Know the Rules

Offense, defense, general, touchdown, first down, red zone, third down, kick off, field goal, band cadence, fight song, time out. Is your head spinning yet? As a cheerleader, it’s important to learn football terms, apply them to the game, and know when to cue specific sideline cheers.

We know it can be overwhelming at first. But don’t worry! We’re here to give you a comprehensive run-down of everything you need to know.

Kickoff: This happens at the beginning of each quarter and after a touchdown has been scored. The “kicking team” kicks the ball to the “receiving team.” If everything goes well, (no fumbles) the receiving team goes on offense. Start every kickoff with the same tradition and your crowd will quickly learn what to expect.

During the play: Stand with your poms above your waist. Be sure to pay attention so you know which sideline to call.

Offense: Offense refers to the team in possession of the ball. On offense, the goal is to march down the field to score a touchdown! Touchdown, touchdown, we want a touchdown!

Defense: Defense refers to the team trying to get the ball. The team on defense tries to stop the other team from moving down the field. Interceptions and fumbles (this is when your team catches the ball and it changes possession back to you/when the other team loses possession before being tackled) are always good when your team is on defense! Defense XX, defense XX!

General Sidelines: You can call general sideline cheers at any time. Think of general sidelines as your “safety zone.” You can never go wrong!  U-C-F! U-C-F! 

First Down: Ever heard of “first and ten?” This is what it means. The team has four attempts to complete ten yards. If you complete the ten yards in any of those downs, the teams start back at one. If not, the possession changes to the other team. If the team is within 10 yards of the goal it’s called a “first and goal.”

Third down: These are important for both offense and defense. If you’re on offense, you have one more attempt to get a first down. The crowd should be silent so the team can hear the plays. If you’re on defense, you want the crowd louder than ever! Get them on their feet! Your defense has to STOP them! Keep these sidelines short and simple.

Red zone: This is the area between the twenty yard line and the goal. On defense? You want to STOP them! Get LOUD! On offense? You want to SCORE! But, only cheer loudly in between the plays — you don’t want to distract your team.

Touchdown: Yay! Your team has scored! The best teams have the same traditions for every touchdown.

Fight Song: A fight song is a traditional tune that is used to pump up the crowd. You should execute the same motions every time the fight song plays. Oftentimes, the band will play the fight song immediately after the team scores a touchdown.

Band Cadence: Plan sideline cheers that match the beat of the marching band. These are great to use during time-outs!

Time out: A time out is a halt in the play. During time outs, your team can stunt and perform longer cheers and skills because the crowd can redirect their attention to you.

We hope this quick guide has helped you prep for football season! Remember, everyone makes mistakes. Just have fun, and focus on pumping up the crowd. For the best crowd invovlement, signs, poms, megs and simple sidelines are the way to go. Good luck in the upcoming season!