Basketball Fan Etiquette

Basketball season is upon us once again. That means it's a good time to review some basketball fan etiquette.

Has anyone wondered why people seem so angry and frustrated during basketball games? Basketball is a pretty physical sport, and there is a fine line between being aggressive and being too aggressive. That line gets crossed when kids who do not have complete control of their limbs start playing basketball. They certainly are not doing it on purpose, but when another child's elbow suddenly connects with your child's face, all reason goes out the window.

Did you know playing basketball can release endorphins that naturally put people in a better mood? Regular participation can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. It just makes kids happier—until parents start getting angry. Don't take that happiness away from your child. Instead, remind yourself that they are just learning, still figuring out how to control their bodies, still trying to understand the rules (there are a lot of them), and no one is out to get your kid.

Let's try to make every game the best experience possible...for everyone involved. Here are a few ideas:

1. Instead of just cheering for your child, cheer for the entire team. As long as you're at it, cheer for the opponents, too! As your child gets older, you won't be doing that as much, but while they are still young, go ahead and cheer for everyone. It will make you (and those kids) feel amazing!
2. Respect the officials. Officiating a basketball game is not easy. It's challenging when you are a teenager who has agreed to do the job because literally every ref in the state is unavailable. Instead of getting frustrated with them, remember that they are trying hard to do a good job. They chose to do something difficult, and they are learning, too. Throughout this season, we must remember that we want everyone to have fun and improve their skills.
3. Be positive and model the behavior you'd like to see from others. We all want to know that our children are displaying their best behavior when we are not around. If we aren't giving them a good example to learn from, how can we be sure they'll be doing the right thing when we aren't there to correct them?

​
We look forward to a great 2025 basketball season and appreciate the cooperation of every participant, parent, fan, and volunteer in making that happen.