Helena Frye
Basketball cheers and chants are an integral part of the game, with the close quarters of the basketball court providing a great opportunity for cheerleaders to interact with the team's fans and get them involved in the game. These cheers can be used to motivate the crowd, pump up the players, and fill the gym with team spirit. They can be performed during timeouts, when the team has the ball, or when they are trying to score. Cheers can be short and simple or longer with more complex choreography, and they often include claps, stomps, and arm movements. Some cheers are designed to be interactive, with the cheerleaders using megaphones to point to the crowd and get them involved. It is important for cheerleaders to know the rules and policies of the game to ensure their cheers are appropriate and do not cause any penalties for their team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of megaphone | Recommended, especially when getting the crowd involved |
| Timing | During time-outs, when the team has the ball, after scoring, during free-throw shots, when the team is making a comeback |
| Motions | Clapping, stomping, sliding, circling arms, waving flags |
| Formation | 2-2-2, split the floor |
| Volume | Loud and clear |
| Chant themes | Team name, team colours, victory, scoring, shooting, baskets, ball movement, defence, team spirit, team quality, opponents' weakness, player motivation |
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What You'll Learn
Using formations and choreography
One formation to try is the ""X" Formation, which is perfect for band chants and your fight song. Alternate cheerleaders (stars) and dancers (rectangles), including all your "spirit" groups, and fill the entire floor! You can also try a 2-2-2 formation, where you send cheerleaders into the stands to interact with the crowd, introduce themselves, and hand out flyers or shakers. This helps to develop relationships with the people in the crowd and makes them more likely to engage with your cheers.
Another technique is to use a peel-off ripple or contagion, where each person in your squad puts their own spin on the dance moves. This creates the illusion of synchronization as people move in different directions at the same time, making it hard to notice any individual mistakes.
When choreographing your routine, make sure to consider the use of the floor and think about how you can incorporate level changes to significantly change the way the audience perceives your performance. For example, you can use a "split the floor" technique, labelling one side of the arena "green/go" and the other "gold/Mason". This will help the crowd know what to yell and when!
Finally, don't forget that synchronization is difficult, so choose a formation and choreography that works for the skill level of your squad and makes them feel confident and excited to perform!
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Timeouts and when to cheer
Timeouts are an integral part of basketball, providing a strategic break in the action for teams to reassess, motivate, and adjust their tactics. They also present an opportunity for cheerleaders to engage the crowd and boost morale for their team.
Timeouts are usually called by coaches or players, and they can be used for a variety of reasons. In basketball, timeouts may be called to discuss strategy, boost team morale, or to avoid a delay-of-game violation, such as the five-second rule. They can also be used for media breaks, though this is less common.
In the NBA, each team is allowed seven timeouts of 75 seconds each during regulation play, with a limit of four timeouts in the fourth period. There are mandatory timeouts as well, usually two per period, and if neither team has called a timeout before a certain time, the official scorer will call one and charge it to the home team.
Cheerleading during timeouts:
Timeouts are a great opportunity for cheerleaders to energize the crowd and keep them engaged in the game. It's important to note that cheering during a timeout due to a player's injury is not appropriate.
- Develop a strategy: Have a plan for what cheers to do during timeouts. This could include a mix of general chants, dances, and crowd participation cheers.
- Split the floor: Use a formation that clears the middle of the floor for flags and allows cheerleaders to move with music and signs.
- Get the crowd involved: Use a megaphone to direct the crowd and encourage them to participate. This could be through simple actions like standing up, yelling specific phrases, or doing a wave.
- Know the rules: Be aware of your state's sports association's policies on how close you can be to the court and when you can cheer to avoid any penalties.
Sample cheers for timeouts:
- "Who rocks the house? The [team name] rock the house/ And when the [team name] rock the house they rock it all the way down." (Repeat 3 times)
- "V-I-C-T-O-R-Y/ That’s the [team name] battle cry!/ We’re here to play, we’re here to win./ Just watch our shots swish on in!" (Repeat 3 times)
- "Dribble, dribble, shoot, shoot,/ Get that ball in the hoop!" (Repeat 3 times)
- "We're moving towards the basket/ We're headed for a score/ We can't be beat,/ We don't know defeat/ So watch us clean the floor."
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Crowd participation
Pre-Game Strategies
Before the game, it is important to promote school spirit and get people excited. Some ideas include:
- Holding rallies with music, t-shirt giveaways, and other freebies to get people pumped up.
- Establishing an unofficial fan cheerleader who wears a distinctive outfit and leads chants to create a sense of unity in the crowd.
- Having student groups, such as the student council, promote school spirit and get involved in the cheers.
- Advertising tickets and handing out flyers in popular student areas.
- Implementing a "points" system, where those in the top percentile receive priority for tickets.
- Creating a "cult-like" following for the team, with a catchy nickname and an engaging coach or player as the focal point.
During the Game Strategies
During the game, the focus should be on leading the crowd and getting them to join in on the cheers. Here are some tips:
- Keep cheers short, loud, and simple so that the crowd can easily follow along.
- Use repetition to condition the crowd to associate certain cheers with specific game situations.
- Know what's going on in the game and choose appropriate cheers that match the moment. For example, a short offense chant when your team is losing and it's down to the last few seconds.
- Avoid complex stunts that distract from the cheer itself. Instead, opt for simple, comfortable stunts that you can perform while leading the crowd.
- Assign cheerleaders to different sections of the crowd before the game to introduce themselves and develop relationships with the people in those sections. This will make the crowd more likely to participate when asked.
- Use signs, flags, and other visual aids to grab the crowd's attention and make it easier for them to follow along.
- Be mindful of the timing of your cheers. Avoid cheering when your team needs concentration, such as during a shot.
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Sample chants and rhymes
Cheer 1:
- "We're moving towards the basket, we're headed for a score, we can't be beaten, we don't know defeat, so watch us clean the floor."
- "Stomp stomp clap clap, slide to the left and say swish (repeat 2x) Oh! Yeah! Swish it, swish it (repeat 2x) Oh! Yeah! Swish it, swish it (repeat 2x) WE WANT TWO!"
- "Na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, hey don't cry. We've got the ball, and we're gonna score yeah, hey, hey, hey don't cry. We're out to win yeah, you'll see our dust yeah, hey, hey, hey don't cry."
- "Once the team makes the shot... Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye SEE YA LATER!"
Cheer 2:
- "Take it down, take it down, take it (clap) down, down, put it up, put it up, put it (clap) up, up, shoot it in, shoot it in, shoot it (clap) in, in."
- "Take it down (stomp, stomp) put it up (stomp, stomp) shoot it in (stomp, stomp) LET'S WIN! Clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap SHOOT Clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap FOR Clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap TWO."
- "C'mon (team name)! SHOOT FOR TWO!!! We're heading for a basket, we're moving down the floor."
- "I don't know what you've been told, but the (team name) are going for gold. We don't have time to mess around, 'cause we're the best team in town. Lay up!"
Cheer 3:
- "Get low low low low, we're taking it to the limit, we're taking it to the top, we mighty fireballs, and we can't be stopped."
- "We are the best from the east to the west, and yeah, you better believe it, we got that beat that's really neat, and we're gonna knock you off your feet."
- "We will, we will rock you, stomp you, pick you up, and drop you! (repeat 3x)"
- "Listen up, Wildcats (opposing team), this is our floor, and you're gonna watch us score!"
Cheer 4:
- "Hey (team name)! Do you hear? That's our victory so near! Gather 'round, what's that sound? Swish (clap, clap, stomp, stomp, clap, clap) Swish (emphasize the 'sh' at the end of 'swish')."
- "Dribble, dribble, shoot, shoot, get that ball in the hoop! (repeat 3 times) S-H-DOUBLE O-T!"
- "V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, that's the (team name) battle cry! We're here to play, we're here to win. Just watch our shots swish on in!"
Cheer 5:
- "We got the ball (clap, clap), get outta the way (stomp once), we're on the move (clap, clap), we're here to stay (stomp once)."
- "C’mon (team name)! LET'S SCORE TODAY! (clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap) GO (TEAM NAME)!"
- "Rebound that basketball (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap), dribble that basketball (stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp), score with that basketball (clap, stomp, clap, stomp, stomp, stomp), go (team name, team colours, etc.)!"
Cheer 6:
- "Stand up, it's time to shout, come on fans, yell it out, say it loud, say it proud, let's go (team name) and stop that ball."
- "Not another basket, no (pause), you won't score, not another basket, steal that ball, take it away, you're not gonna score today!"
- "Hey (team name), take that ball, take that ball, take that ball away (clap, clap, clap), shoot and score, shoot and score, shoot and score today (clap, clap, clap), repeat 2 times."
- "2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? Blue (clap, clap, stomp, clap) and white (clap, clap, stomp, clap) (insert your school colours), blue (clap, clap, stomp, clap) and white (clap, clap, stomp, clap), 2, 4, 6, 8, who is gonna dominate?"
Cheer 7:
- "Who rocks the house? The (team name) rock the house, and when the (team name) rock the house, they rock it all the way down. (Repeat 3 times)."
- "Have a seat, we've got you beat, we know you just can't take the heat. Gooooooo (team name), timeout's here, so shout and cheer, let's kick this game into high gear!"
- "Go (team mascot), GO! Go (team mascot), GO! (Repeat 4 times)."
Cheer 8:
- "Get up, get up, let's go. (Clap) (Circle your arms) Go! Go Mavericks. Go Mavericks Go!"
- "We are dynamite! The (Winning team) gonna win tonight! We are dynamite! So light that stick and start that fight! We are dynamite! Get fired up and score alright! We are dynamite! (Winning team) gonna win tonight!"
Cheer 9:
- "We're fired up, we're sizzling, we can't be stopped, so come on mighty Wildcats, let's take it to the top!"
- "Jam Jam Fight Fight, let's do it all night. Get 'em boys, get boys. Hay!!! Let's do it again, jam jam fight fight, WOOOOO let's do it all night, get 'em boys, get 'em boys, hayyy, let's do it again, let's do it again!"
Cheer 10:
- "Hey Wildcat fans up in the stands, YELL GO BIG RED GO BIG RED. Hey Wildcat fans up in the stands, YELL GO BIG WHITE GO BIG WHITE GO BIG RED GO BIG WHITE. Let's go Wildcats."
- "Defense get tough, push 'em back, let's break this up, defense get tough! 'Cause they ain't seen enough (repeat 2x)."
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Motivating players and fans
Basketball is a fast-paced game with lots of scoring opportunities, so having a range of quick cheers and chants to motivate players and fans is essential. Leading the crowd in cheers is a great way to motivate the players and help them succeed. Cheers and chants can encourage players to perform better, giving them the motivation they need, especially when the game is not in their favour.
Cheers and chants can be used to motivate the crowd and remind them that there's always time for a comeback. They can also be used to encourage the team to keep pushing for the win. Adding motions to a cheer can further involve the fans in the cheering process and create a fun atmosphere. It's important to note that these should be positive and not insult the other team.
General Cheers
- "We don't need no music, we don't need no bands, all we need are fans jammin' in the stands."
- "We are the [team name], we've got the beat, so get down and move our feet, hey!"
- "We are the [team name], and we can't be beat, because we got the power to knock you off your feet!"
- "Hey, hey, hey, are you ready?"
- "Let's get physical, get down, get hard, get mean, let's get physical and beat that other team!"
- "5,6,7,8 - Hey, hey you! Get out of our way, because today is the day, we will blow you away!"
Defensive Cheers
- "D-D-D Defense! Move, move, move that ball!"
- "Jump up high, hit the shot, reject that basket, jump up high, no score for you, reject that basket!"
- "Hold that line, defense, it's party time, defense, push 'em back, sack that quarterback!"
- "Miss it like that defense, do it! Defense attack, fight back! Block that shot, be aggressive, get that ball, steal it away!"
Offensive Cheers
- "Take it down, take it down, take it down, put it up, put it up, shoot it in, shoot it in, let's win!"
- "Dribble, dribble, bounce pass, [team name] can run fast, dribble, dribble, chest pass, [team name] is never last, in the air, catch the ball!"
- "This is how we do it, this is how we score, c'mon score, two points more!"
- "I don't know what you've been told, but the [team name] are going for gold, we don't have time to mess around 'cause we're the best team in town, lay up!"
Individual Player Cheers
- "Stronger than steel, hotter than the sun, [player name] won't stop 'til he gets the job done!"
- "Great job [player name], super well done, come on [team name], let's score another one!"
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Frequently asked questions
Timeouts are a great time to do basketball cheers as it keeps the crowd involved in the game. However, it is important to remember to never cheer during a timeout due to a player's injury.
Some examples of basketball cheers include: "We're moving towards the basket, we're headed for a score", "We don't need a band, jamming in the stands", and "We're gonna win, not lose, not tie that score".
To make your basketball cheers more effective, consider using a megaphone and pointing to the crowd to get them involved. You can also add movements and change up the words to make them more engaging.
Sending cheerleaders to the same places in the crowd at each game helps to develop relationships with the people in that section. You can also have cheerleaders introduce themselves to the crowd and hand out flyers with the words to cheers.
You can explore fun and exciting chants, yells, and rhymes that you can add movements to. You can also submit your own cheers online or modify existing ones to make them more personalized for your team.
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