Sportsmanship - A Fans Perspective

The Iowa Athletic Associations, both boys and girls, have in the past couple years begun to reinstitute an emphasis on sportsmanship, and I for one, am glad to see it. As the parent of 6 children, I spend a lot of time in the bleachers, at a lot of different events. I also played some sports back in the paleozoic era, and I attended those I didn't play. With those credentials in hand, it seems reasonable to view myself as something of an expert in the area of sportsmanship. Over the years, the level of fan behavior has definitely eroded. When I was a student, had we done some of the things todays kids do in the stands, we'd have been ejected from the game….but the really sad thing is, the kids aren't the only ones behaving badly. I've had the displeasure of watching grown (well, they are grown age wise anyway) men and women taunting, booing and mocking players, screaming at refs, and trash-talking coaches at many many games.Personally, I believe part of this problem at a student level stems from the transformation of cheerleaders into “pom” squads” who spend the majority of their time learning suggestive dance moves instead of promoting spirit and community in their schools. No longer do the cheerleaders “lead” the crowd….now raucus music is played at every break in the game, and the student bodies are controlled by virtually no one. Instead of treating the cheer squad as a part vital part of the school community, the coaches mock them, and the administrators treat treat them as an afterthought. …So of course, following that lead, the students also either mock them, or ignore them. To me, that's very sad. When cheerleaders are part of the day to day life of a high school, you see a much better sense of pride fill the halls. They promote good sportsmanship, and can keep the crowd in check. They show off the colors, and have an emotional investment in the team(S). They make sports better. Coaches, especially at small schools, often talk about how much they appreciate the “community” of support that they enjoy. I'd like to see more coaches walking that talk by embracing the cheer squads, and treating them with respect and pride. I think working together, they could help build up spirit, and probably attendance for the sports that are less successful.Beyond cheerleaders, PARENTS set a very bad example for their children when they sit (or stand) in the stands and scream at the refs, yell at the players, and use language that is completely innapropriate. They also should be accountable for allowing that behavior in their kids. As a parent, if my child ever swore at a ref, or booed an opposing team or player, or made loud noises or chanted during a free throw, I'd drag them home myself. I would have no issue with referees being allowed to call technical fouls on teams who'se fans chant or jeer during free throws, or who openly mock players when a bad shot is thrown up, or a turnover happens. Far to many "fans" spend the entire game coaching, reffing, and playing vicariously, I guess, from thier spot in the stands. Shocking as it may be, when most of us attend a game, we are not interested in hearing what the people around us think about the coach, the players, or the officials. We just want to watch the game, and root for our team. These kids play with all their hearts, and we ought to treat them all with some dignity, respect, and compassion. Remember that Golden Rule? It applies to sports fans too. If you wouldn't appreciate hearing someone scream at your child, or mock your friend, or boo your coach…don't do it to another player or coach. Those players out there are someones CHILD. They work hard, practice hard, play hard, and try to please a lot of people, sometimes under enormous pressure. They deserve only the most positive feedback and support.So Orioles everywhere, I offer you a spectator challenge. When we sit in the stands, lets CHEER for our team, Applaud all the players, and set an exemplary precedent for good sportmanship on every level.