At any given track meet, the team slogans on the back of most team’s warm up suits are often as hilarious as they are motivational. Fans can expect to see anything from, “Run like you stole something” to, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” Where on earth do these slogans come from, who approves them, and what is behind the major attitude displayed on the backs of so many teams? Team slogans for track and field are often funny, attitude laden and tough as nails. Let us get to the bottom of this athletic slogan trend.

Who Comes Up with These Things?

Team slogans for track and field are largely generated from the track team members themselves. Sometimes the team will think up a slogan for the entire season. On the other hand, sometimes a special slogan will be generated for a special meet or important occasion. Sometimes the team slogans are aimed at the other team, such as, “You can hide but you can’t run.” These slogans are meant to intimidate their opponents and give them an edge on the race. Other slogans are generated to foster team pride, such as, “The pride you gain is worth the pain.” No matter what the slogan’s aim, the fact that the whole team wears the same slogan on their backs is a unifying force that gives the team a sense of solidarity and helps them to function as one unit.

Who Approves the Slogans?

Often, the coach of any given track team is required to approve the team slogan before it goes to print. Team slogans for track and field do not undergo any censorship at the hands of track meet judges but the basic rules of propriety are enforced by their own coaches back at home. Sometimes, parents will be outraged by slogans that coaches let sneak by. In this case, the final say is the coaches but a parent can take the matter up with the head of athletics at their child’s school and if they do not feel that their voice has been heard, they can take the matter up with the school board or the PTA. Teams have been known to squeak through the censors with slogans such as, “Strap on a Pair”, but that is none too common an occurrence.

What is Behind a Slogan?

Team slogans for track and field are meant to express the spirit of each individual team. Most team slogans portray a team of runners that is willing to push past the pain, into victory. Some teams use their slogans to express a little bit of sass intermingled with their grit as with the team who’s t-shirts boasted, “Our mascara runs faster than you.” Some teams wax philosophical with their team motto, such as the team who boasts the slogan, “The oxen is slow but the earth is patient.” Perhaps this team has the strategy of confusing their opponent runners with their confusing slogan, and distracting them from the race at hand.
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