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BASKETBALL
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A CHEERLEADERS GUIDE TO THE GAME
More and more Squads are lining up behind the Basketball hoop between Autumn and Spring discovering this great sport has a lot to cheer about. British Basketball League pro Basketball is now a regular feature on television attracting regular season crowds of over 12,000 and where Cheerleading has enjoyed established success for several years.
Cheering Basketball is a little different from American Football. The games are much shorter with about an hour and a half total cheer time including pre-game and half time. However, the game moves fast with a score a minute and the crowd's are usually far noisier and willing to join in. Possession interchanges between Offence and Defence constantly. Note that in Basketball these words are spelt with a 'C' rather than the American spelling used for Gridiron.
For most of the time, and with restricted space, very simple short repetitive chants go down best with play in progress. Take your cues from the action and the audience. Make it loud with plenty of spirit! Experience has shown that fans will respond to single or double word chants, anything much longer fails to achieve feedback.
Teams each have three time outs per half and these have to be timed very carefully. Know what routine or cheer you are doing next and be ready to rush onto court as you are announced. Allow five seconds for the Players to come off, ten for you to get into position, a forty second maximum routine, with five seconds to quickly spirit off. Beware though, this is using the full time out interval and Coach can send the Players back at any time during this period.
Just be ready to break off instantly leaving court with plenty of yelling and waving. They will not wait for you to finish!
Keep a running order of routine names on separate sheets attached to a clip board so performers can see at a glance the next one as they come off. This avoids sideline queries which could upset your timing and give an impression of confusion. Don't make your subtle visual cue cribs too visible to spectators.
It is a good idea to prepare Time-Out sheets with everything written down. two copies, one for you and one for the Commentator/Music desk. When using music have individual cassettes, preferably leaderless or wind off the leader beforehand and clearly mark each with the same title as your written sheet. Keep them in a compact case, arranged in the right order they will be performed tonight. See Time-Out Planner Sheet.
For a full season you will need a large number of routines with variety of technique otherwise fans will get bored seeing the same six dances every week. This is where cheers and stunting allow you to mix and match a varied repertoire that will look fresh and interesting for every game. At least ten dances will need to be created.
Negative chants are an absolute No-No, as they should be for all sports.
Beware of the 30 second clocks, often close to ground level at opposite corners of the court. If you obstruct the Referees view of these you could be called for a technical foul. No problem if you know and remember to stay clear.
Going into the stands is a great way to motivate fans, but not with the game in progress - it is likely to interfere with the supporters ability to watch the game. Before the game gives you an opportunity to introduce yourselves and welcome them.
It is customary to announce Players individually before the game and with Coaches permission to form two lines on court to cheer them through. Plenty of excitement can be generated getting everyone into the mood ready for tip-off.
The expected standards of sportsmanship is very high so by all means you can mildly applaud the other teams Players, just so long as you go really crazy for yours.
Stay quiet when your team are taking penalty shots (until the ball goes through the hoop) but check with Coach the etiquette for when the other team is attempting penalty shots. Often it is normal to make a lot of noise with supporters behind the basket jumping up and down waving their hands. I doubt this has any real distraction value but fans love to do it anyway.
Another custom is loudly counting down the last few seconds, especially if you are ahead after a very close game.
Basketball material to perform: Most cheers and chants can be adapted, such as Football cheers by replacing key words like Touchdown with Basket. Instead of 'Move it down the Field' its 'Move it down the Court' etc. '2 points, 2 points, Do it! Do it!". Dances are of course universal, stunts and pyramids go down well. It doesn't matter so much what you perform as long as you do it with giant smiles and gusto.
Above all bear in mind it is your primary responsibility to focus your fans behind your players, they have come to watch Basketball not an alternative entertainment.
Get the audience involved, as they come to respect you I guarantee they will yell with you.
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