Whether it be through candy, post-game dinners or group activities, athletic teams have found ways to bond together, but one that most may not know about is gear. Even something as small as matching water bottles or backpacks can go a long way in building relationships and improving morale for games.
From the cheese hats that Green Bay Packers fans don as a symbol of support to painting the Seattle Seahawks team logo on one’s lawn, there are various ways that athletes and fans alike can find solidarity through their love for the sport. Track and field, cross country and soccer athlete and junior Ella Bailey and basketball athlete and junior decorate their gear for self-expression and team bonding.
“If you’re having dinner or hanging out together, you’re not really focused on one common goal,” Bailey said. “But if you’re decorating spikes together, you all get something out of it. I really do think that it fosters team togetherness and chemistry because you’re doing something beside[s] your sport with your teammates.”
Bailey has bedazzled track spikes that were inspired by a TikTok trend from the beginning of this year’s track season. By attaching gems to the sides of the shoes and along the Nike Swoosh, Bailey said that the gear reminds her of teammates and the time they spent together to decorate the spikes.
“I like how [the decorated spikes] show up in pictures,” Bailey said. “A lot of people comment on spikes, and I see a lot of other people with decorated spikes too, so it’s something to bond over with other people who I haven’t met before. If they have decorated spikes, it just gives us something to talk about.”
On the other hand, Shiono’s basketball team has matching bags personalized with their last name, number and keychains that differentiates each member’s bag from the other. Currently, her bag has two Squishmallow keychains and a hand sanitizer. Shiono also uses a bright magenta-colored Hydro Flask that is decorated with stickers of Hawaii. Not only does this help with her self-expression but it also improves morale during games by giving Shiono something familiar to ground herself.
“I recommend other athletes to decorate their gear,” Shiono said. “Every time I see my decorations on my bag or my water bottle, it reminds me of who I am and the things I care about, which deepen[s] my passion for athletics. Decorations go far beyond visuals, it’s a way to stay connected to identity in athletics.”
