Cheerleading Spirit Activities

Cheerleaders are responsible for organizing and implementing spirit activities. Spirit activities include anything that increases involvement and cheering before the big game. Pep rallies, fan costumes and other creative endeavors are all spirit activities. Spirit activities are often labor intensive and require a coordinated approach to organize a large fan base.

  1. Pep Rally

    • The pep rally is a common spirit activity that gathers the student body in one place. The pep rally is held during the school day and the cheerleaders typically decorate the gymnasium before the rally. The cheerleaders will also do a dance or cheer routine before the athletes are introduced and the coaches and principals make a short speech. The pep rally also serves as an organizing platform for further activities. The game time is announced and spirit outfits and other coordinated events are implemented while the students are gathered in one place.

    Cheerleader Tunnel

    • The cheerleaders form two lines to greet the players as they leave the locker room and enter the field or arena. The cheerleaders also make and hold a paper banner and the team runs through the banner. This practice is exciting and allows the team to make a grand entrance while the opposing team watches from the sidelines.

    Letter Signs

    • Cut large pieces of cardboard to form individual letters and paint the letters in your team colors. The typical group of letters reads "Go Team" with your specific mascot substituted for team. Arrange the letters among one or two rows of dedicated fans and create a cadence for the letters in a cheer. Encourage the other fans to yell the words as the letters are raised.

    Colored Towels

    • Follow the Pittsburgh Steelers professional football example with towels colored to match your mascot. Hand the small towels to the fans for waving as they cheer. The large number of towels creates visual activity and encourage team spirit. In addition to towels, coordinate with colored shirts to display the team colors throughout the entire crowd.

    School Decorations

    • Decorate the entire school before the game to encourage team spirit and motivate the team and fans. Hang balloons in the halls and classrooms and make banners and signs for the high traffic areas around the campus. Also paint your car windows with temporary polish to carry your spirit around town throughout the week, though be careful not to block the driver's visibility.