How to Use Props in Cheerleading

Using props during your cheerleading routine adds a whole new dimension and depth to your routine. Props such as banners, flags, signs, megaphones and pompons are great ways to get your crowd in sync and encourage their participation. And props are essential to success in any cheerleading competition that requires an audience participation section during the routine.

Instructions

    • 1

      Decide what props to use and which cheers they can most appropriately accompany. Your options include pompons, megaphones, signs, banners and flags. Using pompons and one other prop is sufficient; too many props can confuse or overwhelm the audience.

    • 2

      Make signs on poster board using bright markers. The signs should include only words, with no pictures or drawings, and should fill the board. Use the signs for cheers that ask the audience to shout different sayings like, "Go, Fight, Win." Place one word on each board and use them to split the crowd into sections.

    • 3

      Use banners during stunt routines. Print words like "Go Lynx" or "Lynx Pride" on your banner or simply leave the banner plain as a flag, but make sure all the schools colors are on it. Attach your banner(s) to a pole and assign a couple of people to run from one side to the other at a specified time.

    • 4

      Get the person with the most breath support to yell into the megaphone for cheers you really want audience participation on. The person you choose doesn't need to say the whole cheer, if it's long. Have her say only the words you want to emphasize for the crowd to repeat.