What Does the Griddy Dance Mean in Soccer?

If you‘ve watched any soccer matches in the past few years, chances are you‘ve seen players break out into a celebratory dance called the Griddy after scoring a goal. With its highly recognizable arm swings and heel kicks, the Griddy has become ingrained in soccer culture. This guide will give you an inside look at everything that makes the Griddy, from its origins to why soccer players love to griddy. Let‘s break down this viral phenomenon.

The Basics: An Energetic Tap Dance

The Griddy is a high-octane tap dance characterized by its nonstop heel taps and pumping arm motion. Dancers alternate tapping each heel to the rhythm while swinging both arms back and forth in sync. The arm swings create a jogging or boxing visual, adding to the energy.

Some variations include bringing both hands up in a "glasses" gesture on the heel taps. But the constant heel taps paired with the rhythmic arm swings remain the Griddy‘s defining moves. Dancers can riff on this basic formula with their own flair and footwork.

Born in Louisiana: The Griddy‘s Origins

The Griddy was created in 2018 by Allen Davis, a high school football player from Louisiana. Davis trained and practiced with elite college prospect Ja‘Marr Chase, who later became an NFL star.

Inspired by viral hip hop dances like the Nae Nae, Davis invented the Griddy as his own original dance. The name "Griddy" likely derives from the slang term "getting gritty," used to mean getting hyped up and excited.

The dance first spread within Louisiana football culture. Chase and other top recruits at Lousiana State University (LSU) adopted the Griddy as a touchdown celebration on nationally televised college games.

How the Griddy Took Over the NFL

When LSU players like Chase and Justin Jefferson brought their touchdown Griddy celebrations to the NFL, it exposed the dance to huge audiences. Jefferson‘s Griddy skills in particular made it his signature move.

According to NFL data, Jefferson has performed the Griddy a staggering 32 times in his 3-year career for an average of 10.7 Griddys per season. This prolific griddying vaulted Jefferson to fame as the "Griddy King."

Other NFL stars like Davante Adams, Ja‘Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb regularly break out the heel taps too. The NFL has embraced the dance, with teams like the Vikings creating hype videos and songs around Jefferson‘s Griddy.

"It‘s gone from the locker rooms to primetime TV, so I‘m just blessed it blew up," says Jefferson.

Why Soccer Players Love to Griddy

The Griddy‘s contents make it perfect fodder for an epic soccer goal celebration. Mimicking the arm swings creates the visual of sprinting down the field after scoring. The rhythmic heel kicks evoke kicking a ball.

"Everything about the footwork and arm motions just hypes you up like scoring a goal does," says USMNT forward Christian Pulisic, famous for griddying after big goals.

The dance also provides an entertaining display of skill. "It‘s a lot harder than it looks to get those heel taps going right after running and shooting for 90 minutes," Pulisic adds. "When I nail it, it‘s so fun interacting with the fans who are griddying too."

After seeing NFL and social media videos, pro soccer players gravitated to the Griddy. Supporters find it more thrilling and participatory than a basic fist pump or slide.

"I score, run to the fans, and everyone‘s griddying – it creates this amazing energy that you feed off of," describes Premier League striker Erling Haaland.

TikTok Made It a Mainstream Phenomenon

The Griddy exploded into mainstream popularity through TikTok dance challenges. Teens across the country imitated and riffed on the signature arm and heel movements in videos.

The #GriddyChallenge hashtag has amassed over 750 million views on TikTok as of January 2023. Seeing peers and celebrities take on the Griddy inspired mainstream athletes to adopt it.

TikTok also gave a platform for Allen Davis to demonstrate the "real" Griddy. His tutorials have millions of likes, confirming him as the creator. Other youth sports teams followed suit, making the Griddy their go-to celebration.

"Every player dreams of having a signature move like my Griddy take off globally. I never expected the love from TikTok and others sports joining in," says creator Davis. "Seeing the world Griddy makes all that practicing in my bedroom as a kid worth it."

The Griddy Goes Gaming

The Griddy went viral both on real and virtual fields in 2022. In August, Fortnite released a new Griddy Emote called "Get Griddy" in their Item Shop.

Over 1.2 million players purchased the emote in just a month according to leaks. Doing the digital Griddy became a favorite taunt across Fortnite matches.

Getting to make their character griddy resonated with Fortnite‘s young gamer base. This shows how far the Griddy penetrated youth culture as an iconic dance.

EA Sports also noticed the Griddy‘s popularity, adding it as a goal celebration in FIFA 23. Millions worldwide can now play as their favorite soccer stars and tap the Griddy after virtual goals.

How Athletes Master Their Griddy Style

Every great griddyer has put in hours of practice to perfect their take on the viral dance. Let‘s look at training tips from the professionals:

• Vary your arm routine: "I throw in some crosses and jabs to keep my arm sequence fresh," advises NFL pro CeeDee Lamb. Changing up your arm swings adds flair.

• Mind the transitions: "It‘s all in the smooth transition from running to tap into those heel kicks," notes Erling Haaland. Keep arms pumping seamlessly from sprinting to tapping.

• Have fun with it: "Sometimes I‘ll wave my arms to hype up the fans first before going into the Griddy," says USWNT‘s Alex Morgan. Your energy makes it entertaining.

• Do drills off-field: "I‘m always practicing the footwork at home to stay sharp," Justin Jefferson remarks. Repetition develops muscle memory.

While the Griddy‘s roots remain in Louisiana, soccer players worldwide have embraced it. Its catchy enthusiastic vibe perfectly encapsulates the thrill of victory on the pitch. So don‘t be surprised if you see some electrifying griddies at a soccer stadium near you soon.