Pep flags

Pep flags, also known as short flags, small flags, flaggies, or twirl flags is the performing art of twirling one or two flag(s) as part of a choreographed routine. In recent years, some schools have implemented a third and even fourth flag in routines. This performing art is mainly prominent in Southern California high schools in various school districts. It is not only limited to high schools however, as they do exist in elementary, middle school and college/university levels - though seldom. Although pep flags has been around for many decades (and has evolved much since then), it has been gaining more and more popularity. It has spanned out to other areas in Northern California, Colorado, Nevada, Florida as well as other countries such as Japan.

Pep flags is often associated with cheerleading, as it is one of the main subdivisions of the spirit world: cheerleading, songleading/pom pom, mascots and pep flags). Not to be confused with auxiliary or colorguard, pep flags is a separate discipline. However, much like other auxiliary and spirit teams, Pep Flags takes much hand and eye coordination, athleticism, showmanship and overall teamwork and good sportmanship. Many flag routines involve choreography to music, dance/cheer elements (such as kicklines, pyramid mounts, etc.), numerous combinations of twirls, flag tricks, and flag tosses (also known as exchanges).

Many schools that have a Pep Flag squad can generally be seen performing at school pep rallies, football games (pre-game, half-time or even along the sideline with the cheerleaders), and cheering at other sporting events during the fall. Some may be seen marching with their school's band during parade season. In the spring, teams compete in several indoor competitions against other schools. Some of the main competitions that occur are: United Spirit Association (USA) Regionals and Nationals, Miss Dance Drill/Team USA, Sharp competitions as well as smaller school-sponsored competitions throughout the Southern California area. Generally, these competitions have two separate divisions for one flag and two flag routines. In addition, they may also include solo, duet, and trio divisions as well.

Facts

Bishop Montgomery, Carson, Channel Islands, Crescenta Valley, Narbonne, Troy and Westchester (all located in Southern California) were the first few high schools to have a pep flags team.

The first couple competitions of the season are usually held on the same weekend in January by the United Spirit Association as a qualifier to compete at their Spirit Nationals, held each year in March at the Anaheim Convention Center.

One of the very first pep flags fan site was www.pepflags101.com, but is no longer a running website. However, shortflags.blogspot.com/ is the newest website with facts pertaining to the Pep Flag world. It is a community based blog, where various authors in the Pep Flag scene collaborate to contribute to the site's posts and serves to inform and has an intent to unite the community.

Schools (Past and Present)

• Adolfo Camarillo High School

• Arcadia High School

• Bell High School

• Bishop Montgomery High School earned the Two Flag Championship title at Miss Dance/Drill Team USA in 1986 and the championship title at Miss Dance/Drill Team International in 1986 and 1990. Bishop Montgomery also won USA Nationals in 1997. Bishop Montgomery was also one of the first schools to have a male compete at USA Regionals 2006.

• Cabrillo High School

• California Academy of Math and Science

• Carson High School is the second school to 3-peat at USA Nationals (2004, 2005, 2006) and are also the originators of twirling three flags. Carson is also known for their "show-off" line. They earned back-to-back wins at USA Nationals in both 1 and 2 Flag divisions in 2005 and 2006. Carson did not compete at USA Nationals in 2007. They also brought much publicity to pep flags when they were featured in Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" video in 2005.

• Channel Islands High School is the first school to 3-peat twice at USA Nationals (1986, 1987, 1988 and again in 2001, 2002, 2003). Channel Islands did not compete at USA Nationals in 1997. They have also earned the championship titles at Miss Dance/Drill Team International in 1985, 1987, 2001 and 2003. They are known for innovating the Pep Flag division purely through the art of adapting. The team has also implemented changing their flags in a "flag-change," much like what is seen in a colorguard or winterguard routines.

• Crescenta Valley High School

• Glendora High School

• Kyoei Gakuen High School (Japan)

• Herbert Hoover High School

• La Canada High School

• Leuzinger High School

• Long Beach Poly High Schoolearned their first USA Nationals Championship in both the 1 flag and 2 flag divisions in 2008. Also first school to have a male on their squad to win a USA Nationals Championship that same year.

• Monte Vista High School

• Morse High School

• Mount Diablo High School

• Narbonne High School has won the Miss Dance/Drill Team USA championships from 1991-1998, and 2008. They also earned the championship title at Miss Dance/Drill Team International in 1989 and 1994. Narbonne did not compete in 2005 and 2006 seasons. They have also won the USA National Champion titles in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1999.

• Oxnard High School was one of the first schools to have a male that competed at USA Nationals in 2006 (placing fourth) and the first school to have two males to compete on a team at USA Nationals 2007 competition (placing sixth).

• San Gabriel High School

• San Pedro High School

• San Ramon Valley High School

• South Gate High School

• South Pasadena High School

• St. Patrick - St. Vincent High School

• Temple City High School

• UC San Diego

• Westchester High School

Pep Flags in media

Pep flags, or the use of pep flags, can be seen in:

Musicals

• Legally Blonde (2007) - "What You Want"

Music videos

• Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" (2005)
• Panic! at the Disco - "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (2006)

Television

• Ninja Warrior

Competition history

Year	USA National Champions (Two Flag Division)	USA National Champions (One Flag Division)
2008	Long Beach Polytechnic High School	Long Beach Polytechnic High School
2007	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School
2006	Carson High School	Carson High School
2005	Carson High School	Carson High School (One flag division was reinstated in 2005)
2004	Carson High School
2003	Channel Islands High School
2002	Channel Islands High School
2001	Channel Islands High School
2000	Carson High School
1999	Narbonne High School
1998	Channel Islands High School
1997	Bishop Montgomery High School
1996	Narbonne High School
1995	Narbonne High School
1994	Arapahoe High School
1993	Narbonne High School
1992	Narbonne High School
1991	Channel Islands High School
1990	Narbonne High School
1989	Carson High School
1988	Channel Islands High School	Carson High School
1987	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School
1986	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School

Year	Miss Dance/Drill Team USA Champions (Two Flag Division)	Miss Dance/Drill Team USA Champions (One Flag Division)	Miss Dance/Drill Team International Champions
2008	Narbonne High School	Channel Islands High School	Kyoei Gakuen High School (Japan)
2007	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School
2006	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School	Kyoei Gakuen High School (Japan)
2005	Channel Islands High School	(One and Two flag divisions have been combined up to 2006)
2004	Channel Islands High School
2003	Channel Islands High School		Channel Islands High School
2002	Channel Islands High School
2001	Channel Islands High School		Channel Islands High School
2000	Channel Islands High School
1999	Channel Islands High School
1998	Narbonne High School
1997	Narbonne High School
1996	Narbonne High School
1995	Narbonne High School
1994	Narbonne High School		Narbonne High School
1993	Narbonne High School
1992	Narbonne High School
1991	Narbonne High School
1990	Channel Islands High School	(One and Two flag divisions were combined this year)	Bishop Montgomery High School
1989	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School	Narbonne High School
1988	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School
1987	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School
1986	Bishop Montgomery High School	Channel Islands High School	Bishop Montgomery High School
1985	Westchester High School	Channel Islands High School	Channel Islands High School

See also

• Cheerleading
• Ōendan
• Pep squad

External links

• United Spirit Association (Host of Regional and National competitions)
• Sharp International (Host of State, National and World competitions)
• Miss Dance/Drill Team USA (Host of National and International competitions)
• PepFlags.com
• Short Flags blog (A comprehensive website with various Pep Flags news and media)