Deborah OConnor January 14, 2013

We have all seen the rude sports fan: the overly imbibed, the stander, the chatter, the up-and-downer, the list goes on. Here are a few etiquettetips for sports fans.

• Standing: I mention thisfirst, as it seems to be the most irritating. We all jump up whensomething exciting happens or when we want to cheer our team on. Butthere are always the fans that constantly stand up and block the viewfor others. It’s irritating and rude and you need to be conscious ofothers around you. Just be considerate and sit down!
• Constantly getting up and down: Yes, we all have to visit the facilities, get something to eat, and gofind our friends. But don’t do it constantly and never, ever do itduring an important play. This is not an event for you specifically,others have paid good money to attend their sporting event and they donot want to be interrupted. It is irritating when someone is climbingover you, impeding your view, stepping on you, in other words makingyour day at the game unpleasant.
• Talking: Limit yourtalking in the middle of an event. No one is particularly interested inyour play-by-play version of events and besides they didn’t come thereto listen to you.
• Sit in your correct seat: It doesn’ttake a rocket scientist to find a seat in a stadium. Find your assignedseat and use it. If you think you can sit in unoccupied seats that arebetter then yours, know that you risk being embarrassed when the trueticket-holders come along. Do the right thing and sit in your own seats.
• Do not get drunk and make a fool of yourself: I know that tailgating is a big part of sports, but getting drunk andacting obnoxious is not fair to the other people at the event. Stumbling and spilling your drink on others is a major faux pas and no one likes a messy, sick drunkard.
• Don’t taunt the other team: Be agood sport. There are many rivalries and we all have our favorite teams. We all having winning seasons and not-so-good ones, and good-naturedkidding is fun. But mean-spirited, evil behavior is unacceptable and not necessary. Remember the golden rule.
• Foul Language: Watch your mouth at sporting events. You do not have the right to use foullanguage in front of others, especially children. Be ladies andgentlemen and take the high road.
• Disgruntled Parents at Children’s Games: We all know the type, the blustery, easily-angered, bellowing parentwho thinks his kid is the best and cannot take any criticism from thecoach. Do not be that person. It sets a bad example for your childrenand unsportsmanlike behavior is obnoxious. The kids are the focus andthey are there to learn and have fun. Don’t ruin it for them.

Using common sense and common decency can go a long way in promoting fun and enjoyment at sporting events.

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.
She will answer them in her weekly column.


Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skillsnecessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contactat:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz