Usually, when sportsmanship is discussed in high school athletics, it is assumed that the intended audience is the coaches and players. However, this applies to many more attendees, specifically the spectators.

Throughout the 15 different sports offered at NDB, there are various ways spectators become involved. For instance, in the more team-oriented sports, there are usually referees that tend to draw some negative attention, while in individual sports, the pressure is put on the athletes instead. In the former, parents and other guests are expected to cheer on their team, while remaining respectful to the officials. However, in some cases, this can become more obnoxious in tone and words. The same is true of the latter, yet instead of berating adults, this can turn into criticizing children’s play.

“I actually really enjoy parents being on the sidelines because I feel like they encourage me and tell me what I can do better,” said senior soccer player Kaylee Ellerhorst. “I do definitely notice the behavior of other parents. I hear a lot of screaming, especially from my own team, and then it kind of scares me when I hear screaming from the other team’s parents.”

While some spectators view their involvement as support, this kind of behavior can have a negative impact on the players. It can make them nervous, put pressure on them or serve as a distraction as they hear negative comments being said from people they often view as role models.

“So, when a parent has a difficult time with the outcome of their own child’s performance, or even their teammate’s performance, or collectively as a team, it negatively impacts their child’s ability to perform and creates a massive distraction,” said Athletic Director Christina Okubo. “It also puts incredible amounts of pressure on their own children as well as their teammates because they feel like they’re letting down their parents.”

For sports involving referees, complaints about how the game is being called can result in the complainer being asked to leave. The Central Coast Section (CCS) and the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL), the two leagues that NDB competes in, reserve this right for all officials and, while it is an uncommon occurrence, this is not unheard of for numerous sports. The Central Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which is the organization that oversees all high school sports in California, calls for coaches and players to be courteous and reflect the morals and values of their school. Even when this is echoed at the start of every sports season to coaches, parents and players, it is common for this rule to be broken.

While it is always appreciated to have spectators getting involved in their players’ lives, conduct such as this can have many negative repercussions, some of which include low team morale and a tarnished school reputation. More often than not, the intent of the game is lost, and parents and spectators lose sight of why they play in the first place. Attending a sporting event should be all about the players and their talent, which allows them to perform and showcase their skills, not worry them about the points or scores one contributes.

“Ultimately, it’s about providing the student athletes with a really good experience,” Okubo concluded. “And, when spectators can’t control themselves and remain emotionally composed on the sidelines as only spectators, it really creates almost … a bad environment for the spectators and the families that are trying to watch, along with a bad environment for the student athletes who are just trying to do the best they can on the field or on the court.”