6 Pep Rally Ideas You’ve Probably Never Thought Of (But Should Totally Try!)

As cheer coaches, we live for the pep rally, the music, the energy, the whole-school spirit explosion. But let’s be honest: some pep rallies start feeling the same year after year. Same games. Same dance. Same response.

So, what if this year you shook things up?

Here are 6 creative, crowd-pleasing pep rally ideas you may have never thought of designed to surprise your audience and reignite school spirit in a whole new way.

1. Reverse Pep Rally

Instead of the students watching performances the whole time, they make the show.

Break the student section into grade levels and assign each a chant or short routine taught by the cheerleaders beforehand. Then at the rally, let them perform it as a grade-level spirit competition.

Bonus: Create a giant scoreboard and have teachers judge the performances.

2. “Teacher Stunt Squad”

Ask a few brave teachers to try stunts (safely!) or join in on a sideline routine. You’ll get huge laughs and guaranteed crowd attention.

Let cheerleaders teach basic:

• Thigh stands
• Cheer motions
• Sideline dances

Have a mic’d-up announcer narrating their “training montage” as if they’re competing at Nationals.

3. Mascot Obstacle Course

Put your school mascot through a fun, messy obstacle course:

• Crawl under streamer tunnels
• Jump through hula hoops
• Balance a pom on a spoon

Make it into a timed competition with music, and invite other mascots from nearby schools or sports teams.

People love a mascot moment and this one creates instant hype.

4. Lip Sync Battle (Student vs. Staff)

Let your cheer captains challenge school staff to a lip sync battle.

Pick hype songs, have minimal props or costumes, and assign judges or let the crowd vote by noise.

Keep rounds short (30 seconds to 1 minute) to maintain momentum.

5. Spirit Stick Hide & Seek

In the days leading up to the pep rally, hide a "spirit stick" somewhere in the school each day and drop clues on social media.

Reveal the winners (and their prizes) at the pep rally.

This builds excitement before the rally and gets the whole school involved.

6. “Future Stars” Performance

Invite local elementary or middle school cheerleaders or dancers to perform during the pep rally.

Why it works:

• Parents and younger siblings come to watch
• Your school looks supportive and inclusive
• It gives your athletes a leadership moment (mentor the little ones!)

Use it as a media moment for the school newsletter or social channels.

Final Thoughts

Pep rallies are not just about loud music and throwing T-shirts. They’re about engagement, inclusivity, and fun. When you try new ideas and bring unexpected energy, you leave your students remembering why they love being part of your school’s spirit.

Now go out there and create a rally that breaks the routine and maybe even becomes tradition.