5 Tips To Be A Better Sports Fan (And Avoid Being an Embarassment)

Another basketball season has begun and after officiating my first game of the season tonight, I felt compelled to offer some tips to the fans who attend school sponsored sporting events.  As a referee I am very used to the constant barrage of comments from the fans, but someone has to tell people how embarrassing they are to their children (and usually their spouse).   I am here to help. 

Here are my 5 tips for being a better sports fan and less of an embarassment to your family at the local sporting event.

It’s a Game
By the time we have children most of us should understand that when our favorite teams don’t win, unless we are on the coaching staff, it really doesn’t change our life.  In fact when our teams don’t win, we save lots of money when we don’t have to buy championship sweatshirts & hats.  Keep this in mind the next time you attend your child’s sporting event.  Nothing bad is going to happen to you or your child if their team loses.

Remember What Your Mama Says
If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.  You don’t like the officiating, sign up, get your license and try it for yourself.  No one comes to where you work and criticizes your every decision by screaming and yelling, why is it ok to do this to sports officials?  Be positive and encouraging, parents who scream at officials and in some cases the other teams (or even their own teams) are embarrassing.

Don’t Look Stupid
If you are going to yell comments about the rules of the game, please know the rules of the game.  I mean really know and understand them, don’t just think you know because you have watched sports on TV.  This means you have at least seen a rulebook and read one paragraph in it.  By doing this you will be light-years ahead of everyone else in the crowd. 

Respect Great Plays
Every night SportsCenter celebrates the top 10 plays.  They might not be from our favorite teams or even our favorite sports but we appreciate great plays when they are shown on TV.  Learn to appreciate great plays live.  Even if it is a play by the other team, don’t be afraid to cheer a great play.  Spend less time yelling and more time applauding.

Its Not About You
(Thanks Dr. Phil) Sporting events are not for you to prove that you know more rules than the officials, that you can scream louder than anyone else in town or that you know more about how to win than the current head coach.  Sports are about your child’s education.  Sports teach our future leaders about competition, sportsmanship and teamwork.  Be a fan of the education your child receives while participating in a sporting event and talk with your child about lessons learned after each game. 

If you don’t like my tips then you are probably the type of person that officials laugh about at halftime.  Your comments don’t make us change our calls or the coach change the play and we usually know who your child is by the end of the game.  He or she is the one apologizing for your actions.   Don’t worry kid we see it all the time and we won’t hold your parents against you.  Just promise to follow these 5 tips when you grow up and have athletes of your own.

Thanks for Reading… JakeDaddy