Definition

• A chant is performed on the sidelines of a game and its main purpose is to involve the crowd. A chant is usually a simple verse that is repeated several times. Cheers are often performed during a game time-out or half-time. Cheers are melodic and follow the prose of a poem. They are often enhanced with stunts, pyramids, signs, stunts or gymnastics. Cheerleading motions are arm and leg movements that are used to draw the crowd into the cheer or chant.
  
  

History

• Organized cheering at games began in 1898 at the University of Minnesota during their football team's losing streak. Student Johnny Campbell assembled a group and led them in a chant to inspire a victory. It wasn't until the 1920s that women became involved in cheerleading. Around the same time, gymnastics, tumbling and motions were added to the cheers and chants.
  
  

Chants

• Chants can include simple motions and often coincide to something happening in the game. A chant might call for defense when the opposing team has the ball or a touchdown when the cheerleaders' team is close to the goal line. Props such as signs or pom-poms are often used. Simple arm motions are performed in-sync by each cheerleader to the rhythm of the chant. A well-known chant performed at many high schools and universities is: "Go Big (insert the team's color here)." So, a chant for Indiana University would be "Go Big Red!"
  
  

Cheers

• Cheers, which are performed on the court, field or other area of play, are done at halftime or during a time out. A cheer will often include some choreography and it's not uncommon either for squads to conclude a cheer by forming a pyramid. The vocal part of the cheer is an elongated chant that's usually easy to follow. Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Indiana performs this cheer:
  Red, black and white (pause)
  The best team that's right (pause)
  Yell it loud, say it proud,
  Fight Raiders fight (pause)
  Fight Raiders fight
  
  

Motions

• Hand and arm motions are used during both cheers and chants to further involve the crowd in the activity. Motions are also used to add an artistic performance element to the cheer or chant. Varsity.com recommends that cheerleaders focus on the placement, perfection and precision of performing motions. A sample motion might be a coordinated hand clap to a rhythm, or extending both arms out over the head to form a V.