When catching a cradle 2 things usually go wrong. The first is the flier does not catch herself firmly and places a lot of her weight in her bases arms by not holding her pike. The other problem is the bases do not catch high and absorb the cradle into them.



Right before the cradle the flier needs to extend her arms and grab the bases as though they are not going to catch her. Then hold her pike for the cradle. This will ensure that the flier holds herself up and place her weight in the bases shoulders rather than all of the weight in their arms. The bases need to reach high for the flier with their arms, jump for the flier, slow her down, and catch her firmly as though they are the only base around.