Halftime Basketball Contest Ideas

The basketball halftime show isn't important only for the fans' entertainment when the players are taking a break; it also gets them energized for when the home team players return. Home-court advantage is a major component in any sport; one of those reasons is that the home team has the fans on its side.

  1. Half-Court Throw

    • Whether your prize budget is $1 million or a coupon for a free car wash, a contest to see whether a crowd member can score from half court can get the audience cheering. During halftime at your basketball game, you can have one or more people attempt to get the basketball in the hoop by shooting it from half court. This is extremely hard, so the prize pool should be relatively large, though people will find it entertaining even if a large prize isn't available.

    Mascot Dunk

    • Many people find mascots annoying, so to see them fail miserably at an attempt to make a slam dunk is entertaining. Others enjoy watching the mascot if he is able to make the hoop. Due to the height of baskets, a spring board is usually placed several feet in front of the basket. Only an incredibly well-trained mascot is able to pull off this dangerous trick, and he usually has padding below the hoop as protection.

    Cheerleaders

    • Basketball cheerleaders often entertain the crowd at any time when play stops. During the extended break in play at halftime, however, cheerleaders sometimes put on a well-rehearsed show. The show often features basket tosses, high kicks and pompoms. The routine is often a hit with the crowd. The cheerleaders' job is to get the fans into the game by performing daring routines and sometimes chanting the name of the basketball team they represent.

    Around the World

    • In this competition, two or more crowd members attempt to throw three pointers from five locations around the three-point line. The first person to get to the other end and back wins. You can make the prize as large or small as you want, but this event can take some time, so be prepared to call out the winner as the person in the lead when it's time for the players to come back onto the court.