Cheerleader Ideas

New Cheer Ideas

Even the most popular cheerleading cheers may need a break once in a while, and coming up with ideas for new cheers can keep the energy alive and spirits high. Fun, original, crowd-catching cheers can make a big difference when it comes to getting everyone involved and supporting the team. To find inspiration for cheers, try the following exercise:

Get everyone on the squad together and start a running list of great, positive words. You can use either words that directly relate to team spirit, or for a new twist, come up with unrelated words and try to find a way to relate them to the team for a new cheer. An unlikely source of inspiration? Resume power words. Power words like calculate or accomplish might not seem like great cheer phrases at first glance, but with a little creativity you can use unusual words for cheers.

For example:

What's the matter Bayside?
Can't you calculate?
There's only room for number one,
And Valley's first rate!

Or:

We've got something to accomplish
We've got something to accomplish
Hornets - if you want to lose
You're gonna get your wish!

A great way to find inspiration for cheers, pep rallies and showing school spirit is to browse cheerleader forums and read what other cheerleaders across the nation are doing. Don't forget to share your own ideas and what works for your squad, too!

Pep Rally Ideas

Pep rallies, school spirit assemblies and senior programs are all great spirit building activities, but it can be daunting to come up with unique cheerleader ideas for assemblies. Humor is often popular, as are unexpected twists to standard rally activities. Funny contests, guessing games, food throwing/eating contests and skits are all fun ideas to get everyone in school laughing and revved up for a big game. Getting teachers or staff involved in a skit or contest can really add to the appeal.

Cheerleader Fundraising Ideas

Whether it's for new uniforms and equipment, to help cover transportation costs and lodging for a competition, or some other need, cheerleaders typically need fundraising ideas to ensure that all the squad's needs are covered. Ideas to raise money for cheerleading include:

• Car washes
• Raffles
• Reverse, silent or Chinese auctions
• Brochure sales
• Candy-grams, balloon-grams or flower sales for holidays like Valentine's Day
• Bake sales
• Selling coupon or entertainment books
• Spirit/team logo item sales
• Cheer/dance clinics for elementary students
• Kids summer or cheer camp
• Baby-sitting clinic
• Team logo cookbooks
• Snack/candy sales
• Tickets for community dinners
• Rummage sales

Cheerleader Hairstyle Ideas

The classic ponytail with ribbons is always a favorite, but cheerleaders may also want to consider other hairstyle ideas. Single or double French braids woven with ribbon, low pigtails, twin braids, corn rows or micro braids with beads in school colors, twisted buns, and several mini buns are a few ideas to try. While hair does need to be secure and out of the face for cheering, there are many styles that can be secure and functional and still look fresh and fun. Other hair ideas include:

• Half braids
• Star or glitter side clips with ponytails
• Hair pieces or extensions for ponytails
• Secured mini twists
• Tight curled updos with ribbons
• Half-up ponytails
• Super high ponytails

Ideas to Show School Spirit

Showing school spirit is an important boost even when it's not game time! There are cheerleader ideas that can show spirit and support the team. Spirit weeks are especially great for getting the whole school geared up and excited about a big game, and designating game days as school spirit days is also a great idea. Posters with unique, fun spirit sayings are perfect for dressing up the school. Try three-dimensional posters for a twist, and use puns to grab attention. Decorating players' lockers with personalized posters or special items can give them a special boost of spirit. Secretly decorating the team's locker room for a home game (get the coach's permission first) can be a fun way to surprise the players and pump them up to do their best.

Other ways to show spirit include:

• Decorate cars or local businesses.
• Create inexpensive noisemakers in team colors. These can be sold for a small amount at the game and double as a fundraiser, too!
• Post the words to a new cheer during the week so students can get involved at the game.
• Offer face painting in team colors.
• Have the mascot hide somewhere between classes and surprise students.
• Assign secret cheerleader sisters to give each other encouragement and fill up your own spirit tanks!

Cheerleader Idea Resources

For more ideas, read magazines and share inspiration with other cheerleaders.

• American Cheerleader Magazine: You'll find an E-newsletter, message boards, and free articles for great cheer ideas.
• Cheerleading.com: This cheerleading uniform and supply site also has cheer ideas and fundraiser ideas.
• Inside Cheerleader Magazine: This website has advice, blogs and a list of resources for awards, uniforms and more.
• Oak Harbors Cheer: This team website has great ideas for slogans, pep rallies, school spirit decorating and spirit bags.