Spartan Cheerleaders

Everyone knows and loves the Spartan Cheerleaders from Saturday Night Live. While they are hilarious to watch, you can still learn a few real life lessons.

The Story Behind the Spartan Cheerleaders

In the mid-90s, the Spartan cheerleaders made their debut as a recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live. In the first skit, the viewer learns that Ariana and Craig tried out for the real cheerleading team and were cut. However, they steal uniforms and begin to simply show up and start cheering at various school functions.

However, at a football game it’s made clear that their presence is unwelcome, and consequently, Ariana and Craig begin to show up at school functions where cheerleaders are generally not present such as chess tournaments, ping pong games, bowling tournaments and swim meets. Eventually they show up in more and more obscure places like the hospital and Hickory Farms.

While it may be obvious that these two Spartan cheerleaders are not who you want to emulate as a cheerleader, there is always just a little truth in parody, and this is why it’s so funny.

Lessons from the Spartans: Getting Cut Gracefully and Cheering Appropriately

The reality is, not everyone makes the squad after cheerleading try outs. While it is not fun being the one who gets cut, there are still other positive ways to show school spirit and support your school teams. In addition, if you’re really serious about making the cheerleading squad, you can use the year off to better prepare yourself for next year’s try outs.

Showing School Spirit

While the Spartan cheerleaders made it their goal to show up at events and draw attention to themselves, you can make it your goal to show up at events to show support without drawing attention. Athletes such as swimmers, tennis players and those from other sports may still appreciate the attention of a cheerful sign or a decorated locker. Many larger schools offer a spirit club that makes sure that all of the athletes from the most popular football player to those involved in other less popular sports get the attention they deserve for representing the school well.

Cheering Appropriately

Even if you make the squad, there is such a thing as an inappropriate cheer. The Spartan cheerleaders were noted for not only showing up where they weren’t wanted, but also for offering up inappropriate and strange cheers. Definitely avoid these mistakes:

• Too much attitude: A little attitude is good when cheering. However, be careful not to cross the line between a little sassy attitude and downright insulting. Cheers that talk about how you’re team is the best are fine. Cheers that insult opposing players or the other team in general cross the line into inappropriate.

• Inappropriate gestures: The best cheer or squad can be tarnished by gestures that are just inappropriate. Undoubtedly, any school will have rules regarding what is or is not appropriate. As a cheerleader you are representing the school, and it's important to remember that whenever you are in uniform or at a school function.

• Chatting from the sidelines: The Spartan cheerleaders loved to chat from the sidelines and carry on conversations. However, cheerleaders should not chat while at a game cheering. While it’s tempting to wave high to mom and dad during down time, you are really performing during the entire game, so it’s important to focus your attention (and therefore the crowd’s attention) on the game at hand.

Spartan Cheerleaders on Display

If you’re looking for some examples of bad cheerleading, hilariously inappropriate behavior, odd cheers or great skits from the Spartan cheerleaders, make sure you check out these links:

The Perfect Cheer

The Perfect Cheer is the way that every Spartan Cheerleader skit ended. The perfect cheer was actually some type of dance routine done to an old song through a beat box that the Craig and Ariana brought with them.

Here's another hilarious version of the Perfect Cheer.

The Chess Tournament

This reenactment of the Spartan cheerleaders cheering at a chess tournament is one of the best loved and most popular Spartan skits.

• Cute Hello Cheers
• Freshman Cheers for a Pep Rally
• School Cheers
• Cheerleading Quiz

• Words for Cheerleading Cheers
• Popular Cheers for Cheerleading
• Cheerleading Chants
• Football Cheers Chants
• Cheerleading Routines

• 8th Grade Cheerleaders
• Little Cheerleaders
• Middle School Cheerleaders
• SNL Spartan Cheerleader Skits
• SNL Spartan Cheerleaders Transcripts