Everything You Need To Know About Song/Pom & Pep Flag Teams At USA!

Have you ever heard of songleaders or wanted to know about the athletes you see twirling flags on the sidelines of your school's football games?

Song/Pom and Pep Flag teams are important parts of many school spirit programs and Carina Clendenin, the Song/Pom & Pep Flag Program Director for the USA, gave VarsityTV the inside scoop on what they are all about!

What is Song/Pom?  

In 1960, Robert Olmstead, the founder of the United Spirit Association (USA) offered the first camp for songleaders (formerly known as “pom pon girls”).

In order to expand into cheerleading, Robert called upon his friend Lawrence “Herki” Herkimer, founder of NCA, to personally teach and later provide cheer instructors. In turn, Olmstead introduced Herkimer to songleading and drill teams, prompting Herkimer to develop and manufacture the first poms.   

Song/Pom teams are a part of a Spirit program which means they are “Spiritleaders.” They cheer at games with cheerleaders on the sidelines, so their priority is to support the school. Songleaders not only do cheers on the sidelines, but they also perform entertaining routines on the sidelines, during time-outs, half-time, and rallies. The main style that songleaders are known to perform is Pom, but they also perform other styles that are typical to be seen in the game day environment (hip hop/funk, jazz, novelty).

What is Pep Flag?  

Pep Flags, also known as short flags or twirl flags, is the performing art of twirling one or two flags as part of a choreographed routine. Pep Flag teams can either be a part of a spirit program or a part of a band program. Those affiliated with a spirit program cheer at games along with their cheer team and song teams. Pep Flag teams perform routines on the sidelines, during time-outs, half-times, and rallies. Those affiliated with their band program typically perform and do parades with the band.    

For Spirit programs that have a full unified spirit program (i.e. cheer, song, pep flag, and mascot) they coordinate their sideline material. For example, during a sideline cheer, all teams will be on the sideline in one formation and the motions for the sideline cheer visually coordinate but have small differences depending on the team. 

Typically, songleaders do a “Pom Step” which is a traditional prance step. They do the arm motions for a cheer along with the pom step. Pep Flag teams perform cheers with their flags in their hands and do movements and motions with their flags that are similar to the cheer and song motions. This creates a dynamic and eye-catching visual on the sideline and greatly helps with the crowd to become involved saying cheers and chants.

How is Song/Pom different from a traditional dance team?

Since songleaders are Spiritleaders, the main difference is they cheer at games. They typically perform in a skirt and vest uniform similar to cheerleaders. Dance teams are typically a part of the dance class on campus or performing arts programs. They perform in dance concerts and may also perform at rallies and do half-time performances at games. They usually wear a dance team outfit which may include pants.  

A college dance team is a good example of a song/pom team, except at the college level. You see them on the sidelines at games and the routines they perform are geared to be game entertainment. Routines from traditional dance teams may focus on artistic meaning and interpretation. Traditional dance teams may also perform several different styles including jazz, hip hop, pom, lyrical, contemporary, character, and military. Many high schools on the West coast have both a song/pom team and a dance team on campus which is great for student involvement.  

How do Song/Pom teams and Pep Flag teams receive training?  

The USA provides specialized camp programs for these unique spirit teams. The material is created specifically for song and pep flag teams and the staff are experts in the field.

In addition, USA offers clinics, try-out material, competitions and special events for song/pom and pep flag.

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Written by Carina Clendenin, the Song/Pom & Pep Flag Program Director for USA