5 minute read
The Importance of Good Spectatorship
By Didi Arias
Illustration by author
I´ve written previously on the importance of teaching good sportsmanship, so it feels right to pick up where I left off and bring up the subject from the other side of the rail, the spectator side. In teaching young riders, we recognize the topic of good sportsmanship as an important one, and part of that encompasses how to be a good spectator too.
The benefits of youth participation in sports is clear: exercise, physical health and development, motor skills, etc., as well as being part of a social circle and getting to learn from (hopefully) good role models. Spectators are also a form of “participant”, and part of any organized sport: their presence spreads interests and shows support. Visible spectatorship helps a sport gain sponsors, as well as bringing in cash to food, drink and merchandise concessions as well as income to the facility where the event is being held. In short, spectators are an integral part of promoting a sport, riding included, and they bring a greater chance of future events being held.
Unless one is on the organizing end of things, not everyone realizes how tied up competition is with money and the huge costs that can be incurred to run an event. Even a small show at a modest facility can end up with a big outlay, so bringing in both competitors and spectators is of course priority.
I really enjoy taking young students as a group on a “school trip” outing to see what is possibly their first show. Not only can they get great first-hand exposure to a real-life event, but they also get to experience the real-life situations happening around them; in other words, great teaching-learning opportunities. The showground becomes their classroom as well as the venue for a really great day out. Attending a show as a spectator, and not a competitor, frees the
student from the pressure and stress of actually competing, allowing for enjoying the event from the outside looking in and for making important observances.
Most youngsters are generally a wellmannered lot, as spectators go, and if they do act up; it is generally when left unguided. When they band together, things can get a little energetically unruly as they egg each other on to disruptive silliness or nasty mockery. What is worse in my mind is when they mimic the inappropriate behaviour they´re witnessing from others, usually that of un-sportsman-like adults. In recalling how I´ve seen some rail-side, backstage, and hockey rink parents behave, I cringe at the poor role-modelling they exhibited.
But really, the rules to set out for good spectatorship are obvious and simple, though sometimes overlooked. Here is what I focus on with my students:
None of the “Bs”
No belittling, bellowing, booing, banging or obnoxious bragging.
Be polite and try to think nice things first
The judge is practicing that too.
Choose words for comments carefully and try to swallow the negative ones
People my age were raised with the adage “if you can´t say anything nice don´t anything at all” – and that still holds strong as some of the best life advice today.
Help the student express themselves by refining respectful words to describe what they are observing. “That horse stinks” might be more politely described as “That horse looks like a challenging ride”, and then explain why; moments like this can be good conversational moments for learning.
Show rules are similar to barn rules
Avoid running, climbing, loud noises and the general stuff that upsets/distracts the horses, riders and those around you. Think
about waiting until a test or round is finished before going in to or out of the seating area to avoid making a noisy disturbance.
Be respectful and show kindness towards others
Whether you like them or not, whether you feel they should have won or not, the “speak to and about others as you would want others to speak to and about you” reminder applies here.
Show general appreciation and enthusiasm for competitors
Only applauding your best friend is kind of stingy, so show your support for others, too – it positively raises the atmosphere.
Respect also extends to the officials
The presiding official at the event is the judge and the one with the full understanding of why a certain mark or award was given and the one with the final word.
Respect also extends to the showground
Though others may drop their paper cups and napkins on the ground, feel pleased to know that yours went in to the trash bin.
Umbrellas Are Shapeshifters
When closed they can usually pass within close range of horses virtually unnoticed, however, when opened, the Monster has been unleashed and it is a whole different ball game. If you´ve got to use one, stand back and keep it still.
If something out of the rules is witnessed, including an incidence of abuse, it can be taken up officially so report it to your teacher/coach or official.
We´re fortunate that in our horse sport “lager louts” and hooligans aren´t the norm. Absent too is the intense team rivalry and high alcohol sales that can provoke raised aggression such as is prevalent in other sports. Though I´ve seen some heated discussion, I´ve yet to witness fisticuffs at a horse show, though, I´m sure it occasionally happens. Perhaps, as horse people, we generally tend to be a more restrained lot –most likely thanks to the horses that can put us in our places (and on our backsides) so efficiently when we lose our composure.
The good ethical values of good sportsmanship and spectatorship in equine competition promote social values, and that in return, promotes our sport – it’s a nice circle. As I look back at my list above, I smile as so much of this is basic “grandparent advice” on correct behaviour, and I´m very thankful to know so much of that has stuck since childhood. In turn, by sharing this knowledge with our students, we´re kind of “sticking it forward” on them.
About the author:
Didi Arias is a Level 3 ARIA Certified Instructor and national dressage judge and teacher, who resides in Almeria, Spain.
