When the typical high school alumni looks back on their experience, football games under the Friday night lights are most often the first thing that pops into their mind. The reason behind most of the students’ attendance is getting to dress to a theme, having fun with their classmates and watching interesting plays. The school’s sporting events are generally a lot of fun, but a more relaxed collaboration between the Associated Student Body and administrators is necessary to make the game and overall experience even more enjoyable.
According to the school’s junior class vice president, Jakob Tu (11), the school’s ASB program has tried tirelessly to get new entertainment items for the football games, such as “beach balls and fireworks.” But due to the constricting administration and CIF rules and regulations, their abilities are limited. Would more fans show up if the ASB’s spirit squad entertainers had more freedom with the items used at the game?
Although the policies are restricted to ensure the safety of students and fans, there are requests and additional desires.
“It would be really cool if we could get smoke machines, glitter, fireworks and maybe powder in our section,” Tess Wheatley (11) said.
The main purpose of the game is supporting the athletes and being more involved with the school, which contributes to the spirit. Teenagers tend to build off of the energy that they are surrounded by. With the additions that ASB could bring, there would be a more energetic and appealing student section, and the crowd would be more engaged in the game and overall experience.
“Players have come forth to ASB and expressed the impact of falcon spirit on their performance, associating the energy from the stands as a strong motivator in their overall game,” Cade Barber (11), ASB visual commissioner said.
The energy of the student section plays an integral role in getting students to show up, showcasing just how important it is for ASB to use other resources to enhance the overall game experience.
“The way we do things in the student section is ASB or Student Senate comes up with [the entertainment items for the games], it comes to us, ASB talks about it, I think about it, I take it to administration and athletics, we talk about it and decide if thats something that our school can safely do or not,” ASB director, Leadership and English 9 teacher, Jennifer Ryan, said.
“The process that ASB members go through to get their props, ideas and plans for upcoming games accepted is tedious and takes time, patience and discussion,” Ryan said.
The rules restricting the student section are in thought of the safety of the students.But finding a balance between safety and allowing for spirited enthusiasm can help create an even more enjoyable atmosphere during sporting events.
“We also have to follow CIF rules,” Ryan said. “I attend CIF workshops and meetings along with all of the other ASB directors in San Diego county. We all go to those meetings, so that we are all on the same page about safety.”
Since all of the county high school ASB directors in San Diego have to attend these CIF safety workshops and meetings, it is seemingly obvious that our school’s administration is more tedious and picky about the happenings in our section.
“Every request for equipment, games, pyrotechnics and more has to be passed through administration in which they will debate the safety and foreseen consequences of such incorporations,” Barber said. “[It] can be frustrating because not all of ASB’s visions and plans are able to be conducted. It ultimately comes down to proving yourself and your ability to make sure the base purposes of your product are operational through many practice runs before you can advance on more advanced and risky plans.”
Other schools in the San Diego area, like Rancho Bernardo High School, have more fluidity within their rules and regulations, due to their location in the Poway Unified School District. Pictured on their infamous TikTok account @thestablestampede, RBHS’ stadium stands, also called “The Stable,” is seen using fireworks, blowing smoke through the crowd and using rally-rags corresponding with the theme of the game.
“We use a carbon dioxide cannon and handouts at our games,” Kate Hendrickson (12), ASB head of connections at RBHS, said. “Lots of props and things people can hold and wave around tend to be popular for us such as balloon animals, balloons, glow sticks, wands, towels. Our football team controls fireworks.”
Located in the Carlsbad Unified School District, Carlsbad High School TikTok’s have come across all of our screens — smoke blowing around their section, coloring flying, and music blaring — and at that moment we have all probably thought once or twice about transferring to the other side of the field.
Disregarding what we can and cannot use in student sections, the experience is inevitably about watching the football game and creating the energy ourselves, without the need of external factors.
“We don’t need fireworks and other stuff that we see on TikTok to have a good game … if that’s what makes or breaks your experience, then stay home,” Barber said.
In a sense, Barber is right. The fundamentals of the game itself are enough to get blood rushing through a crowd and get fans riled up, having nothing short of a good time. Although, is there ever too much fun to be had at a high school football game — if done so safely? Personally, I don’t think so.
Allowing for both safety and enjoyment will help ensure that these memories from the stands are cherished, and the athletes on the field are getting the support they deserve.
“The more the merrier,” Tu said, “There’s so many more exciting things that ASB can do within our student sections, it’s just a matter of getting approval from the admin.”
