0:16:55 > 0:16:59and try and like squeeze it out of him. It's a difficult process.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03He's open to learning but he's quite forgetful by nature so every week
0:17:03 > 0:17:07it's like starting again with Ajay, but I know he'll pull through.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10But today Ajay's tumbles aren't up to scratch
0:17:10 > 0:17:13so coach Dave is forced to step in.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15I think you're a cool guy
0:17:15 > 0:17:18but you know you're not making enough changes in your tumbling
0:17:18 > 0:17:21in tumble class because you've been with me for a full term
0:17:21 > 0:17:23in tumble class and we haven't improved
0:17:23 > 0:17:28so we need to really concentrate and really focus, right? Yes?
0:17:29 > 0:17:33It's frustrating because sometimes you get it really, really good,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35and other times you get it really bad.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40And then it just messes around with your head a lot.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Dave has a unique plan
0:17:41 > 0:17:44to help Ajay's tumbling technique bounce back!
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Ajay heads back to the gym the following week
0:17:48 > 0:17:53to try out Dave's top tumbling training aids - elastic bands?!
0:17:55 > 0:17:58So we're going to use this elastic band, put your arms up.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01You're going to wear it like a backpack. This opens your shoulders
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and pulls your shoulder blades together.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05The reason we do this is we want all that force
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and power going through your shoulders.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10It puts your shoulders in the best position for you to tumble in.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13This leg needs to be straight.
0:18:13 > 0:18:14Lock it. Squeeze.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Looking forward. Pull this in.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Make sure, no...
0:18:18 > 0:18:20No.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Let's start to look at your round-off.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25We'll put these round and these will hopefully snap your legs together.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30It needs to be swing, jump, fast, fast, fast. Really sharp.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Do you see how sharp my body movements are?
0:18:32 > 0:18:37You need to emulate me because I'm awesome, right now you're below par.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Fast, fast, fast. Much better.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42The elastic bands are getting his legs together which is much,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44much nicer for the round-off.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46The shoulder pack that he's got on is opening his shoulders
0:18:46 > 0:18:50so we can go to this really nice active arm position, which is
0:18:50 > 0:18:52the optimum position when he goes to tumble.
0:18:52 > 0:18:53Better but push your hips up.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Arms up at the end.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Arms up at the end.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58And walk back.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01The problem is he's had maybe four or five years
0:19:01 > 0:19:04with these bad techniques and it's really hard to undo that
0:19:04 > 0:19:06in the space of a couple of months.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Squeeze. Quicker.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Too slow! You're like my grandad!
0:19:14 > 0:19:18I'm going to find a wall to bang my head against. What did you do wrong?
0:19:20 > 0:19:22I love how you point out the wall I can use!
0:19:23 > 0:19:24You get it good one time
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and then the next time you'll get it completely wrong.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Then you'll get it good, wrong, good, wrong,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and then it'll just get you really frustrated.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33So, we don't bend our arms.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36All the power goes through where?
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Shoulders, yes! We push our hips up, we get our toes over fast
0:19:40 > 0:19:42and we land in what position?
0:19:42 > 0:19:43Hallelujah! Off we go.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Much better! Much, much better.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53We've made incredible progress.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56That will be good for comp.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Over 200 miles away in Manchester,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07northern team Rising Stars have one thing on their minds -
0:20:07 > 0:20:11beating their rivals to win the championship.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16That is until team mate Emily turns up with a surprise guest!
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- She's so cute!- She's so cute!
0:20:19 > 0:20:23I brought my pug, and she's eight weeks old. I only got her yesterday.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28She's going to stay and watch us train
0:20:28 > 0:20:30and she's going to be like a little cheer puppy.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Their new mascot might be lucky but each team needs more than luck
0:20:34 > 0:20:37to win, so it's time for training with coach, Carly.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Listen up! We're going to try and piece the routine together
0:20:40 > 0:20:42as much as we can, OK?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Rising Stars' stunts are riding high
0:20:47 > 0:20:51but their tumbling skills could be their downfall.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Right, we need to go to tumbles quickly.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55To make sure they don't finish bottom,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59coach Carly needs the whole team to master landing on theirs!
0:20:59 > 0:21:01This is 'tumble suicide'!
0:21:03 > 0:21:04Good, Niamh.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07That was amazing, well done.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12A suicide is a front somersault and you land on your bum.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15They hurt a lot, that's why they're called suicides!
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Yes, Ellie! Really good.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Our weaknesses this year are going to be our tumbling.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28We don't have a very good ratio of non-tumblers to tumblers
0:21:28 > 0:21:31so, to get a good score in the tumble category, you need to
0:21:31 > 0:21:34make sure that you've got over half your team performing
0:21:34 > 0:21:38a level-appropriate tumble. At the moment we don't have that.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Good, start with that and build it up.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Not everyone in the team does tumbling, I'd say
0:21:44 > 0:21:48it's about half of them because it's only made for certain people.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Like, not everybody has got the right body to do it.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54You've got to have no fear of going backwards or forwards.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56You've got to just think, right, I've got to get on with it.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59It can be really hard to be able to learn it
0:21:59 > 0:22:04so only about half the team can tumble, like, properly.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06But Coach Carly has a secret weapon!
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Good, James.
0:22:08 > 0:22:1211-year-old James is one of the team's top tumblers.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15James is amazing at tumbling. He's the only boy in our team
0:22:15 > 0:22:20so we need as many tumblers as we can to make it really good.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Today he's being taught some advanced tumbling skills
0:22:23 > 0:22:27by top Rising Star senior cheerleader, Rory.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Today I'm teaching James to do a standing tuck, which is
0:22:30 > 0:22:32a level four skill.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I honestly don't know anyone in this country, and I've met quite a lot
0:22:35 > 0:22:38of people on these teams, of James's age, that can do a standing tuck.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I know a lot of people my age and in the senior teams,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44but as far as juniors go, it's a very complex skill.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47My favourite part is probably the tumbling.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50You've got to have loads of strength to do the tumbles.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53He actually came to Rising Stars and couldn't do any tumbling
0:22:53 > 0:22:57so we taught him the basics and he's actually moved on,
0:22:57 > 0:22:58and he's just one to watch.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01When he gets older he's going to be absolutely amazing.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03He can tumble, he can base, and he can fly,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06which are skills which most boys don't have.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10I think he's going to be massive in a couple of years on this squad,
0:23:10 > 0:23:11absolutely huge.
0:23:15 > 0:23:1815-year-old Eleanor is also an advanced tumbler,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22but best friend Aimee doesn't find it so easy.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23I'm not a very good tumbler.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30I injure myself a lot at cheerleading and outside of cheerleading
0:23:30 > 0:23:32because I'm really clumsy.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I can never keep my legs straight or my knees straight or my arms
0:23:36 > 0:23:38and I'm just a bit all over the place.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Sometimes she struggles and looks like a bird
0:23:40 > 0:23:42cos her arms and legs are, like, everywhere.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47She has had a battle learning to tumble but she's pushed so hard.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50She makes everybody laugh and she's a great person to have around.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52She's just a character, really.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Being a cheerleader makes you feel amazing,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56it's the best feeling in the world.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00This season isn't going according to plan for Aimee.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Her tumbling is becoming a big problem for the team
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and it's not all down to her technique.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I have Osgood-Schlatter disease in my knees,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11which means that my bones grow too fast for my muscles.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16It makes my knees swell up and they hurt a lot when I do exercise.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20In the morning after I've had cheer, I can't walk properly.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24My mum told me I should give up cheer for a bit until they've got better
0:24:24 > 0:24:27but I don't want to let the team down.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29It's the thing that I love doing the most.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34- Which bit are we doing?- The one that we mastered.- Yeah, we can do that.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Regardless of how much she's hurting,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38she won't let the team down at all.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41We just have to keep an eye on her
0:24:41 > 0:24:43and make sure she doesn't push herself too hard.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46The competition is now only three months away,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50and the pressure's on for Aimee and the rest of the team to perform.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54So, today, I really need lots of concentration from you all.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58We need to get this routine clean. Off you go.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59To check on their progress,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03coach Carly orders a run-through of the whole competition routine.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10But Aimee struggles to keep up.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17And in the middle of the rehearsal, her tumble goes horribly wrong...
0:25:24 > 0:25:26..and she lands badly on her knees.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33SHE SOBS
0:25:39 > 0:25:43It's a huge setback for Aimee and could affect her role on the team.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46It's really bad at the minute. Yeah, I'm just worried.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Aimee hit her knees again.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55To a normal person it probably wouldn't hurt
0:25:55 > 0:25:58but because she's got bad knees anyway, it is hurting her to
0:25:58 > 0:26:03land like that, so she can't learn because every time she's landing
0:26:03 > 0:26:06she's hurting herself so she's not learning to make the landing better.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09She's just injuring herself more.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Let's go from the jumps.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Still in pain,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Aimee battles on with the routine for the sake of her team.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23She still does get through it, she tries so hard and I have to just
0:26:23 > 0:26:26admire her so much for that. It's just amazing.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31But to prevent any further injury, Carly takes drastic action
0:26:31 > 0:26:34and cuts Aimee's tumbles from the routine.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38If it's hurting your knees, we can't do it, Aimee.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41We can't do this routine without you, stunting-wise.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45I would rather you not do your flick and concentrate on the stunts.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48When Carly took my tumbling out of the routine
0:26:48 > 0:26:52I was really, really upset. I put everything into this tumbling
0:26:52 > 0:26:55and I was just so upset because I didn't really know what to say
0:26:55 > 0:26:56or what to do.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00She's going to rest her knees and not do her round-off flick
0:27:00 > 0:27:03in the routine just yet, and we're going to build that skill back up
0:27:03 > 0:27:06from a basic level to start with. Fingers crossed.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Next time:
0:27:14 > 0:27:18The pressure gets too much for Unity's team captain, Lillie.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23A key Ascension Eagle gets grounded.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25I don't know what to say, Shola.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29And two Rising Stars compete for the top spot.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It's like a challenge between Emily and Sophie.