Chapter 6 - Flash Cards

Growing in popularity throughout the country are the use of flash cards by the Pep Squad, Rooting Section and Student Body. Stunts with the cards are very easily worked out and with little or no rehearsal by the students they usually go off very well.

Standard flash card size is 14 x 14 inches. This is the size that is most popular although other sizes of stiff cards may be used. Standard flash cards come in two colors. One color on one side and the other color on the back. You may therefore obtain your two school colors on the one card. While the commercially made cards are more costly they are more easily maneuvered and make a better show. With care they can be used over and over if proper means of collecting them are used and sufficient caution is given to the students to handle them with care.

A Cue Card for every participant is also essential. These may be bought or made up on the school's mimeograph. They are inexpensive when ordering from suppliers of this material. The Cue Cards contain instructions to each student having a card.

While it is possible to have a small group of 20 perform card tricks the usual minimum number is about 100. The more over 100 participating increases the effectiveness of the tricks. Small groups of 100 or less are usually limited to block letters or designs with square corners: Example: Chair, Table, Box, Goal Post, etc.

Card stunts may be used in the stadium or gymnasium at day or night games. The use of a flashlight, with stadium lights on or off is also desirable if the stunts are done at night.

After a few stunts have been learned it is possible to have the actual designs move, such as a horse galloping. There is no end to the amusing designs that can be arranged.

Should the stadium have a loud speaking system the use of this in explanation of the design is very valuable. It is usually best to have a special announcer or Captain leading and instructing the group from the front of the card section.

Be sure to salute the visiting team by saying, "HELLO," "WELCOME," then spell out your opponent's name or mascot. Card stunts are very effective from across the field.

General instructions for conducting flash card stunts are as follows:

Instructions For Planning And Presenting Flash Card Stunts

1. Chart on graph paper the section in the stadium to be used for the Flash Card Stunts. A minimum of 100 seats is usually required. For example: Number of cards 100 Stadium 10 rows high Ten seats across in section used

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
SEATS

2. Draw design to be used in charted space. Each seat representing one Flash Card. This same procedure is to be followed for each stunt to be flashed.

3. Record the proper color to be flashed by each seat on the corresponding Cue Card. Example: Cue Card reading Row 3 Seat 6 would show Black for stunt while Row 3 Seat 7 would show White for the stunt, etc. Each seat has a Cue Card.

4. Instructions for students in flashing the cards are found on the Cue Cards.

5. It is usually desirable for each row to have a monitor to pass out Flash Cards and Cue Cards to each student on the row, and to see that each person on his row has the proper Cue Card.

6. The announcer in front of the group should see that each student is lined up directly in back of the student in front, so the design will be straight and true to the graph diagram.

7. After every student has his Flash Card and Cue Card, the announcer prepares the Card Stunt Section for the first Stunt. In conjunction with the script that sometimes is read over the Public Address system, the announcer in front of the Card Section gives the command: "READY FOR
STUNT NO. 1, EVERYBODY DOWN." (Stunts bend forward, cards on lap.) "1 2 3 UP." "HOLD IT, THAT'S VERY GOOD." "NOW
EVERYBODY DOWN ON 3. READY, 1 2 3 DOWN" (etc. for each stunt).

For sections using only 100 Cards, the designs are usually limited to Block letters or designs with square corners. Example: Chair, Table, box, Goal post, etc.

As soon as the series of Stunts have been completed, have the monitors collect the cards so students will not soil them unnecessarily by holding them.

Cue Cards

Every seat and flash card holder must have a cue card. The cue card must show the exact row and seat number it is for. A typical cue card with instructions is as follows:

Row. Seat

These Are Your Card Stunt Instructions

1. Pay close attention to announcer and instructions he gives.

2. When announcer indicates the stunt numbers, locate that stunt on your card.

3. Read color indication, and select the color card called for.

4. Hold color card against your chest with required color away from you.

5. When announcer tells you, bend over.

6. On the count of THREE straighten up, holding top edge of card at eye level.

7. Pass color cards to end of row after all stunts are over.

8. Please do not throw your color cards into the air.

Flashcards For Fifty*

9. Purchase 100 sheets (20" x 28") of not less than 6 ply Bristol Board. (50 sheets of one color and 50 of another color) Staple one of each color together.

10. Plot out on paper marked into squares, on the master diagram the letters or words you wish to use. For example; "T" out of TEAM in accordance with master diagram seats numbered 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38 would flash red and all others white. The corresponding cue cards would have the number circled in red.

11. Make a small cue card for each number. About 2" x 2" is a good size. Circle with a colored pencil each letter on the card with the color that seat number should have out on each letter. Every letter on the card should have the appropriate color circle around the letter.

12. Now you are ready to perform. Seat the group in the bleachers 5 across and 10 down, pass out the cue cards to the appropriate seat number. Also pass out some rubber bands. The cue cards can be put on the wrist out of the way, yet, ready for use. Hold the flashcard in front of the legs until ready for use. Have only one cheerleader leading the flashcard drill so as not to distract attention.

The cheer to spell out "Eagles" goes like this: Cheerleader: "Okay now let's spell out Eagles" "Ready Now All Set?" Response: "You Bet!!!"

This system requires no memorization, and substitutions can easily be made for an absent member.

Flashcards For Large Groups

Any number of students may be used for flash card stunts. In the large Pacific Coast Colleges two to three thousand students are used and the stunts are usually performed without previous rehearsal. Animated figures and cartoons are very popular as well as animations synchronized to the band's music. For example: the animation could be of a bell or bells ringing while the band slowly plays "The Bells of Saint Mary's." The bell forms and sways to a measured arc. To every four beats of the music the swing is completed. Ding-dong, ding, dong.

One large West Coast school uses 2400 hatless, white shirted pep club members who receive all the necessary stunt instructions when they take their seats at the stadium.

To prepare the card stunts and animations a great deal of detail work is necessary.

1. A large 40"x60" board (or larger) is ruled off into squares which are individually numbered to represent every seat to be used.

2. The various words, sketches, animations color combinations, etc., are then worked out and agreed upon.

3. A projection lantern or enlarger is then used to project the picture on the numbered board. Every square along which the outlines of the figures and solids fall is recorded on the cue cards.

4. A printed instruction sheet and a number of 14 x 14 inch different colored cards are at each stadium seat. The seat number is placed on every item at the seat. The student after reading instructions arranges his cards in the order the stunts are to be performed.
 
5. Close attention to the Yell King in charge is now necessary to begin the stunt together. In animated cartoons heavy responsibility falls on the starting number designated. The student holding the second number is usually in the next row above or perhaps one man to left or right. Listening for the Yell King's cue, his eyes are glued on the man just ahead. When this student raises his card squarely in front of his chest, the second student must follow suit and only a split second later. Thus a ripple of movement runs rhythmically up and down, across and around the big board.

Animations of all kinds are possible. For Dad's Day it could be OUR DAD and a picture of Dad rocking in a rocker. Or a picture of a Mustang galloping; a railroad train with spinning wheels and ringing bell; an Indian scalping a Pirate or a player running with the ball.

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