Bad taste or anything goes?

St. Benedict won its ninth straight game yesterday in senior girls volleyball and remain undefeated in District 8.

It certainly has been a while since the Saints have dominated the sport, at least in senior girls. Nice to see a new power rising on the Catholic side.

In WCSSAA, it's all Forest Heights and WCI so far. Both teams are undefeated at 6-0.

I was at the St. Benedict game yesterday and during a serve, one of the fans cheered to try and throw off the visiting Saints. And it got me thinking, what exactly is fair game?

It happens in basketball too and I'd love to hear your take. 

Is it okay to cheer, make noise or try to throw off an athlete just before a serve in volleyball or during a four shot attempt in basketball?

I'm kind of in the middle on this one. Part of me says be respectful and keep mum. Another part of me says, it's sports and anything goes. As long as you aren't swearing or putting down an athlete, cheering is okay at any time.

You wouldn't dare ask fans to be quiet at a Raptors game during a foul shot. But high school is different, or is it? What say you?

Comments

[Frustrated Player]

I think that noise should be encouraged in all sports, and that noise is part of the game. As a player, it gets you hyped up and when the fans have great passion it passes onto the players, thus making it a better game.

Its hard enough for some schools to get fans out to games, and discouraging noise will just lessen the turnout. I've seen teachers at some schools tell students to be quiet, even though they were just making noise, not saying anything offensive or putting down the other team. I don't think that's right, I say fans should be as loud they want, it just makes the atmosphere in the gym so much better.

[HS Sports Fan]

First things first, we need improvements in school spirit and passion about high school sports so people to come out to the games. If this is one way of accomplishing that, then I'm all for it...

That said, I think it depends on the timing and place.....have been to WCSSAA finals (basketball) where it's great with pots/pans, etc. making noise during FTs....so in that regard, I think it's fine.