How to Write a Team Spirit Slogan

Slogans are everywhere. They advertise. They remind. They inspire. They tickle the funny bone. Everyone seems to have one and if you want to promote team spirit, you probably should, too. Whether its purpose is temporary, ("Kill the bulldogs!") or more lasting ("School pride. Feel it."), the slogan you write can make your team more memorable and your school more effective.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil and paper

Write a Team Spirit Slogan

1. Ask yourself what you want your slogan to do. You may want to motivate people to come to the next game, to inform them of what a good team or school they have or to point to specific qualities or advantages of team spirit.

2. Decide what kind of tone you want to set. Young people generally prefer a humorous or flippant approach, but will respond to a serious point if it is made well and briefly. (Note that slogans for athletic shoes strive to be inspiring, not funny.)

3. Write a list of "buzz words," or terms that carry their own cultural connotation with them. "Imagine," "dream" and "achieve" conjure up inspiration almost automatically, while "drive," "dare" and "reach" all suggest bold action.

4. Use a few powerful words, especially nouns and verbs, rather than a lot of ordinary ones. Example: "The Lions are the best team in the district" vs. "Lions. Hear them roar."

5. Look at some popular slogans that convey about the same meaning and tone that you want. Examine how they are put together and what kind of words they use, but do not copy or spoof them.

6. Say the slogans you are considering out loud. Make sure that they mean what you intend and nothing else. Run them past a few students to be sure that there are no unintentional references or double meanings in youth slang.

7. Display the slogan on a banner at the school entrance and at games and rallies. Invent a cheer which repeats the slogan. Use any way possible to get people saying the slogan.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider a slogan competition judged by a selection of students, teachers (at least one from the English department) and coaches. Lay down guidelines about the number of words, what it is meant to convey and use of appropriate language.
• Avoid bad puns and references to pop culture (TV shows, popular Web sites or music) that may be outdated before the next game.
• Don't overdo it. Devices such as alliteration (repeating the initial sound--"Be loyal to the lions"), rhyme and folksiness can sound phony.

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