Post Editorial: Cheer your team to a win

Early into a midwinter Friday evening, the cold darkness doesn't black out the car lights forming a convoy up to local schools in rural southeast Wyoming and northern Colorado.

The destination is the week's home basketball game. It's a time to socialize, reconnect and warm up from the cold. It's a chance to eat the comfort food of high school concession stands. But most important, It's a time to come and support your student athletes and cheer them to a win.

It doesn't seem to matter if the match is for a sense of pride at the elementary level or a trip to regionals at the secondary level. Parents and community members show up in school colors and watch.

Sometimes it ends there. Some stands have quiet observant supporters in home colors.

Other gyms have stands as loud and as active as a cranky windmill in the Wyoming wind. Up, down, holler, sigh, cheer on.

Research shows teams win more games at home than away. One study showed 60 percent of home games are won.

Studies also show when the fans react and encourage their team after poor plays, it motivates the players towards a better performance. However, hackling the visiting team does not motivate anyone.

The Seattle Seahawks raised their "twelfth man" flag high Sunday afternoon before winning the NFC championship. The home fans certainly motivated them to a win. Not that they wouldn't have won in San Francisco, however, most coaches and players will tell you they would much rather play on a field or court they grew up on rather than one a bus ride away.

Fans come in all noise ranges. There are the "way to go" fans who voice encouragement as the score swings there way over a top dog. Some cheer when the score goes south. There are some who never say a word. Only to sit and watch the game play out.

It's true, having people in the stands supports our student athletes. But as sports reporters, we have seen numerous games where the crowd cheers motivated the team to win or at least to stay in the game.

Silence may be golden when holding your tongue against an enemy but not when attending a high school game. Let your voices be heard. And GO TEAM!