Throughout the seasons for different sports and extracurriculars, there are many student athletes who wish to participate in these activities. Being on the team means a lot for students who dedicate their time and interest to their sport. There are many things that bring unity and team spirit to a sports team. What is this? School spirit packs.
These packs, often filled with team-branded gear, have become more than just accessories for game day. They’ve evolved into a symbol of shared identity and pride, creating a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond the field or court.
For student-athletes, spirit packs have a major impact on them. Other than the obvious reason for a spirit pack, which is to have the whole team look good, the packs serve as a reminder of the community’s unwavering support.
“When we put on our team gear, it’s not just about looking good; it’s a symbol of the hard work we’ve put in and the community standing behind us. It gives us the confidence to perform at our best.” 11th grader Student-athlete Krista Ray said.
The impact of school spirit packs isn’t just to athletes alone, but also to families, friends, and even those who may not have direct ties to the sports teams. Local businesses have embraced the trend, offering deals to those representing team colors on game days. This sense of community has cultivated an environment where neighbors become teammates, and strangers become instant friends.
For example, this has relevance to our school football home games. When there are themes like Pink out, USA, Neon-night, etc, it encourages students, families, and friends to come together to support these home games and our players.
“I’ve really enjoyed dressing up for our school games. Not only is it fun, but it brings spirit to our school and connects everybody in a type of way,” says 11th grader Student council Nazir Ferha.
As the trend of sports spirit packs continues to grow, teams become more recognized and the school becomes more recognized, especially on game days. One of the biggest factors school spirit packs hold is shared identity. These packs have proven to be more than just a collection of clothing and accessories-they are the threads that weave a tight-knit community together, one game day at a time.
However, the increased demand for spirit packs has led to variations in pricing. Basic spirit packs, containing essentials like T-shirts and caps, can be found at affordable prices ranging from twenty-dollars to fifty-dollars. Meanwhile, “superior” spirit packs, which may include hoodies, jackets, and accessories, can reach upwards of hundred dollars or more. But in Spring Valley’s case, now spirit packs can range from a hundred dollars, to maybe even seven-hundred dollars. This has students definitely conflicted, as the prices can be high for some student-athletes.
“I definitely think this year’s spirit packs for all sports in general have changed. I do feel like last year, our spirit packs were much more affordable and on the cheaper side. This year, the prices have increased by a lot and we have to pay hundreds of dollars.” 12th grader Flag Football player Janiya Brooks said.
“Even though the prices were higher this year, I do think the spirit pack was worth it. I think having a spirit pack for a high school sports team is very important and plays one of the biggest roles in team spirit.” She also says, “Although I paid hundreds of dollars for Flag Football this year, at least our team will be leaving the bus looking good.”
Many other sports, not just Flag Football, have been experiencing the same situation as well. Whereas the prices for spirit packs have gone higher, it might be more of a problem for some student-athletes to acquire the packs.
“The spirit packs might be hard for some student-athletes to pay for,” says 12th grader Flag football player Alaizza Romero. “That’s why we have a donation website to help fundraise for our Flag Football spirit pack, and everybody as a team is included.”
With the prices of school spirit packs rising, schools are having donation options to help fundraise for these different sports, so all sports teams can play together as a whole with no one being left out. As well as having the option to be a part of the team without having to pay something you are not able to.
School Spirit packs make a big impact on a team’s spirit, and represent who the team is playing for/what kind of team they are. It is one of the reasons why athletes become motivated to play, and it brings dedication as well as support from families, friends, and more.
“I really like the spirit packs. It is probably one of my favorite things about being on a sports team. It really makes you feel like you belong on the team, and you also get to show off some “swag” as well.” 11th grader student-athlete Janiah Vance said.
