Crowd's attitude motivates athletes

Crowd’s attitude motivates athletes

Jaiden Herald

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Roaring crowds, energetic fans, faces painted with numbers and chants screamed loudly paint the picture of dedicated fans cheering on their team. Many fans are there to demonstrate school spirit, enjoy time with their peers and make lasting memories, but what is often not realized is the extent of the effect their support and exhibition of school spirit has on athletes.

“Having a cheer block that stays loud keeps the team and I fired up. The support from a cheer block keeps me encouraged to keep pushing. School spirit lets a team know that they have fans behind them and supporting them,” Allyson Barger (11) said.

Passionate fans demonstrate a strong support system for athletes which can lead to increased pride in one’s own performance as well as their school.

Bryce Culley (12) said, “Having a cheer block gives positive reinforcement to the players on the field. It shows that the school cares about the sport and it makes us want to win. It makes us want to win for our school.”

“Having a cheer block brings me joy because it shows that we have a lot of school spirit and that a lot of my peers are willing to support me and my team. Peer support is important to an athlete because knowing that you have people supporting you is a great motivator,” Jaylah Mays (12) said.

According to Head Basketball Coach Brent Jameson, having a large and supportive crowd can oftentimes give a team an advantage.

“Our guys feed off of the cheer block. When I talk to my players and we discuss their biggest motivators, I usually hear several attribute their motivation to cheer blocks and fans. When a crowd is really into a game it can give us a home-court advantage and throw off our opposing team,” Jameson said.

Most athletes train themselves to drown out the noise during a game, but the lack of a support system and fanbase can still influence an athlete’s performance.

Jameson said, “Most athletes play a little differently when there is no support or cheer block. It’s just human nature. Sometimes it can result in players playing with less energy and not being as into the game.”