Alright… I’m just going to say it.
The stands have gotten a little out of control.
Not always.
Not everywhere.
But enough that if you’ve been to a few games this season, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
And before anyone gets defensive — I’m including myself in this conversation. Because once you’ve been an athlete, watching from the stands is not a passive experience. It’s absolutely a full-body sport. Leaning forward on every pitch, reacting before the play even finishes. You’ve got a running commentary in your head… and sometimes, if we’re being honest, it doesn’t stay in your head.
And that’s where things start to get interesting.
Because somewhere along the way, the stands stopped being just a place to watch the game and started becoming part of it.
You’ve got:
- Patty Play-By-Play walking you through every recap
- Roger the Rule Expert (who may or may not actually know the rules)
- Emmy the “Encourager” who gets progressively louder as the game goes on
- and of course… the one who thinks the umpire needs just a little extra help seeing things clearly, who usually thinks he’s Cedric the Entertainer as his side gig
And look — I get it.
We care.
We’re invested.
Our kids are out there, and it feels big.
But here’s the part that’s been sitting with me lately:
When did the stands start carrying as much pressure as the field?
Because from where I’ve been sitting lately I’ve noticed something. The tone of the stands has a way of setting the tone for everything else. It affects how kids play and how coaches respond. And it definitely affects how long a game feels when emotions start running high.
And here’s the kicker…
READ MORE BELOW
The kids hear more than we think they do. They absolutely hear the comments that are keeping them going, especially when times get tough; so let’s keep that part going. But they also hear the frustration., second-guessing, and comments that are meant to be “helpful” but don’t always land that way.
And the wild part? Most of the time… they already know. They know when they missed it or made a mistake…and they don’t need the surround sound replay or sideline review booth from behind the fence.
Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t cheer. I hope you cheer yourself hoarse and silly. Lord knows I have made a complete fool of myself from the stands – even when my personal kids weren’t on the field! They need your support. But there’s a difference between being part of the energy…and becoming part of the pressure.
And if we’re not careful, that line gets crossed faster than we realize.
One of the coolest things I’ve seen recently wasn’t even a big play.
It was a set of stands where:
- parents were clapping for both teams
- encouragement was louder than criticism
- and the game actually felt… fun
Fun. Imagine that.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is supposed to be.
Not perfect.
Not pressure-filled.
Not a test that kids have to pass every time they step on the field.
Just a game.
A game they get to play.
And we get to watch.
So maybe the next time we settle into our spot in the stands…before we react, comment, or call something out…we just take a second and ask ourselves:
Are we adding to the game…
Or adding to the weight of it?
Because the stands are louder than we think.
And the way we show up there?
That’s how the ball really bounces.
Read more from How the Ball Bounces with Bekka in the archives at www.mysaline.com/bounces.
About the author: Bekka Wilkerson is a lifelong lover of all things sports. Raised in a super athletic household it was no surprise when she too began to love sports at a young age. It seems like from the time she could walk she had a softball bat in her hands, but her true athletic passion came from all things Basketball. That love served her well as a Bryant High School Lady Hornet and ultimately earned her a full scholarship to play at the University of Central Arkansas – among many other adventures.
These days Bekka can be found running around Saline County with her husband, Speedy, or chasing one of her grandsons. She is also the Executive Director of The EMpact One Foundation, a Saline County Nonprofit Organization that helps young people stay connected to extracurricular activities through tuition assistance and equipment provisions.
Reach out to Bekka with questions and/or ideas about things you want to see in this column at [email protected] and learn more about The EMpact One Foundation at www.empactone.org.
