Sports Day/Athletics Festival: Crowd-Pleasing Cheer Battle Ideas and Performances
Speaking of school sports days, there’s an event that’s almost as big as the competitions themselves: the cheer battle! Each class or team usually puts on a performance, but many people find it hard to decide what to do.
So in this article, we’ll introduce ideas for skits and performances that really hype up a cheer battle! There’s plenty to choose from—dances and songs, of course, plus cheers using props and classic ideas from sports cheering.
Be sure to showcase a unique, original performance that’s just for your class or team!
- [Sports Day Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer anthems and recommended parody-song picks [2026]
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- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- [Dance Tracks] Perfect for School Sports Days! A Curated Selection of Fun, Popular Songs to Dance To [2026]
- Dances that elementary school kids can do! Recommended tracks to liven up a school sports day
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
- [Boost Your Energy] A Collection of Cool and Funny Team Huddles
- [Sports Day] Get Fired Up! Cool Phrases Recommended for Cheer Squads
- Get hyped! A collection of Vocaloid songs to energize your sports day and athletic festival
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- Recommended Songs for Group Gymnastics: A Collection of Tracks to Elevate Your Routine [2026]
- [Sports Day] Entrance songs that will hype the crowd! A comprehensive roundup from classics to the latest hits
[Sports Day / Athletic Festival] Crowd-Pleasing Cheer Battle Ideas & Performances (21–30)
fan dance
The performance I recommend for those who want a powerful cheer is this fan dance.
You might find it hard to picture because it’s often performed by school cheer squads, but it’s actually a form of traditional local performing art and is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The real appeal of this performance is, above all, its intensity.
Of course, that impact depends on everyone being perfectly in sync, so thorough practice is essential.
It’s quite challenging, but why not give it a try?
Pom-pom cheering
What really amps up the cheering at sports days and athletic meets—besides voices, dances, and costumes—is, of course, handmade pom-poms.
Made with colorful tape, these dazzling pom-poms aren’t just vibrant; they also make a satisfying sound, making them incredibly handy as cheering gear.
The process of making each pom-pom after school in the classroom is fun too—an item that deepens the memories from the prep stage onward.
Go team!
[Sports Day / Athletic Festival] Crowd-Pleasing Cheer Battle Ideas & Performances (31–40)
Cheer squad’s mass performance
It’s also a great idea to incorporate elements of a cheering squad.
It will give the performance a powerful impact.
For example, you could move with pom-poms like in cheerleading, or showcase straight punches.
Both types of movements are relatively easy to synchronize, so they pair well with a mass performance.
In this concept, the call-and-response chants are also important.
I’d like to hear unified cheers, just like a real cheering squad.
Also, pay attention to costumes that evoke a cheering squad style.
Gakuran-clad cheer squad
Recently, it seems that more schools have no uniforms, and more boys’ uniforms are no longer the traditional gakuran.
I’ve heard many schools don’t use sailor-style uniforms for girls either.
If your school still uses the classic gakuran, how about trying a “gakuran cheer squad”? Precisely because this is an era where people say, “Bankara—the rough-and-ready counter to high-collar modernity—how outdated…,” it might actually have a strong impact.
You can find lots of hints in manga like Ah! Hana no Oendan and Sakigake!! Otokojuku, so use those as references.
You might be able to rent a large flag from a big general rental shop.
And girls wearing gakuran look super cute, so definitely make it coed!
full-body tights dance
At first glance, it’s a comical, almost gag-like full-body tights dance, but if you synchronize the movements perfectly, it becomes visually fun—and beautiful! Cheers and laughter may erupt, and the support might even get the crowd more hyped than the actual competition.
If you cast aside your embarrassment and dance, it could become a memory of a lifetime!
Incorporate material from comedians’ routines
It may be a make-or-break gamble, but incorporating sketches from popular comedians into your performance can really liven up a sports day or athletic festival.
The reason it’s a gamble is that there’s a risk it could come off as mere copying.
If it’s a straight imitation, people will think, “Why not just watch the original?”—so you need some originality.
For example, you could work in jokes or impressions that play on the quirks and “relatable moments” of particularly distinctive teachers.
wotagei
Serious performances are eye-catching.
At the same time, playful performances also have their charm.
As you know, this wotagei is a performance that developed from otaku culture, and I think it generally carries a playful image in the public eye.
It’s true that it can easily come across as goofy, but in the sense that both the performers and the audience can enjoy it together, it can be considered an excellent form of performance.
However, it does require a fair amount of practice, so be sure to allow sufficient preparation time.