How to Get Your Cheer Squad Pumped for the Game

Cheerleading is an internationally recognized competitive sport that can be found at virtually every college and high school in the United States and in many other countries. It's come a long way since its beginnings in the 1880s, when some male students at Princeton University started a pep club to cheer on and encourage the school's football team. Yet cheerleading is still about motivation. Just as it's important for a cheer squad to get a crowd pumped up, cheerleaders themselves need to get into what they're doing.

Things You'll Need

  • Music
  • Music player
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Lead your squad in some deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing can calm your nerves, help you focus and clear your mind. Inhaling deeply also spreads oxygen throughout your body, to all of your muscles, to help you relax, and not be tense and rigid, and perform better overall.

    • 2

      Instruct your squad to move their bodies around to get motivated and get their blood pumping. Perform stretching exercises to loosen up the body followed by some jumping jacks, lunges or running in place. Such exercises can limber up the body and give everyone an adrenaline rush.

    • 3

      Encourage each member of the squad to say something positive about the cheerleading team or about the upcoming game. Go around in a circle and say things like, "We're the best team in the state," "We're going to give our team the best support ever," or "We got this!" Thinking and saying such positive things out loud will unite your team and give everyone the confidence to perform.

    • 4

      Listen to some music that will get you in the mood to perform. Pick songs that have a fast beat, raise everyone's spirits and get them excited to perform. Use songs that your team has listened to during previous practices or that you have used in past games. Doing this can help you "get your head in the game" and get pumped up to cheer.

    • 5

      Gather everyone in the squad and form a positive circle. Positive circles are used to unite teams by bringing everyone together to say a prayer or cheer that will unite the squad. Have everyone put one of their hands in the circle as you pray or sing the school's fight song or motto.