Leading the Crowd

(composite of articles from the web)

Remember the primary focus of cheerleading is “leading the crowd in cheers and promoting school spirit”. That statement sounds simple, but in reality, many components are needed to fulfill that requirement.

Understand the Sport for Which They Will Be Cheering

Teach the dynamics of the particular sport. At the end of the lesson, give your cheerleaders a test to reinforce what they've learned. Have them study a sheet of referee signals. Make sure they understand the scoreboard. Teach them to "read" the game, selecting appropriate chants for the situation. Show a video of an actual football game and ask the squad members to call out chants as it plays. Make it a contest. The challenge will be fun!

Cheerleader should CHEER as loud as possible:

When the players are being introduced. Cheer for both teams. Clapping during introductions for the other team should be done out of respect and sportsmanship.
When the other squad is performing (halftime, quarters, periods, etc.) cheer along with them. If they are doing a crowd response cheer, do the response part. Not only will this make them feel good, they will most likely do the same for your squad. It's a win-win situation. It makes squads friendly and more sportsmanlike. After they perform, always clap for their squad.
When the game is close. Try a few crowd response chants. Yelling one word like “Defense” or your mascot’s name is an easy way to get the crowd to join in!
Display Spirited Faces

Make your squad members practice with a smile on their faces until it becomes second nature to them. It is hard to follow a cheerleader if she looks bored or scared.
Although it may sound contradictory, cheerleaders need to practice spontaneity. Call out different crowd situations at practice to see how quickly they respond.
Understand Crowd Dynamics

Get your cheerleaders to "think like the crowd." Have them brainstorm different ways to grab and keep the crowd's attention. Crowds like to do stomping and hand movements.
Provide your cheerleaders with a list of chants divided into "Offense," "Defense" and "Spirit" on a clipboard positioned where it can easily be seen.
Teach some chants at your pep assembly so the crowd will be familiar with them at game time. Short one- liners are better then long “story” cheers.
Safe stunting, metallic poms, attention-grabbing signs, new material and a few traditional "tried-and-true" favorites are all great crowd motivators.
Don't forget the power of music—either band or tape—to get spectators really rocking! Work with your band director and drill team.
Use your mascot to help motivate the crowd.

Coach From the Sidelines

During your games, keep track of what things worked and what things might need improvement. Note those who did well at starting the appropriate chants, leading the crowd and keeping the spirit high, etc. Also list the material your program is lacking. Tracking is a big help because it’s difficult to remember everything.
Consider yourself "on duty" at the games. Your squad members should be able to look to you for direction and assistance. Place yourself in the general vicinity of the squad and concentrate on evaluating and recording their performance.
Briefly meet at the beginning of half-time to offer constructive feedback. "Great facials, Sarah/Kristin. You did a good job of involving the crowd. As a squad, you were slow in getting started at the beginning of the game. Let's see how quickly you can motivate your crowd when the second half begins.”
Take time to review your notes with your cheerleaders at the next practice – it helps measure progress and success and helps keep track of what needs to be improved for the next game. This assessment will help emphasize the importance of spirit & leading the crowd.
Spirit Ideas

SPIRIT FENCE: Paint Styrofoam cups with your school colors. Spell out spirit slogans and mascot name pulling the cups through the holes in a chain link fence at stadium.
Pick a THEME SONG for your team and play it at the pep rallies and games. Example, if you school color is purple, choose "Purple People Eater", or "Purple Rain". If your school color is black use "Men in Black". Or choose a theme idea like " Danger Zone", "Superman", "Raise the Roof", “Survivor”.
SNAKE DANCE through town to your stadium on the evening of your Homecoming game. Have the cheerleaders and band lead the way!
Tie BALLOONS in your school colors to telephone poles and signs on the street that leads to your stadium on the day of the big Homecoming game.
Make PVC ARCHES over the front entrance to your stadium or gym and decorate with balloons.
DANCING LETTERS---make large stretch pillow cases with your school's letters on the outside. Make them big enough for a cheerleader to fit inside.
BANNERS: Make your own reusable run-through banner from vinyl window shade cut in half and velcro (lightly) together. Paint banner with cloth paint.
Posters

SPIRIT LADDER: Paint a ladder (or a big ladder size poster) in school colors and decorate it with Wildcat on top. On each rung, put the name of the opponents and date of game, starting with the bottom rung being the first game.
SPREAD THE NEWS: Decorate the wall with newspapers and write a slogan on top of newspaper" Spread the news, the Wildcats are gonna beat the _______"
YARD SIGNS: Make a bunch of yard signs about the upcoming game. Could do a theme or series of messages.
STOMP THE _______________. This poster could be in the shape of a paw. Put this big poster on the floor for everyone entering the school to walk on.
UPCOMING GAME: Have an Upcoming Game" sign. Could be in the shape of a football, soccer ball or volleyball. As the game approaches, change the signs to refer to that game. Tell the date, time and location.
PLAYER RECOGNITION: Make giant paper football field out of poster paper and put mini-helmets on it with the name and number for each player. Display on the wall. Other examples: Soccer field with little balls, pool with swimsuits, net with volleyballs, net with tennis balls, megaphone with mini-poms, basketball court with mini-basketballs.
GIANT MEGAPHONE: Make a giant megaphone and display it in the hallway. List the spirit winners of the week.
CHANT OF THE WEEK: Have a special location in the school where you hang a poster or banner with the words to the chant for all the students to learn before the game.