How to Play Basketball in a Mascot Costume

There's no better way to show team spirit than dressing up in a costume depicting your team's animal or character and arriving at a home or away game. When it comes to the game of basketball, there's a chance you can pump up the crowd by shooting some hoops during timeouts or halftime. If you can play the game in gym shoes and a uniform, there's no reason why you can't play in a mascot costume!

Things You'll Need

  • Mascot costume
  • Basketball court
  • Basketball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a proper-fitting mascot costume from a costume shop in town. You can try buying one online from a site like Milanoo, but you're better off getting one in person so you can try it on and move around within the store.

    • 2

      Practice running, jumping, dribbling and shooting while you're in the mascot costume. Keep in mind that the extremities will be larger than normal, as hands and feet will be grossly exaggerated in most costumes. This might make shooting, dribbling, running and jumping more difficult, so don't avoid practicing prior to your debut.

    • 3

      Contact the athletic director at your school, or the head coach of the basketball team you're cheering. Make sure it's OK to come onto the court during clock stoppages and halftime, as you don't want your team to suffer a technical foul because a mascot isn't supposed to be on the court.

    • 4

      Run onto the court when the time is right, either after a timeout by the opposing team when it's losing momentum, or when halftime occurs with your team in the lead. It's best to try and keep the momentum on the side of your favorite team when its ahead, as crowds are tougher to enthuse when the game is in the opposition's hands.

    • 5

      Play basketball in your costume, as practiced earlier. Try jump shots, layups and even trampoline dunks if you have the proper safety equipment (i.e. padded mats and spotters).