Spotter: A person whose primary responsibility is to prevent injuries by protecting the head, neck, back and shoulders area of a top person during the performance of a stunt, pyramid or toss. All “Spotters” must be your own team’s members and be trained in proper spotting techniques. The spotter:
- Typically stands to the side or the back of the stunt, pyramid or toss to protect the head, neck, back and shoulder area of a top person.
- must be standing on the performing surface.
- must be attentive to the stunt being performed.
- must not be involved in anything that could prevent them from spotting. Example: A required spotter holding a sign.
- must be able to touch the base of the stunt in which they are spotting but does not have to be in direct physical contact with the stunt.
- cannot stand so that their torso is under a stunt.
- may grab the wrist(s) of the base(s), other parts of the base(s) arms, the top person(s) legs/ankles, or does not have to touch the stunt at all.
- may not have both hands under the sole of the top person’s foot/feet or under the hands of the bases.
- may not be considered both a base and the required spotter at the same time. If there is only one person under a top person’s foot, regardless of hand placement, that person is considered a base. Example: In a two-leg stunt, the base of one of the legs is not allowed to also be considered the required spotter (regardless of the grip).
If the spotter’s hand is under the top person’s foot it must be their front hand. Their (the spotter’s) back hand may be placed at the back of the ankle/leg of the top person or on the back side of the back wrist of the base.
(The definition used in the video is different, but the example shown in the video remains useful.)