Root, Root, Root for the Away Team – Sportsmanship 101

When you became a cheerleader, you not only became a representative of your school, you became a representative of all cheerleaders around the world. While we all are familiar with rivalry as a staple component of any game day, good sportsmanship is essential to create positive camaraderie during a sporting event. From welcoming the opposing cheerleading squad to showing hospitality during half times, sportsmanship creates a positive environment for healthy competition.

Here are a few ways to help the opposing cheer squad feel comfortable cheering in your stadium!

• Reach out to the opposing cheerleading squads’ coaches at the beginning of each season.
• Share how excited you are to host their team at your stadium. This can be anything from making them goodie bags to giving their team a shoutout on social media.
• Make sure to include the logistics for arriving on campus, where to park, how to enter the stadium, and time of arrival.
• Ask how many will be traveling, so they are able to receive the proper credentials and parking passes for their busses.
• Meet the opposing squad when they arrive at the stadium, and escort them to your “locker room” or the designated facility that allows them an opportunity to relax, change and freshen up before the game.
• Provide food and drinks for both squads for either pregame or half time.

It’s always great to have the home team introduce themselves to the visiting squad. Experiencing dialogue with other students who have the same interests is always fun as well. It is exciting to witness the camaraderie that instantly forms between teams. The fans also love a chance to see the opposing cheerleading squads stunting together… and it makes for a great Instagram pic for later!

There are many traditional ways to make the visiting cheerleading squad feel comfortable. As long as you and your team exhibit positive sportsmanship, the opposing team will feel right at home!