Soccer Chants
A soccer chant is a chant or rhyme that fans of a certain team will shout during matches to demonstrate their love for their respective teams. Most teams have individual chants that can be heard throughout the match, even if the game is not at their home stadium. The chants are not standardized and often change, although a few chants stay around for a while. Many of the chants are learned throughout the game, meaning that there is no formal practice session or rehearsal beforehand.
A chant is usually created as a play on words to a popular song or tune. Fans will take the chorus of a popular song, change a few of the lyrics to where they incorporate some aspect of their team, and then begin to shout and chant during their team’s games. This way it is easier for everyone to pick up on and be able to join in with the chants. The chant has two distinctive purposes during a soccer match. The first is for people to show support for their team besides wearing the team’s colors. The players on the pitch can hear their team’s chants ring throughout the stadium and know that their fans are there watching them, which in turn can boost their performance. The second purpose is to intimidate the opposing team’s fans and players. A stadium full of people all singing the same chant in unison can strike fear in the opposing team’s fans, and even more so for their players. The players can lose focus on the game due to the noise level and feel like they are in a hostile environment and play more conservatively. |