Make Best Cheerleading Chants

A cheerleading chant is a peppy, short cheers that utilizes arm movements and leg positions to emphasize words or themes. The movements in the chant follow the beat or rhythm of the words. Simplicity is key when developing a chant. You can use your voice, arms and legs or clapping to keep the beat. Chants are repeated three or four times.

Know that the cheerleading clap is not just a clap. Most squads use the clap to keep the routine sharp. Hands must be rigid so the clap is precise, so don't bend your fingers at all or curl the fingers of one hand over the other.

Make Best Cheerleading Chants

Use your hands frequently, as there are five basic hand positions: blades, daggers, buckets, candlesticks and knockers. With each of these positions, there are two important things to remember. Always keep your wrists rigid and when your hands are in fists, always keep your thumbs on the outside.

Keep your voice low and loud and keep a smile on your face. If you yell from your chest instead of from your throat, your voice will be naturally louder and carry further. If you look like you are having fun, the crowd will have fun.

Create a chant using basic team information like inserting the mascot's name, your team color or your school name however you like. There are some basic chants that can be used for any sport chants.

Utilize ideas from the any best cheerleading site online. Many times coaches and cheerleaders will collaborate together to create chants and cheers and there are plenty of online resources for new chants.

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How to Make Good Cheerleading Pompoms

If you want to demonstrate your enthusiasm in cheerleading for your favorite team or just want to share a craft activity with your child, making your own set of pompoms could be the answer. Pompoms are easy to make with materials you have lying around the house. The cheerleading game project should take you less than half an hour.

How to Make Good Cheerleading Pompoms

Making the Pompoms
Grab a pair of scissors, a roll of duct tape and some plastic bags -- garbage bags work well, but you can use other types. Lay one plastic bag on the floor or table and fold it lengthwise, so the top of the bag lines up with the bottom. Using the same folding method, place the additional bags on top of the first. Use up to 10 bags, depending on how fluffy you want your pompoms. Alternate bag colors if you're using more than one color. Take the scissors and cut about 1 inch off the end of the bags where the tops and bottoms meet. Cut the bags lengthwise into strips, starting on the end you just trimmed, about halfway down the bags. Strips can be as wide or narrow as you like, but about 1-inch wide works well. Roll up the bags right to left, forming a handle and seal the rolled-up handle with duct tape. The more duct tape you wrap around the handle, the stronger it will be -- how much tape you put on depends on your preference.

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Best Cheerleading Team Coaching Tips

Coaches are a cheerleading squad's most valuable assets. They are instructors, confidence builders and mentors. However, they must also be skilled trainers and knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of the sport. Choosing to become a cheerleading coach can be a very rewarding experience.

Decide which type of squad you would like to coach and at what level. The two main types of squads are competitive and spirit. Competitive teams usually perform at competitions and some sporting events, while spirit squads use cheers and chants to support their teams at games and to get the crowd encouraged through entertainment routines.

Learn all you can about the sport. There are numerous video and instructional books that can be purchased that will familiarize a new coach with the essentials to cheerleading. "Coaching Cheerleading Successfully" is a great reference for beginning and advanced coaches (see resources below).

Either perform the moves yourself or gain a solid understanding and ability to perform arm and most leg movements the proper way. Cheerleaders can learn the proper way to make an arm formation pose when they can see it performed first hand. If you can provide this visual tool personally, it will be more helpful to your squad.

Join a cheerleading association which can offer the safety of regulated performances during sporting events and competitions alike. Choose from a list of national coaches' camps available online (see Resources below).

Watch cheerleading competitions on T.V. or attend a local competition or sporting event to learn about cheerleading. Here, you can talk to other coaches about their experiences and find out firsthand if this is something you want to pursue.

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Best Tips to Make Cheerleading Hair Bows

Cheerleading hair bows complete the uniform look of the team members. They can be purchased, but making them yourself is a creative way to allow the cheerleaders to participate in their experience. It is a fun, spirit-filled project that can be done at the coach's home or after practice. In order to make bows, decide which type of popular cheerleading bow you want and begin to create it.

Choose fabric to use for your bows, including ribbon, silk, wool or cotton. Choose fabrics in team colors to intertwine or one solid color that matches the uniform.

Use wide ribbons about 2 1/4 inches wide. Cut sections 1 foot in length.

Fold the ribbon flat side down and make a loop with one end. Hold the middle of the bow down between fingers to secure, and then make a loop on the other end.

Cut a 3" piece of ribbon (same or different color) and wrap it around the middle section between the two loops.

Use a hot glue gun to seal the wrapped ribbon to itself.

Glue the back of a barrette to the ribbon.

Pinwheel Cheerleading Hair Bows (best for long hair)
Buy 1 and 1/2 inch to 2 and 1/4 inch thick ribbon. You can choose one or two team colors that match the uniform to bring out the uniqueness of this bow.

Cut 1 yard of each ribbon. Place each strip on top of the other.

Fold four loops on each side while securing the middle of the bow with your fingers.

Cut a 6 inch piece of ribbon (matching the other two colors) and intertwine it between each bow, wrapping it on top of itself and securing the spot where the fingers were holding the bow together.

Use the hot glue gun to seal the wrapping ribbon to itself.

Glue a barrette or scrunchy to the bottom of the bow.

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Tips to Make a Cheerleading Squad

You can avoid squabbles and other disputes by uniting your cheerleading squad early on. Before you get too far into the season, try these bonding activities. A united cheerleading squad is one that works well together and encourages one another.

Write in "YES" books at the end of each practice. Each cheerleader decorates a small notebook with the letters "YES" which stands for "You're Extra Special." Write positive notes to each other throughout the week, and then have fun seeing what positive things your fellow cheerleaders have written about you.

Plan a cheerleading squad slumber party. This is a great way to get to know the other members on the team. Include everyone in the slumber party games and activities.

Go to a cheerleading camp together. The long hours you spend at camp can unite the squad.

Play the trust circle game. One person stands in the middle of a circle with her eyes closed and her arms crossed on her chest. She then leans one way staying completely stiff. The girls in the circle catch her and send her tilting in another direction.

Do fundraisers for your cheerleading squad together. This is a great way to bond and make money for the squad.

Create a big sister/little sister program. A returning cheerleader is paired with a new one. Big sisters help the little sisters with everything from learning new cheers to homework. This is a great way for new cheerleaders to feel as if they are part of the squad.

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Fun Pep Rally Cheerleading Tips

There's nothing having a winning cheerleading team during high school to bring a school to be proud of the teams. However, how do you make a pep rally exciting for the rest of the school? Sure everyone gets out of classes early, but how do you stop the ditches, talkers, or the ones that just won't pay attention.

Get the students involved. Homecoming coming don't just focus on the football team, but involve students from each class. And no not just the popular ones, pick students from every group. Unfortunely there are always clicks but sometimes you have to pull a "The Breakfast Club" style on them and force them into a room. You'd be suprise of the results.

A good emcee. A teacher that is enthusicatic about the school, or one that is a favorite of the students. Usually this ends up being a younger teacher, but sometimes it's a coach or a teacher who has been around awhile. Don't use a dean or a principal (unless greatly liked) they are seen as a disciplinary and frankly students don't want to be told to jump up and get excited.

Cheerleaders or dance teams. They are supposed to pump up crowds, let them strut their stuff. Instead of just sticking them in the corner as everyone walks in have them preform.

Make sure everyone fits. No point of having a school pep rally to bring everyone together unless everyone can fit.

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Pom Squad Versus Cheerleading Squad

Cheerleading squads incorporate tumbling, dance and stunts into their routines, performing throughout a sporting event, often on the sidelines. Pom squads use pom pons as props in dance routines, often performing during halftime shows. You can be involved in both, but you may want to choose between joining a pom squad and a cheerleading squad.

Choose a cheerleading squad if you love cheer stunts. Cheerleaders often perform pyramid stunts and tosses as part of their routines. If you love the gymnastic stunting, consider cheering.

Pom Squad Versus Cheerleading Squad

Pick a pom squad if you love dancing. Pom squads, often called dance teams or drill teams, focus more on the dancing aspect rather than chants and stunts. If you love jazz and modern dance, consider the pom squad.

Become a cheerleader if you want to showcase your intense school spirit. Cheerleaders get crowds involved, chant to the team players and often dance and cheer with the school mascot.

Practice moving around the court while dancing and decide to go with the pom squad if you prefer using the whole court at halftime rather than the sideline during the whole game. Cheering involves making the most out of staying in one general spot while dancing involves running around the field.

Work on flexibility if you're a member of either the cheerleading or drill team squad. The dance team often requires more extension--high kicks, leaps and splits. Cheerleading often requires more tumbling skills--pyramids, hand springs and back flips.

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Flexibility Excercises Cheerleading Jumps

With a myriad of complex jumps and stunts involved, it takes some serious strength and flexibility in cheerleading to be a good cheerleader. Not only will training to improve your strength and flexibility help you jump higher, but it can help you prevent injuries from falls and strains. Exercises including strength training, plyometrics and kinetic band training can help you improve -- but if you're a minor, keep in mind that all training exercises should be done under the supervision of a qualified coach or trainer.

Cheerleaders need strong legs in order to jump higher and faster, so you need traditional strength training. A healthy routine focuses on all the major muscle groups, so don't overlook the arms and back. However, the majority of the power for jumps will come from strength in the calves, hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes, and the stability will come from the core muscles of the abdomen. Twice a week, perform at least two sets of weighted squats and lunges. To isolate the glutes, perform two sets of glute bridge exercises. You can also use machines such as the leg press in the "up" position, pointing and flexing your toes to work the calves, as well as the hamstring curl and the leg extension machines. Ideally, perform two to three sets of two to three exercises for each muscle group, two times a week. For the core, add in pullups, dips and planks, holding the planks for as long as you can, for a total of two to three rounds.

Plyometrics is a form of rapid jump training that builds explosive power. For each exercise, jump as high as you can, keeping your knees aligned over your ankles and your chest tilted forward slightly, so it's over your knees. As soon as you land one jump, launch into the next one. Start with your feet together, bend your knees and jump up into the air, starting the next jump as soon as you land the previous one. After 10 jumps, rest a few seconds, and then jump off with one foot and land with the next, repeating the pattern for a total of 10 jumps on each side. Also do box jumps, jumping up onto a 1-foot high box, landing back down on the ground, and then immediately jumping onto an 18-inch box. Go back to the shorter box and repeat the cycle 10 times. Then do the box jumps with a single foot. Another option: do your regular cheer jumps 10 times in succession.

Another option for building explosive power is using kinetic bands. With the bands wrapped around your thighs, you'll perform your regular cheer jumps, such as arabesques, herkies or toe touches, thus adding resistance as you jump. Perform multiple jumps in sequence, and when you remove the bands, you'll find your jump strength and flexibility can be greatly improved. Kinetic bands come with varying levels of resistance for beginners, intermediate and more advanced users and are made by various companies, so be sure to follow the installation and usage instructions that came with the bands carefully to avoid injury or strain.

The most common types of injuries in cheerleading are strains and sprains, suggests Ohio's Nationwide Children's Hospital, so proper warm-ups and stretching should always be part of your routine. Static stretching before your workout doesn't really help, so to warm up, do five to 10 minutes of light cardio, such as jogging or cycling and then dynamic stretches like arm circles or leg kicks. Stretching for flexibility should take place at the end of practice or at the end of your workouts. To stretch for the straddle jump, sit down in a straddle position and allow your chest to fall toward the floor. Raise your chest up, and then reach your arms toward one leg, keeping your chest facing forward. For the pike jump, place your legs in front of you and allow your chest to fall forward. Work on your side or single-leg splits by contracting your muscles slightly and then allowing them to relax. When they relax, sink deeper into the stretch.

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Preventing Sore Wrists in Cheerleading

When you're stunting during cheerleading, you may find that you end up developing sore wrists. If your wrists bother you consistently while cheering, you'll want to find a way to treat them in order to get back to focusing on your routines.

Wear a compression bracelet while cheering. If you find that during games and practices you have sore wrists, you can benefit from the use of a compression bandage. You slip on the bandage and you'll feel less discomfort. You can purchase a compression bracelet online from Allegro Medical.

Use ice therapy. If fluid has built up in the wrist due to an injury while cheering, you can reduce the accumulation by placing an ice pack on your wrists. Keep the ice on the sore wrists for 20 minute intervals every four hours until you find relief.

Take a pain reliever. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen help relieve the pain of the sore wrists while also decreasing any inflammation. Follow the dosing instructions found on the medication.

Speak to your school's sports trainer. If you still feel discomfort in your wrists, discuss the problem with your athletic trainer. He may offer further assistance and treatment options.

Tips

To prevent sore wrists from occurring in the future, you may want to consider wearing wrist guards each time you practice and compete with your cheerleading squad.
You'll want to build up your bone strength while treating your sore wrists. Make sure you get plenty of calcium, at least 1500 mg daily.

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Tips to Do Cheerleading Back Tuck

A cheerleading back tuck is a one-person tumbling move, but a spotter should always assist if the tumbler has not mastered the skill. Highly skilled teams usually require cheerleaders to know how to do a flawless back tuck in order to make their squad, so practice hard if that's your goal. There are various running back tucks and standing back tucks. Here's how to do a standing back tuck.

Performing a Back Tuck
Stand up straight with your feet together.

Jump up into the air and toss your arms straight up over your head with your momentum going back. It's called a "set" in cheerleading.

Grab your legs quickly and pull your knees to your chest.

Look for your landing place and open your body out when you know you are near the end of your jump.

Land on the balls of your toes with your body upright. Make sure to land with your knees bent, as it will help you to absorb the force of your weight as you land.

The Spotter's Role
Place one hand behind the tumbler at the waistline.

Use your free hand to help the tumbler pull her knees up and flip over as soon as she is off the ground.

Watch for the tumbler's landing and be ready to assist. This is very important because tumblers often don't know exactly when to complete their rotation. You must be ready to assist at the waistline, if needed.

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How to Do Cheerleading Cupie

The cheerleading Cupie, also known as a Kewpie or Awesome, is a move seen in tossing stunts. It requires two people and the end result is the base holding up a flyer by one hand. It looks impressive (especially for the base cheerleader) and is a crowd pleaser. If you're terrified of this stunt, these simple steps break it down for you.

Develop arm muscles. This stunt takes lots of strength to execute, even with the lightest flyer. The flyer's entire weight must be caught with one arm and then fully extended upwards. All of this must be done with proper posture and without injury.

Stretch properly. Before any stunt, you must give yourself a good 30 minute warm-up period. Stretch arms, legs, ankles, shoulder and neck muscles.

Decide the flyer's mount. This ranges from a stand to a back flip.

Prepare for the base to either lift the flyer into the air or catch her from her mount stunt with one hand. He should initially catch her at his shoulder height, but he must do so in anticipation of a full lift. He has two choices here; he can initially toss her and catch one foot in each hand, and then move both feet into one hand or he can toss her and go right into a single-handed hold.

Extend the base's arm fully. Both of the flyer's feet are in the base's one hand at this point. The flyer must keep her back perfectly straight. Both the flyer and the base must practice precise balance for a cheerleading Cupie.

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Strength Training as Male Cheerleader

Anyone who thinks male cheerleaders aren't masculine has obviously never lifted a 130-pound girl over his head, tossed her into the air and caught her right before she hits the ground. Male cheerleading requires stamina, coordination and, most of all, strength. Here's a strength-training regimen that focuses on the muscle groups male cheerleaders use most.

Warm up with five minutes of gentle stretching and 10 minutes of light aerobic exercise, like walking briskly or jogging slowly. This prepares your body for your training exercises and helps prevent injuries.

Select weights that are heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 repetitions. According to Dr. Edward Laskowski of the Mayo Clinic, a single set of 12 reps with heavier weights builds muscle just as effectively as more sets of the same exercise with lighter weights. On the twelfth rep, you should just barely be able to finish the exercise. When you can perform 12 or more reps of an exercise easily, increase the amount of weight you use.

Strengthen your chest, back and shoulders and prepare to lift the female cheerleaders with bench presses, push ups, rowing exercises, pull downs and front raises.

Work your biceps and triceps with curls and dips.

Exercise your lower body with squats, lunges and calf raises.

Build your core muscles and improve your back flips with crunches, reverse crunches, oblique twists and pelvic tilts.

Rest each muscle group for one full day between training sessions to allow your muscles time to recover. Always stop if you feel pain during an exercise. Mild muscle soreness is normal, but sharp pain and sore or swollen joints indicate potential injuries.

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Cheerleading Pom-Poms for Shoes

Cheerleading pom-poms show team spirit and are made of thin plastic or paper. Pom-poms are designed to be full so their motion is eye-catching and highlights the movements of the cheer squad. A coordinating accessory for cheerleading uniforms can be made to adorn shoes--smaller pom-poms to tie to laces or affix to the top eyelets. Pom-poms on shoes highlight kicks and foot maneuvers. Unlike pom-poms on knitted caps and scarves, cheerleading pom-poms for shoes do not appear as fluffy, complementing the handheld pom-poms.

Assemble equal lengths of yarn in the team colors, at least 20 lengths, each 6 inches long. Cut an additional length of yarn in one of the desired colors. The combination of colors and the distribution of colors should match or be close to your team colors. For example, if your team colors are blue with white accents, 10 to 14 pieces of yarn should be blue and 6 to 10 pieces should be white.

Bundle the lengths of yarn together and fold in half. Tie the extra length of yarn tightly around the center of the bundle and secure with a slip knot. Release the bundle and check that the threads are centered before securing the slip knot with a double knot.

Cut the folded loop of yarn. Fluff the pom-pom so the center securing thread is not visible.

Repeat to form a set of four cheerleading pom-poms.

Trim the loose end of the securing thread and tie it to your shoe laces or the top eyelet.

Tips & Warnings

You can wear two pom-poms, one in each team color, on each shoe. To make a fuller pom-pom, use a few more lengths of yarn. Instead of yarn, you could use thin lengths of the same material as your hand-held pom-poms, using yarn to secure the center bundle.

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Best Homemade Cheerleading Gift Ideas

Most cheerleaders in cheerleading will have occasion to need a small gift at some point during the season, whether it be for a pre-camp sleepover or the end-of-the-season banquet. Cheerleading gifts can be made inexpensively, and are often more appreciated and appealing than generic store-bought gifts.

An ideal gift is a personalized picture frame. Most cheerleaders have their favorite photos from the season, making a special frame a great gift. Buy plain, inexpensive picture frames from discount, dollar and craft stores. Wooden frames and smooth metal ones work best for decorating.

Use sequins, rhinestones, tacky glue, hot glue, ribbon, fabric appliques, stickers, glitter and glitter glue to customize the picture frame. Put spirit phrases, the name of your school or mascot, or the recipient's name on the frame.

Making a spirit bear is fairly simple and inexpensive. First, you will need to buy a plain plush bear from a dollar, hobby or craft supply store. If you can find a bear in your team's colors that would be ideal, but it's not necessary.

Buy a small package of quarter-inch ribbon in one or all of your team's colors. Use a tape measure to measure around the bear's neck and add six inches to either end. Measure and cut the ribbon(s). Securely tie the ribbon(s) around the bear's neck in a knot or a bow. Cut the ribbon ends so that they trail approximately two inches from the bear's neck.

Cheerleading survival kits are fun, functional gifts to make.Take a lunch box, lunch bag or paper gift bag in your team's colors and fill it with items that most cheerleaders need. To personalize the survival kit packaging, write the name of the gift recipient on the front of it in glitter glue.

You may want to include team color nail polish, transparent band aids, hair and body glitter, purse-size lotion, scented hand sanitizer, neutral colored hair ties, team colored scrunchies, white shoe laces or mini lip glosses.

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Best Tips to Make Cheerleading Uniforms

Cheerleading is a great activity to teach young girls about teamwork. Girls not only learn how to work together, but also build long-lasting friendships with other girls on the cheerleading squad. To function well as a team, they need to represent their school or team by sporting a uniform. Uniforms can be pretty pricey, so make your own cheerleading outfits.

Use a sewing machine to sew trim along the bottom of the tennis skirt. The trim should be the school or team colors.

Pick out a solid-colored, V-neck tank top. Make sure this tank top goes with the team colors and that all the girls are wearing that color so the uniforms match. Prep the iron, and allow it to heat up.

Use the iron to apply the iron-on letters to the tank top. The letters represent the school or team and should be applied below the V shape on the front of the top.

Use a needle and matching thread to sew around each of the letters. This will ensure that the letters do not come loose from the tank top.

Lace the tennis shoes with laces that match the team colors. Since most teams use two colors, lace each shoe with one of the team colors, or use the same color for both shoes.

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Best Cheerleading Award Ideas

Cheerleading takes a lot of hard work, dedication and skill. At the end of the season it's good to recognize those that have given their time and talents to cheerleading. Awards can be given in the form of trophies and certificates or other special items, such as balloons or personalized charm bracelets and necklaces. Consider each participant's strengths and how she's overcome her fears and tailor an award specifically for her. It's good to give each cheerleader an award for her dedication.

Best All-Around
There is one person on every squad who seems to shine. She's the one who gives her all each time she puts on the uniform, and displays school spirit off the field as well. Recognize that special person with a best all-around award.

Camp themes
If you are having a cheerleading camp, tie your awards in with your camp theme. Hold an '80's theme camp where the cheerleaders wear '80's style clothes and perform cheers to '80's music. Give our prizes consistent with the theme, such as PacMan T-shirts, glow bracelets and neon colors. Match the prizes with the category--for example, give the glow bracelets to the cheerleader with the brightest smile.

Competition
Have cheerleaders compete against each other for their awards. Organize a field day and give out awards for the longest handstand, the highest kick or the lowest split. Hold carnival-type games and make the competition fun for everyone.

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The Cheerleading Signs & Cute Sayings

At their best, cheerleaders can galvanize a school to rally behind a sports team with their enthusiasm, athleticism and spirited routines. At their worst, cheerleaders can create a class system in a community that is dependent on looks and style over anything of value. One of the ways cheerleaders can rally a community is with clever cheers and eye-catching signs.

Clever Sayings
A one-sentence cheer can get the attention of a crowd and keep it for an entire basketball game. When the saying is delivered with passion and spirit, it can create memories. Cheerleading competitions usually center on athleticism, jumps and splits, but it's the clever cheer that will stay with the people who are watching. This one works at basketball games (courtesy of top cheers.com):

Jam --- That's what we do!

We jam --- We do for it you!

We turn around, touch the ground,

Get back up, and jam it down.

Cheer No. 2

Hey all you Cougar fans, stand up and shout,
Our boys are No. 1 and that is no doubt.
We'll fight to win, we are the best,
Cranford High is above the rest.
Blue and Gold, come on let's fight,
(Let me hear it)
Green, blue and white, Cougars unite

Clever Signs
Typically, cheerleaders will make signs and post them around their school on the eve of an important game. The best signs tend to incorporate a player's name or number and will help those coming to the game get prepared to cheer their favorite players.

All Star Larry Jordan
J -- Just the best
O -- One of a kind
R -- Rockin' the house
D -- Defense every game
A -- Always a winner
N -- Never stop fighting

Back on top Scottie Jones
J -- Jumps through the roof
O -- One of a kind
N -- Nearly perfect
E -- Each shot goes down
S -- Smooth as silk

Growth
Cheerleading got a huge boost in 1970, when the Dallas Cowboys put together a cheerleading squad. Up until that point, professional teams had eschewed cheerleaders. The Cowboys, known as one of football's most forward-thinking organizations, decided they would go against professional convention and bring in cheerleaders. The group, called the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, has been a huge success and has given cheerleading a huge boost. Pro cheerleaders often use the same cheers that high school and college cheerleaders, but it is their athletic and dance backgrounds that set them apart.

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Become Certified Cheer Competition Judge

Cheerleading competitions go way beyond shaking pom-poms and encouraging your team to win. It's an athletic competition with complex jumps, pyramids, tumbling and dance moves. In high school and school competitions, the judging categories vary on the area and particular event but technique and difficulty are staples.

Know the sport. It's one thing being a fan. It's another thing understanding the proper techniques. This might require years of competing or coaching.

Earn a state certification. Nearly every state has its own certification test to judge competitions on the high school and recreational level. While they differ slightly, most states require a written test and have you judge an event to see if your scores match with an established judge's score.

Get a National Cheer Judges Certification offered by Cheer Ltd. The company runs prestigious national and regional open competitions every year. A certification qualifies you to judge those tournaments.

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Cheerleading Gift Bags Ideas

Surprise your cheerleading squad by showing them your appreciation with goodies gift bags. Just some small keepsakes that they can put in their jewelry boxes and scrapbooks, or display on their dressers is all it takes to boost cheerleading team spirit and show you care. With very little expense and effort, you can create gift bags that look every bit as special as you want your squad to feel.

Key Chains
Small key chains are inexpensive, useful and decorative. Choose key chains in the shape of a cheerleader or a megaphone. A durable plastic chain is a good medium for printing a message or commemorating the competition. Rubber key chains in the shape of the number "1" encourage the girls to give the competition their best effort. Wrap the key chains in colored tissue paper and tuck them into pretty gift bags, which you can buy very cheaply at a dollar store.

Hair Accessories
Stuff goodie bags with decorative hair accessories. Cheerleaders use inexpensive silk ribbons to make hair bows, glue them to hair clips and tie them to elastics. Other hair accessories cheerleaders can use are ponytail tutus and mini pom poms for their hair.

Foot Accessories
Give your squad some colorful shoelaces to wear and show their team spirit. Alternatively, give them each a pair of athletic socks with their squad name printed on the ankle.

Face Paint
Some cheerleaders enjoy painting their faces during games and competition. Give the girls a tiny face painting set so they can show off their creativity. Give paints that match your school or organization colors and include a tiny face paintbrush in the kit. Bag it all up in an iridescent gift bag and tissue.

Bands
Have headbands printed with your team name and logo. Girls can wear them during competition to keep sweat from their eyes. Add wristbands for a matched set. Choose wristbands that have tiny zippers for holding change or a key. Get a pom pom or a megaphone printed on the wristbands.

Cheerleading Music CD
Give the cheerleaders a music CD featuring songs from your competitions. Place songs you have cheered to in the past on the disc as well as some choices for the future. Customize a CD label using a picture from one of your competitions. Add an encouraging message to the label like, "For the Number One Team!" Place the discs in decorative cardboard boxes and add them to the goodie bags.

Filler
Hard candy such as peppermint, butterscotch and cinnamon makes good extra filler for gift bags. You can also include chewing gum.

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List of Cheerleading Dance Music

Sports fans rely on cheerleaders to keep them excited and supportive of the team playing, even when the outcome of a game looks grim. Cheerleaders spend hours practicing and perfecting their dance routines, but even a perfectly-executed dance can fall short if the music is lacking. Cheerleading dance music should fit the routine while maintaining an upbeat tempo.

Walking On Sunshine -- Aly & AJ
At just one minute, fifty-five seconds, Aly & AJ's cover of "Walking on Sunshine" is the perfect length for a game-day cheer routine. The song is short, but upbeat throughout, making it an appropriate choice for a routine filled with jumps and handsprings.

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) -- C+C Music Factory
Perhaps one of the most popular songs of the 1990s, "Gonna Make You Sweat" is a common music selection for cheerleading dance competitions and performances. The song keeps a steady tempo, and while it is almost five minutes long, it gives the performers time to show complicated dance moves and footwork.

Blue (Da Ba Dee) - Eiffel 65
Released in 1999, Eiffel 65's "Blue" quickly rose to the top of the charts as one of the more unique dance songs of the decade. The song has been remixed several times by various DJs, adding even more variety to the trance-like sound.

Who Let The Dogs Out? - Baja Men
A hit of the millennium, "Who Let the Dogs Out" has been featured in cartoons, movies and commercials. The song is also an appropriate selection for cheerleading routines performed at games or during practice, as it offers up a steady beat with a repetitive sound.

Mickey - Toni Basil
Many cheerleaders will recognize this song, as it is a classic to dancers worldwide. Featured in cheerleading movies such as "Bring It On," Toni Basil's "Mickey" gives cheerleaders a song that offers slower verses while keeping a fast and upbeat chorus. At just over three minutes long, the song is appropriate for both game-time routines and competition performances.

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