An energetic crowd can be the difference between a win and loss for any school sports team. While cheerleaders often use field runner flags to pump up the crowd, you have several more scenarios in which the flags will help. Follow these three tips at your next game for a crowd that won’t quit.
1. Purposeful deployment and involving fans
Pregame festivities, halftime shows and pep rallies are ideal times for cheerleaders to use the flags to whip up passion, but they’re not enough. Cheerleaders should also use the flags when your team runs onto the field as well as during timeouts and after major plays. Populate the student section with lots more flags, because few people are more passionate than students cheering on fellow students. Other fans should use them, too. Keep a few in the student section to help rev up the fans, print out team chants for the crowd to sing, and urge the fans to wave the flags while they chant or cheer. Cheerleaders can lead these performances until they become automatic.
2. C-U-S-T-O-M-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N
Don’t stop at one look for your field runner flags. Customize the flags for various purposes. For example, have a series that spells out the school name or nickname. The cheerleaders could have a unique flag, while the fans have theirs, and maybe there’s a super-special “rally” flag to encourage the crowd when the team is behind. From fonts, colors and graphics, your options really are limitless.
3. Consistency and quality
For the flags to be their most effective, they must look sharp and remain in good shape, no matter the weather. Colors should be bright, durable and long-lasting. The flag material must be able to withstand harsh conditions, not tear easily, and the flags should be light enough to hold or carry easily. Use telescoping poles designed for field runner flags instead of poles made of wood or cheap aluminum. The telescoping aspect is critical, as it allows cheerleaders and fans to adjust the height as needed.