Leading the Crowd

Do you ever feel like the crowd at the game would rather yell at you than yell with you? Sadly, many fans think pom-poms, mega phones and cheerleaders flying through the air are distractions from the game. After all, fans are there to watch the game, not the cheerleaders, but there are ways to get fans to appreciate you and understand what you’re at there for: leading the crowd.
Getting fans to yell with you may be one of the biggest challenges as a cheerleader, but it’s also your main purpose as a cheerleader. It’s the reason you put on that uniform every Friday night. It’s time to let students, teachers, and athletic teams know that you’re not just at the game to look pretty on the sidelines, but you want to be there to make a difference in school spirit. Here are some tips to help you and your squad get fans on their feet!

Get Fans Ready before the Game
Everyone loves music! If there’s an upbeat song on the radio, it’s almost impossible to ignore it! Playing music at a game can work the same way. People are already excited about watching their team play, and if you add a few spirit lifting tunes, they’ll be out of their seats.

Make a CD full of upbeat, popular songs, and ask someone in charge if you can play it over the speaker system before the game. If your school has a marching band, make up a few short dance moves and words to yell in some of the songs. Get the band to play those songs before the game starts, grab a few people in the stands, and teach them the moves!

Know When to Cheer and What to Yell
When your squad has talent, you want to show it off, but games are not always the place to do it. You may be on a squad that’s full of elite stunts and pyramids that you’re just dying to show the crowd, but you have to remember that you want fans yelling for the team, not your squad.