School colors are the colors representing theschool of which one goes to.
School colors are often found in pairs and rarely no more than trios, though some professional teams use up to four colors in a set. The choice of colors usually follows therule of tincture fromheraldry, but exceptions to this rule are known.
Commonprimary colors includeorange,purple,blue,red, andgreen. These colors are either paired with a color representing a metal (oftenblack,brown,gray (orsilver),white, orgold), or occasionally each other, such asorange/blue,red/green, orblue/yellow. Pairing two metals, such asblack/white,silver or gold, and especiallyblack/gold, is also a common practice. Finally, someAmerican schools, in a display of patriotism, adopt the national colors ofred/white/blue.
In an effort to further establish identity and promote a standard, many institutions often decree the use of specific shades of colors.Maroon, generally regarded as a darker shade of red, is a common primary color. Various shades of blue, frompowder toPrussian, are also in use; a few schools have adopted two different shades of blue for their colors, with the darker shade serving as the primary. The shade of gold can vary greatly even within an institution, from a vividyellow to a more convincingold gold.
Black, white and gray are often used as neutral colors for sets that do not otherwise adopt them. This practice is especially notable in basketball (where home uniforms are often white) and professional baseball (where team colors are often used as trim for white or gray uniforms).
Most competitive teams keep two sets of uniforms, with one design emphasizing the primary color and the other emphasizing thesecondary color. In some sports, such asfootball, the primary color is emphasized on home uniforms, while uniforms for other sports, notablybasketball, use the secondary or a neutral color at home. This is done to avoid confusion when playing a team with similar colors.
In addition, various groups that generate support for athletic teams, includingcheerleaders andmarching bands, wear uniforms with the colors of their school.
At many private schools 'school colours' areawards presented for achievement in a subject or a sport - SeeSporting Colours.
