Eight ways to have fun at games while supporting teams
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
One of my favorite things about high school sports are the teams, coaches, players and fans showing spirit for not only their school, but showing pride for their town.
I've been told by a variety of people and I've noticed myself (at times) that the spirit of towns in Highland County may not be up to full force like in previous years when it comes to supporting athletic programs.
That's OK, it's early. But don't worry, I'm here to help!
It just so happens that everyone reading this is lucky. Attending sporting events is not just a career choice for me, it is also a hobby of mine.
Take, for example, Cincinnati with the Reds. Where are all of their fans? Only 12,000 paid attendance Monday for a first-place team? Do fans realize their team is in first place and are about to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995?
Just to let you know how long ago that was, I was just starting middle school (I think) and most of the high school athletes we watch this season were probably 2 or 3 years old back then.
Plus, the Reds actually are guaranteed a winning season, and people still only show up on bobblehead night or when the St. Louis Cardinals or Chicago Cubs are in town.
Well, that helps make my point.
Fans want their teams to be good or want the season to get here so they can support them, but when it is time to show up, their schedules are full or they forget how to be a fan.
If you are one of the ones who do show up, good for you.
But, there is also an responsibility to make attending games more than just a social event. Have fun with the actual game and support the players by root, root, rooting for the home team (or away team if that is who you support) throughout the game.
And yes, I have ways to make the games more fun for the fans in the stands. If the fans are providing a great atmosphere, the players will build off of that, which could make for better games.
Here are eight ways to make attending high school sports more enjoyable.
8. Get a favorite shirt and wear it each game
I do this with my pro team in football. Each week for the past 3 years, I have put on the same gray Dallas Cowboys shirt on either a Sunday, Monday and sometimes on a Thursday or Saturday.
Trust me, having a favorite team shirt makes the anticipation for the game that much greater. You will get into a routine of wearing the same shirt, jersey, or hoodie each week, and once it become a habit, it just feels right.
I did have a hat, but a loss a couple seasons ago to the Steelers made the hat go into retirement due to a career-ending injury. So, be nice to your new game day attire; once it's gone, you'll miss it. Just try it for the rest of the season, you will thank me later.
7. Cheer when in the stands
Contrary to popular belief, there have been games I've attended where you would have thought it was a golf match rather than a football game with how quiet it has been.
Attending sporting events is about being loud, within reason, and just letting loose for a couple hours.
Players do feed off a loud crowd. It pumps up everyone there.
So it is a good thing to cheer instead of chit-chatting. That can happen after the game.
6. Find a favorite player to watch
This is an easy one if you have a family member on the field. But for the non-family member, just find a player on the field and keep track of what they do. The player could be your favorite because of their effort when on the field or they are wearing your favorite number. It doesn't matter, but having a favorite player could make the game more enjoyable.
5. Watch the offensive and defensive line battles
Though it's not the first place most fans look, the battles that happen in the trenches are fierce and some of the best football you will see all game.
What can be better than seeing a perfectly executed block on a defensive player, or seeing a guard pull and become the lead blocker for a running back?
How about when the defensive line breaks through the offense and sacks the quarterback after beating his man with a spin move or just bull rushes the blocker into the play? That, my friends, is a work of art.
4. Jam with the band
One of the best ways to support high school sports is to listen and cheer with the marching or pep band. If that doesn't help get a team pumped up and a crowd rallied up, what can?
3. Help spread the word before the games
I like when towns support their teams with signs in the store front windows in support of their hometown team. Some towns live by this rule all school year long, and some bust out the school spirit during big rivalry games or playoff time.
With that, I challenge all the towns of Highland County to help with this. Let's just put any kind of signage or message for our high school team in support of them this season. It means a lot as a player to realize the town cares about what they are doing as they represent not only their high school during games, but their hometown, too.
2. Tailgate
I know it may be hard to do this for most games during the week, but I've seen this done before high school football games, and I, for one, think it is a cool idea.
Tailgating is a great way to get to know people who also cheer for your respective teams or even fans of other teams.
That is the great thing about sports. Sports bring all types of people together from all walks of life for one common goal, and that is to gain victory as a player or to root for a team as a fan.
Too bad this really only happens in sports, because if the way high school teams co-exist with one another for a common goal each game, think if people worked together like that in the real world. Instead of arguing or complaining all the time, how much could get done?
1. Have a student section
This one baffles me at times, but why doesn't every school have a student section, especially in football?
I know the Hillsboro Indians have one of the bigger student sections in football and basketball, but why not others? I've even seen students paint their faces in support of their teams and school.
Student sections help make the game atmosphere that much better. In fact, they are usually the ones who get the rest of the crowd going. Have you not seen the Ohio State student section or any college football student section and how they get the crowd pumped?
I would love to see that happen at another football field in Highland County. It would not only help add to the games, but those players deserve it as well. Other schools bring in their own student sections, and it should be the same, at least for a home game, for the host schools to have one of their own too.
Either way, let's just have fun and make this season one not only the fans remember, but the players, too.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
I've been told by a variety of people and I've noticed myself (at times) that the spirit of towns in Highland County may not be up to full force like in previous years when it comes to supporting athletic programs.
That's OK, it's early. But don't worry, I'm here to help!
It just so happens that everyone reading this is lucky. Attending sporting events is not just a career choice for me, it is also a hobby of mine.
Take, for example, Cincinnati with the Reds. Where are all of their fans? Only 12,000 paid attendance Monday for a first-place team? Do fans realize their team is in first place and are about to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995?
Just to let you know how long ago that was, I was just starting middle school (I think) and most of the high school athletes we watch this season were probably 2 or 3 years old back then.
Plus, the Reds actually are guaranteed a winning season, and people still only show up on bobblehead night or when the St. Louis Cardinals or Chicago Cubs are in town.
Well, that helps make my point.
Fans want their teams to be good or want the season to get here so they can support them, but when it is time to show up, their schedules are full or they forget how to be a fan.
If you are one of the ones who do show up, good for you.
But, there is also an responsibility to make attending games more than just a social event. Have fun with the actual game and support the players by root, root, rooting for the home team (or away team if that is who you support) throughout the game.
And yes, I have ways to make the games more fun for the fans in the stands. If the fans are providing a great atmosphere, the players will build off of that, which could make for better games.
Here are eight ways to make attending high school sports more enjoyable.
8. Get a favorite shirt and wear it each game
I do this with my pro team in football. Each week for the past 3 years, I have put on the same gray Dallas Cowboys shirt on either a Sunday, Monday and sometimes on a Thursday or Saturday.
Trust me, having a favorite team shirt makes the anticipation for the game that much greater. You will get into a routine of wearing the same shirt, jersey, or hoodie each week, and once it become a habit, it just feels right.
I did have a hat, but a loss a couple seasons ago to the Steelers made the hat go into retirement due to a career-ending injury. So, be nice to your new game day attire; once it's gone, you'll miss it. Just try it for the rest of the season, you will thank me later.
7. Cheer when in the stands
Contrary to popular belief, there have been games I've attended where you would have thought it was a golf match rather than a football game with how quiet it has been.
Attending sporting events is about being loud, within reason, and just letting loose for a couple hours.
Players do feed off a loud crowd. It pumps up everyone there.
So it is a good thing to cheer instead of chit-chatting. That can happen after the game.
6. Find a favorite player to watch
This is an easy one if you have a family member on the field. But for the non-family member, just find a player on the field and keep track of what they do. The player could be your favorite because of their effort when on the field or they are wearing your favorite number. It doesn't matter, but having a favorite player could make the game more enjoyable.
5. Watch the offensive and defensive line battles
Though it's not the first place most fans look, the battles that happen in the trenches are fierce and some of the best football you will see all game.
What can be better than seeing a perfectly executed block on a defensive player, or seeing a guard pull and become the lead blocker for a running back?
How about when the defensive line breaks through the offense and sacks the quarterback after beating his man with a spin move or just bull rushes the blocker into the play? That, my friends, is a work of art.
4. Jam with the band
One of the best ways to support high school sports is to listen and cheer with the marching or pep band. If that doesn't help get a team pumped up and a crowd rallied up, what can?
3. Help spread the word before the games
I like when towns support their teams with signs in the store front windows in support of their hometown team. Some towns live by this rule all school year long, and some bust out the school spirit during big rivalry games or playoff time.
With that, I challenge all the towns of Highland County to help with this. Let's just put any kind of signage or message for our high school team in support of them this season. It means a lot as a player to realize the town cares about what they are doing as they represent not only their high school during games, but their hometown, too.
2. Tailgate
I know it may be hard to do this for most games during the week, but I've seen this done before high school football games, and I, for one, think it is a cool idea.
Tailgating is a great way to get to know people who also cheer for your respective teams or even fans of other teams.
That is the great thing about sports. Sports bring all types of people together from all walks of life for one common goal, and that is to gain victory as a player or to root for a team as a fan.
Too bad this really only happens in sports, because if the way high school teams co-exist with one another for a common goal each game, think if people worked together like that in the real world. Instead of arguing or complaining all the time, how much could get done?
1. Have a student section
This one baffles me at times, but why doesn't every school have a student section, especially in football?
I know the Hillsboro Indians have one of the bigger student sections in football and basketball, but why not others? I've even seen students paint their faces in support of their teams and school.
Student sections help make the game atmosphere that much better. In fact, they are usually the ones who get the rest of the crowd going. Have you not seen the Ohio State student section or any college football student section and how they get the crowd pumped?
I would love to see that happen at another football field in Highland County. It would not only help add to the games, but those players deserve it as well. Other schools bring in their own student sections, and it should be the same, at least for a home game, for the host schools to have one of their own too.
Either way, let's just have fun and make this season one not only the fans remember, but the players, too.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]