Words for Basketball Cheers

Coming up with original and exciting words for basketball cheers can seem a little scary. There are so many great cheers out there on the web, at cheer camp and even portrayed in movies. At first, it may seem as though there's little new that can be created.

The good news is that everyone who ever sat down to write new cheers has felt the same way. From cheerleaders to coaches to writers for LoveToKnow, the first steps in coming up with those words for basketball cheers feels like an insurmountable task. And yet, new cheers are created every day. Maybe it's not as difficult as it seems.

Words for Basketball Cheers Step by Step

If you are already a good writer, an aspiring poet or a creative writing whiz, you don't need to read the rest of this article. Go and read something about the history of cheerleading, or moves for floor cheers, or something more useful.

If, on the other hand, you feel that hollow-gut feeling when your coach says "you need to come up with new material by the next game, the following techniques might help you get through that process.

Step One: Use Synonyms

Using synonyms is a way of replacing words in established cheers with words that mean the same thing.

For example, when you find a cheer on a website, take a look at the nouns and verbs used. The easiest substitution is a team name – if the online cheer is for the Wildcats, and your team is the Bulldogs, there's a substitution right there. Instead of "team" you could use the word "boys" or "girls." In stead of "Score!" you could use "Win!" Instead of "Go!" you could say "Fight!"

Here are a few guidelines to watch when using synonyms to convert cheers to your own style:

• Try to make sure the words have the same number of syllables. Most cheers have a set rhythm, and changing that will make the cheer less effective for the people in the stands.
• The words still need to make sense. After replacing a word, say the entire cheer out loud and make sure it still has a good message. Otherwise, you might end up with something like "Fight that Win!" when you were replacing "Score that Point!"
• Be aware of rhyme schemes. Some cheers rely on rhyming, and substituting words may make them less useful if they don't rhyme as well.
• Don't use a thesaurus to come up with synonyms. If a word doesn't come to mind easily for your squad, it's not going to make sense to the fans.
• You can also substitute motions and percussive sounds. If a cheer calls for a clap, use a stomp. If it calls for a "Woohoo!" yell out "Oh, yeah!" instead.

Step Two: Rearrange

There's no reason why a cheer needs to say "Let's go Tigers!" before they say "Score that Point!" Many cheers are easily rearranged without losing any of their power. Even call and response cheers can be easily rearranged:

Whose got the spirit?

We got the spirit!

All of the spirit

Warriors, Fight!

works just as well this way:

All of the spirit

Whose got the spirit?

Warriors, Fight!

We got the spirit!

When you're coming up with new words for cheers, try a few different variations to see which one feels right. You'll know the rhythm when you find it, especially if you say the cheers out loud.

Step Three: Add Sound Effects

Cheers don't even have to use words. In fact, fans are more likely to clap, stomp, or yell "Woot! Woot!" and pump their fists in the air than they are to yell "Go, Spartans!"

You can take advantage of this when making new cheers. Add in long hisses, use monosyllables like "Ho!" and "Yeah!" or establish a stomping and clapping rhythm like the classic Queen song We are the Champions. Words for cheers are nothing more than expressions of positive support for your team, and if hoots and hollers will do that as well as verbs or a nouns, by all means, use them.

These three simple steps can help you begin coming up with your own words for basketball cheers. Once you've gotten a few under your belt, you'll probably find they aren't necessary – the words will just come to you fitting your team, your squad, and your game perfectly. Like any other performing art, the best work comes when you're just being yourself.

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