Let’s get a little bit rowdy, R-O-W-D-Y! 

For most people, the student section is a fun place to let loose and have fun, while for others, it’s a one-way ticket to shove city.

Every other Friday night students of all grade levels come together under the bright lights of Shoreline Stadium to cheer on our own football team. With kids arriving as early as an hour before the game starts, the fight for a place in the student section is a brutal one. 

While there are student–not school or staff–designated rows with seniors in the front row, juniors in the second and third, sophomores in the third and fourth, and finally freshmen in the back, students don’t always stick to their rows. This can often result in the second and third rows being overly crowded due to younger students being in these rows. 

Pushing and shoving usually go hand in hand with the student section, making many people leave the game with more than a few bumps and bruises. The question this brings to the table is how can we make the student section safer while keeping it a fun place. 

“There’s always people pushing during some of the cheers and stuff. Sometimes it can be fun, but when people fall that’s when it gets a little bad,” junior Jaden Marlow said. 

This is not only a conflict for the students in the second and third rows, but also for the seniors who occupy the front row. “I get you’re trying to be spirited and you’re trying to get Fan of the Game, but don’t take me out when you’re trying to do that,” senior Maren Bell said. The fight to be fan of the game has become a brutal one for seniors. With rumors going around that now it’s not just seniors who can get Fan of the Game but juniors as well, the seniors have become more competitive in making sure that they get fan of the game.

 Bell also talked about how, depending on who you are standing near, you may end up getting shoved a lot more or a lot less. This shouldn’t be something that students have to worry about while choosing where to stand in the student section. It’s supposed to be a place where students can come together with their fellow peers and cheer on their football team.

When it comes to rules that are enforced vs. rules that should be enforced within the student section, neither one is very well known. Although the designated rows are not enforced or well known about by the staff, there are some other rules that are more enforced by the staff. Sports Director Joann Fukuma wishes to keep the student section a welcoming and fun place for students, but not at the cost of ignoring the rules set in place to help keep the student section a place of good sportsmanship and team spirit. “We have WESCO district rules in the stands, and those are sportsmanship rules… things that admin follow people come to the stands,” Fukuma said.

These rules were put in place, and it’s up to the students to follow them. Although it may be fun for some to push and shove each other, for most students getting unintentionally beaten up every Friday night is not something they look forward to. 

While cheering and supporting your team is always encouraged, practicing good sportsmanship for both your team and the opposing team can help to keep sports, especially football, a welcoming and positive environment. Here are the WESCO spectator guidelines and sportsmanship code:

The essential elements of character-building and ethics in interscholastic athletics are embodied in the concept of seven core principles: sportsmanship, discipline, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, dedication, and respect. In an effort to demonstrate sportsmanship in the stands we ask all spectators to adhere to these five basic guidelines.

• I will appreciate all good plays and players whether they compete for my team or my opponent.
• I will remember that school athletics are an extension of the classroom and that learning is taking place. 
• I will be positive and use respectful language toward players, coaches, officials, and other spectators.
• I will respect the abilities and sensitivities of our opponents and officials, regardless of the outcome of the contest.
• I will remember that my actions reflect on others, including students, school, and the community.

Although these are not set-in-stone rules on how to act in the stands, Fukuma does encourage all students, and parents, who attend games to uphold each of these guidelines. By following these guidelines, sports game attendees can help to keep the atmosphere on and off the field a positive one for athletes and spectators.

Coming up in the next month Fukuma will take 25 student athletes, who were designated by coaches and Fukuma, who regularly attend sports games to a Sportsmanship Summit on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At this summit, student athletes from our district will all come together and “come up with ideas on how to make good student sections strong, positive student sections,” Fukuma said.

At the end of the day, the only thing anyone wants is to keep the student section an optimistic, safe place. Keep in mind what you say matters when coming up with cheers and that while jumping around pushing people can be fun, it can also negatively affect those around you.