How to Start a Drill Team for a School
High school drill teams have been around since the 1920s in the form of pep squads. (see reference 3) Usually comprised of high school and college aged girls, drill teams dance in formation in support of their school's sports teams in pep assemblies, a charitable event or a parade. Being part of a drill team instills a hard work ethic, dedication and a sense of community, so starting a team for your organization will bring many benefits.
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Things You'll Need
- Team name
- Team uniforms
- Shoes or boots
- Pom poms
- Rain ponchos
- Music
- Choreographer
- Practice space
- Fundraising plans
Instructions
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1
Write a constitution or a mission statement to your school and community, according to American Dance/Drill Team, stating your intent by creating a drill team. Your constitution will declare the age range of the young people, your needs from the school, community and parents to help ensure the success of the team. Your constitution will also include your plans regarding rehearsal, where the young people will perform and the overall long and short term purpose of the term. Your constitution and the response from it will help to determine whether there is enough interest from the community, the school administration and school board to support a drill team within your school.
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2
Promote drill team tryouts in advance. Once you have assessed that there will be enough interest in a drill team, place colorful posters throughout the school. Enlist other teachers, particularly physical education teachers, to help in your efforts by asking them to mention tryouts in class.
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Audition team members. Create a set criteria in advance to ensure a fair selection process, such as ability to perform certain movements, keep time and follow instructions.
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Design a team costume. The foundation of your team costume will incorporate the school's colors as well as a team mascot, but after that, you and your team can be creative. You may choose to go to a professional costume designer to help bring your vision to life, or if you or someone you know can do the sewing, you can keep the project in-house and under a smaller budget. You will also need to consider footwear that will go well with the costumes and be uniform for all members.
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Come up with a team name. You and your team can be creative, but teams often use the school's mascot as a foundation. For example, if a high school's mascot is a tiger, a team may be called "Tigerettes," if all members would be girls.
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Designate a regular rehearsal space. Work with school administrators to find a specific time and place for the team to practice. Alert the team members that they should meet at the space punctually for each practice.
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Work with school administrators and athletic coaches for basketball and football to have your team present at sporting events for support and to perform. Contact local event sponsors and let them know that you have a team and would like to perform at a variety of events.
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Choreograph dance and drill movements. If you have the skills to do this, create choreographed sets for your team members to learn and perform. Seek out a professional choreographer if you need to.
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Choose your team's music, including a team song. Find a popular song with lyrics that fits your team's identity or purpose. Or you could alter the lyrics to include your team's motto or other characteristics.
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Raise funds for your team. Your team, their parents and the community will be part of this ongoing process. Be creative with your moneymaking ideas with events like car washes. Reach out to your community to ask for discount cards for the students to sell.
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Perform at scheduled functions. Make sure that you and your team meet all of your obligations to the school and community with punctuality, the proper costume and attire and a sense of pride that will help promote future invitations.
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Mentor future drill team members. Continue reaching out to younger students and encouraging future members to try out and be a part of the team so you will have a constant flow of eager team members.
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Tips & Warnings
Add accessories such as pom poms and hats once your team has become more established to give more your team more style. Waiting to do this will allow your team to develop its own unique personality and it will be easier to decide what types of accessories will fit.
Fundraising will be important and will need to be done each year to maintain the team's operating expenses such as travel, costume accessories and competitions.
Be firm in making attendance and timeliness mandatory for rehearsals as well as performances.
