Things to Do at Cheer Bonding

Cheer squads are based around unity and positivity, so cheer bonding activities are important. To help build team unity, set aside practice time to boost team morale. Team members who are willing to motivate one another help build unity. As a leader or a member, encourage only positive comments and actions among members. Bonding exercises can also help to ease any tensions among members and to bring the group closer together.

  1. Team Overnight

    • Host a team overnight for your squad. Invite the team to bring sleeping bags and pajamas to a squad member's or cheer instructor's house. Provide snacks and board games or movies. This activity is especially useful after new members make the squad. A sleepover gives new members the chance to experience the team dynamic outside of school, practice and cheer events.

    Teambuilding Games

    • Take a time out from practice and let the squad relax by playing a few games. Introduce games that encourage teamwork and competition. Divide the members into two or three teams, depending on how large your squad is, and ask them to come up with a new stunt and then demonstrate it for the team. You can also ask the team to build an object, in a stunt fashion, with their bodies. For example, the teams could build human furniture, such as a couch.

    Confidence Boost

    • Create a sheet of paper or poster for each member of the team. Distinguish sheets by putting the team members name at the top of the page. Pass the sheets around to all members of the team. All members should be required to say something positive about every member of the team on the sheet of paper. A similar activity is to sit the team members in a circle and do the same activity verbally.

    Communication Exercises

    • Have your team sit in a circle and select a leader or have the cheer coach be the leader. The leader is responsible for posing questions and then each member of the team is required to answer them. Use questions such as, "What made you want to try out for the squad?" or "What advice would you give new members?"