Basketball is fast and loud, and the gym is small enough that a good squad can shape the whole atmosphere. The trick is knowing when to use each type of cheer. Use short chants while the ball is live and save longer cheers with jumps and motions for timeouts and breaks. Replace “Team” and “Blue” below with your team name and colors.
Cheers vs. chants
- Chants are short lines repeated 3 or 4 times with simple arm motions. Use them on the sideline or baseline during live play.
- Cheers are longer routines with jumps, stunts and crowd participation. Perform them during timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime, never while the ball is in play.
Offense chants (your team has the ball)
- “Take it in, take it in, Team, take it in!”
- “Two points, that’s the plan, score it, Team, yes we can!”
- “Move that ball, down the court, Team is here to hold the fort!”
- “Pass it, shoot it, watch it drop, Team is heading for the top!”
- “Go, fight, win!” (clap, clap) “Go, fight, win!”
- “Up, up, in the hoop, Team is on the loop!”
- “Hey, fans, stand up tall, Team is gonna take it all!”
Defense chants (the other team has the ball)
- “D-E-F-E-N-S-E, defense, Team, let’s see!”
- “Steal that ball, bring it back, Team, let’s attack!”
- “Block that shot, guard that line, Team defense every time!”
- “Hands up high, feet down low, Team defense, go, go, go!”
- “Rebound, rebound, grab that ball, Team is gonna stop it all!”
- “Pressure, pressure, all the way, Team defense wins today!”
Free throws
When your player is shooting, stay quiet and hold a still pose so they can focus. When the opponent is shooting, most squads also stay silent as a sign of sportsmanship, and many state associations discourage distracting chants. After your player makes the shot, celebrate with:
- “One more point, add it on, Team is rolling on and on!”
- “Nothing but net, nothing but net, Team‘s the best you’ve seen yet!”
Timeout and break cheers
“We Are the Blue”
“We are the Blue, the mighty, mighty Blue / We play it hard and we play it true / So clap your hands and stomp your feet / Team is the team you just can’t beat!”
“Hear Us Roar” (call and response)
Squad: “When I say Team, you say Roar! Team!” Crowd: “Roar!” Squad: “Team!” Crowd: “Roar!” Repeat twice, then finish with a jump.
“Spell It Out”
Spell your school name letter by letter, with the crowd shouting each letter back, and finish with a group stunt or toe-touch.
Big-moment chants
- After a three-pointer: “Three, three, from way downtown, Team is shooting lights out now!”
- After a dunk or big play: “Oh, oh, what a show, Team, let everybody know!”
- End of the game: “Hey, hey, what do you say, Team won the game today!”
Tips for leading basketball cheers
- Watch possession, not just the scoreboard. Switch chants as soon as the ball changes hands.
- Keep motions sharp and simple so the crowd can follow.
- Stay off the playing surface and out of spectators’ views.
- Follow your state’s spirit safety rules. Many limit stunting on hardwood floors or require mats.
- Use signs and poms to cue the crowd for call-and-response cheers.
Matching the chant to the moment
The best squads read the game and pick chants that fit what is happening on the court. This quick guide helps captains call the right one.
| Game situation | Chant style | Volume and pace |
|---|---|---|
| Your team brings the ball up | Offense chant with a scoring theme | Steady rhythm the crowd can join |
| Opponent has the ball | Defense chant | Loud and repetitive |
| Your player at the line | Short focus chant, then quiet before the shot | Stop before the shooter’s routine |
| Timeout | Longer cheer with motions or a stunt, if allowed | Full energy, finish before play resumes |
| Big run or comeback | Crowd call-and-response | Build from soft to loud |
How to teach a new chant in one practice
- Say the words together slowly until everyone knows them without looking.
- Add the claps or stomps on the strong beats only.
- Add arm motions last, keeping them sharp and matched.
- Run it five times in a row at game volume.
- Practise it facing the bleachers so it projects to the crowd, not the court.
Sportsmanship on the sideline
Basketball crowds sit close to the players, so good sideline behaviour matters. Keep chants positive and about your own team, never about opposing players, officials or schools. Many state associations and leagues publish spirit and sportsmanship rules, including limits on noise or chants during an opponent’s free throws, so check yours before the season. Stay behind the end line or in your assigned area, and never stand where players could run into you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Chanting while the other team is shooting free throws, which many leagues treat as unsportsmanlike.
- Using an offence chant when your team is on defence, which confuses the crowd.
- Choosing chants that are too long for the time available between plays.
- Letting motions get small and sloppy late in the game when energy drops.
- Standing in front of spectators or blocking the scorer’s table and team benches.
Building a basketball chant list for the season
Organised squads keep a written chant list so everyone knows what to use and when. A simple structure works well for most teams.
| Category | How many to prepare | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Offence chants | 4 to 6 | Keep them short so they fit a single possession |
| Defence chants | 4 to 6 | Use strong, low voices and stamping or clapping rhythms |
| Timeout cheers | 3 to 4 | Longer cheers with motions and a clear ending |
| Big-moment chants | 2 to 3 | Save for runs, comebacks and the final minutes |
| Spirit cheers | 2 to 3 | Use before the game and at halftime to involve the whole crowd |
Working with the band, DJ and announcer
In many gyms, cheerleaders share the sound space with a pep band, a DJ or a public-address announcer. Agree on timing before the game so chants do not clash with music or announcements. A common approach is for the band or DJ to play during timeouts and breaks while cheerleaders lead chants during live play and dead balls.
Writing your own chants
Original chants help a squad stand out. Keep them to two or three short lines with a strong beat, use the team name or mascot, and match the words to a clear situation such as defence or a basket. Test new chants in practice with clapping or stomping, and drop any that the crowd finds hard to follow after one or two games.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cheer and a chant?
A chant is short and repeated during play. A cheer is longer, with jumps and stunts, and is performed during breaks.
What do cheerleaders do during free throws?
They stay quiet and hold a still pose, then celebrate if their team scores.
When should cheerleaders cheer during a basketball game?
Chants during live play from the sideline, and full cheers during timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime.
