A pom-pon (also spelled pompom) is a loose, fluffy, decorative ball or tuft of fibrous material. Pom-pons may come in many colors, sizes, and varieties and are made from a wide array of materials, including wool,cotton, paper, plastic, and occasionally feathers.
Pom-pons are shaken by cheerleaders and sports fans during spectator sports.
Small decorative pom-pons may be attached to clothing; these are called toories or bobbles.
Pom-pon is derived from the French word pompon, which refers to a small decorative ball made of fabric or feathers.
==Use in Cheerleading/Sports==
Cheerleaders use pom-pons at sports events for four main reasons:
*to attract the attention of the spectators
* to add "sparkle" to a cheer, chant, or dance routine
* to accentuate movements
* to distract the opposing team
Most often, pom-pons are used in pairs (one in each hand), but this may vary with the particular requirements of the choreography of a dance or cheer.
Cheerleading pom-pons come in a variety of shapes, styles, colors, color combinations, and sizes. Shiny metallic pom-pons have become very popular in recent years.
Pom-pons are also waved by sports fans, primarily at college and high school sports events in the United States, Cheap, light-weight faux pom-pons in team colors are sometimes given or sold to spectators at such events.
Many schools and universities have dance teams in addition to their cheerleading groups. The dance teams may also use pom-pons occasionally.