pep rally

pep rally (plural pep rallies)

1. An extracurricular school activity in which students gather to express support for the school sports team before a game.
   • 2010, Douglas E. Foley, Learning Capitalist Culture: Deep in the Heart of Tejas, →ISBN, page 28:

     Students, whether they liked football or not, looked forward to Friday afternoons. Regular seventh period classes were let out early to hold a mass pep rally to support the team.

   • 2012, Monty Newport, Tuff Guy: The Story of a Lost and Found Dog in Alabama, →ISBN, page 31:

     It was at the pep rally for UNA's first football game, their freshman year, when Mary Beth and Dwayne met.

   • 2017, Jane Wilkinson, Laurette Bristol, Educational Leadership as a Culturally-Constructed Practice, →ISBN:

     At a pep rally we were screaming and stuff and he was, “Guys quiet down or there's not going to be another pep rally”.

2. (by extension) A meeting or gathering for the purpose of instilling enthusiasm and motivation in attenders.
   • 2009, Dennis Snow, Teri Yanovitch, Unleashing Excellence: The Complete Guide to Ultimate Customer Service, →ISBN:

     When a service improvement process is first rolled out, the training sessions can be somewhat of a pep rally to get employees excited about the effort.

   • 2010, Robert McLaughlin, Frank R. Adamo, Freedomland, →ISBN:

     In Little Old New York, there is a political pep rally at the front steps of the Bank of New York.

   • 2010, Gary J. Borgstede, The Make It Happen Journey, →ISBN:

     You will be amazed at how creative a small group of outstanding people can actually make the pep rally meeting more than just another staff meeting.

   • 2018, Veronica Manlow, Designing Clothes: Culture and Organization of the Fashion Industry, →ISBN:

     The 2004 pep rally, a company activity where employees are entertained and encouraged to do more for the company, featured a company fashion show.