Standing Up During Competition...

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by coreyk

Rudely prompting that a team do sit down - by means of throwing, yelling, using vulgar language, or engaging in inappropriate arguments with mentors and students --- all who are extremely excited is not gracious. By doing this - members become upset and frustrated…decreasing the overall enthusiasm and energy of the event that teams have worked so hard to attend.

OK, so you clearly see that this particular aspect of your team's behavior is upsetting to others, and a REAL cause for REDUCED enthusiasm. You explain quite clearly that some normally reasonable people on both sides are transformed into vulgar individuals. It probably doesn't happen right away, but after several matches of no-compromise the enevitable happens.... tempers flair.

It's possible that you could convince each one of those "sitting" spectators that they don't really need to see that match.... but be prepared for those same people to stop coming to events because they lose interest in seeing sets of backsides during EVERY match (that's what will happen if every team stands during their match). Those people are parents, coaches, SPONSORS, and young kides getting ready to enter highschool. Is that really what you want?

Think hard now... isn't there something simple that you could do as a team to stop this escalation? Something that would show how you are aware of the situation, and willing to go the extra mile to improve the enjoyment of the many, vs. that of the few?

You may not be convinced, and you may not see a compelling reason to compromise (let the "others" do it). But wait.... isn't that the whole point?
Doing something that you don't have to.... but that will clearly benefit others?

It won't cost you matches or points, or awards or medals.... Teams don't win spirit awards because they stand up during matches. They win them because they have an identity and work as a group. Standing as a group during matches was a result of that unity... but teams should not be defined by it.

Some things work will when only one team does it, but if everyone does it then you have a problem. Here's the classic example. A fire alarm goes off in a crowded cinema, if one person gets up and makes a mad dash for the door while everyone else is calmly walking out, then the mad dash person has a great chance of getting out alive. However, if everyone makes a mad dash, then probably noone will get out.