Comet cheerleaders ‘shout out’ across the field

Press Staff Report

CHARLES CITY — The term “Pay it Forward” has become the rallying cry of a more selfless civil movement.

“Shout it Forward” is what cheerleading squads across the nation are doing this football season.

“Shout Outs Across the Field” is a program sponsored by Varsity Spirit, a company that sells cheerleading and dance apparel, trains cheerleaders and dancers at educational camps and hosts cheerleading competitions.

It consists of traveling megaphones that are passed from one cheerleading squad to another before or during halftimes of football games.

“When we were at Union, their cheerleaders gave it to us,” said Charles City cheerleading coordinator Marla Rima, just before her squad was going to pass the megaphone to Oelwein’s squad before the Comets’ home game against the Huskies last Friday.

“The home team gives it to the visiting team, and when they have a home game, they pass it on to another visiting team,” Rima said.

With the hashtag #Acrossthefield accompanied with the tag @VarsityFashions, the temporary owners of the megaphone are encouraged to post inspirational photos and messages with the megaphone via social media.

Teams are also encouraged to write a motivational quote or message on the megaphone itself before passing it along to another squad.