Depending on the size of your program for which you cheer, you may have separate cheering squads for the various sporting events. While football teams usually have more traditional cheerleaders, basketball teams often have drill or dance teams along with regular cheering squads. As a basketball cheerleader, you'll be asked to practice frequently and entertain the spectators during games to keep morale high for the players.
Practice and Drills
The first and potentially most important duty of a basketball cheerleader is to attend practice. Cheering in an indoor arena is more different than cheering outdoors, and you may need to amend your stunts and routines to fit the smaller space you have to work with. The smaller space lends well to dance routines rather than stunt routines. Attending drills and practices allows you to feel more comfortable with the atmosphere of the basketball court, so when it's showtime you'll be ready to entertain the crowd.
Attending Games
Basketball cheerleaders are expected to attend all home games, if not some of the away games as well. During game play, cheerleaders often stand or sit on the sideline to cheer on the team. While in a football game, the squad has enough room to perform cheers during game play, the size of the basketball court means that cheers are usually reserved for the halftime performance and certain timeouts. You'll likely be able to cheer only with your voice while the players are on the court.
Halftime Show
Once the players leave the court for timeouts or during halftime, the cheerleaders have time to perform their routines. If opposing cheerleaders have traveled with their team, the home team typically performs first with the away team performing afterward. By being considerate of time, you can ensure both teams get time to perform. Basketball cheerleaders are there to entertain the crowd and keep them engaged when the players are not on the court. Dancing, cheers, stunts and formations can all be included in a successful routine.
No Interference
It's expected that cheerleaders avoid interfering or mingling with the players during the game. In the smaller area of the basketball court, cheerleaders and players often need to work side-by-side. Talking to the basketball players or attempting to get their attention can be distracting when they need to focus on the game. For the most part, basketball cheerleaders should focus on the crowd, not trying to garner the attention of the players.
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