| Spirit Ideas |
| Spirit~ 1. An attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervadesthought. 2. To encourage: urge on or stir up, as to action 3. Enthusiasm, energy, zeal, ardor, fire, enterprise. Websters Dictionary Every school, at one time or another, has difficulty getting involved and cheering for their teams. This can happen for two reasons. 1) The cheer squad has no spirit or the crowd has no spirit. Reason no. 2 is the most detrimental and can effect the atmosphere of the game very drastically. This section will help teach cheerleaders how to get their crowds pumped up and excited for the game. Remember, as a cheerleader, our soul task is to lead the crowd in cheering for their school school, hence the name cheerleader. Here are some simple pointers to remember when developing good, quality school spirit. |
| 1. Crowed oriented material~ Use cheers and chants that the crowd can repeat with you. Such as " East side, get ready to yell, go big blue, come on, GO BIG BLUE!" This lets them know what to yell. 2. Signs & Props~ Holding up signs that correspond with the words you want them to yell, helps the crowd know when to yell. You can use anything from traditional signs and megaphones, to boxes with your school letters written on the side or spring loaded floor signs. These are visual stimuli that will increase the likly hood of a response. 3. Eye Contact~ Making eye contact with the crowd is imprtant. If you look a person in their eyes, then they know that you are talking to them and will respond. Facing the team and cheering does not allow the crowd to know that it is their time to yell. 4. Game awareness~ Be sure that even though you are facing the crowd and making eye contact with them, that you do not lose awareness of the game behind you. Know what is going on at all times. Is it offense? Defense? a time out? These are things you need to know so that you can react with the appropriate cheer and chant. 5. Variety & Creativity~ Nobody wants to see the same cheer performed at every game. Constantly make up new cheers and chants and rotate them into your game schedule. Also, use different stunts, jumps, tumbling, formations, levels, and ripples for older cheers and chants. Sometimes just changing the look of a cheer will add a new dimension to everything. 6. Mascot~ A mascot is very important. They can do things that cheerleaders can not do. The most influential thing they do is bring humor to a game setting. People are more relaxed and responsive when they have been laughing and enjoying themselves. 7. Professionalism~ This is a huge key. If the crowd respects you as a team, then they will be more likely to respond to you. Here are some keys to professionalism: Be on time, warm up together, have your makeup and hair done BEFORE you come to the game, don't talk to your friends in the stands, DO NOT che gum or goof off during the game and NEVEr perform anything you have not practiced or perfected. These are just a few thing you can do to be more professional. 8. Heart~ This addresses problem no. 1 at the very top of the page. Your crowd will not have any spirit if you do not have any spirit. The crowd lays off of your enthusiasm, so be excited, have fun. You wouldn't be a cheerleader if you didnt enjoy it, right? So show the crowd what real spirit is like. Be loud, smile, show your excitement ~ THIS MEANS EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T! If you only remember one thing, remember tis, leading by example is the best form of leadership. |
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