High School Varsity Letterman Jacket
From LoveToKnow Cheerleading
In most schools, cheerleaders can earn a letter for a high school varsity letterman jacket just like any other athlete. However, the cheerleading and pom squad will sometimes create their own jackets or a version of a letterman jacket depending on the school's policy regarding letters for athletes and the school's stance on cheerleading as an athletic sport.
About High School Varsity Letterman Jackets
Traditionally, high school athletes can "letter" in various sports and then have the distinguished honor of wearing a letterman jacket. The physical letter on the jacket is generally the first letter of the high school or sometimes the first letter of the high school along with the letters "HS" for high school. However, cheerleaders are not always offered the opportunity to earn a letter because the school doesn't recognize cheerleading as a sport.
Cheerleaders' High School Varsity Letterman Jackets
There are many ways in which cheerleaders might distinguish their letterman jackets.
Cheerleading Pins for Athlete Cheerleaders
Make no mistake, cheerleaders are athletic in every sense of the word. In fact, so athletic is this group that more than half participate in some other high school sport. Consequently, many cheerleaders letter in another sport and wear a pin supporting their cheerleading squad on their letterman jacket. The pin is generally the same for all athlete cheerleaders at the school, and it might be something like a megaphone or pom poms.
Special Cheerleading Jackets
Many schools, wanting to recognize all the hard work and achievements of all clubs have begun designing separate styles of letters for each club type to be worn on the same jacket. So while athletes of traditional sports might have the traditional block letter, marching band students might have an old English style letter, and cheerleaders might have a cursive letter. This decision to differentiate jackets like this is generally made by either the school's booster club as a school wide effort, or it's made by the squad themselves.
Other Patches for Letterman Jackets
Another option for cheerleaders is to get a letterman jacket with special embroidery on the back to designate it as a pom or cheerleader jacket. Any place that sells letterman jackets will also sell theme embroidered patches, so check with your school's supplier.
Alternatives to Letterman Jackets
Sometimes cheerleaders opt not to have letterman jackets. This generally is when the cheer squad is mostly a dance squad as opposed to a stunting squad. Sometimes the school has a policy that reserves letterman jackets for specific sports. Other times, the cheerleading squad simply decides to choose something that goes with their uniforms better and can be worn when it's cold.
Customized High School Jackets
Consider ordering from the same supplier that provides other athletes with letterman jackets, but opt for different styles. For example:
- The typical letter jacket has leather arms and a wool body. Instead opt for an all wool jacket to set yourself and your squad apart.
- Many squads opt for a lined nylon jacket because it's easy to move around in and is generally waterproof.
- Get a sailor collar. You can have "cheerleader" or "poms" written on the back of the color while the front looks the same as other letter jackets.
Regardless of what your squad decides to do, there are ample options available through your school's supplier.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 1,840 times. This page was last modified 21:53, 30 June 2009.
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