From soccer and cross country to hockey and basketball, athletes of all grades can be heard in the hallways and on the sidelines criticizing the lack of student representation at their games. 

It’s a well known fact that Spartan student sections often come in weaker numbers than other schools. In the fall, Boys Varsity Soccer faced home games in which the opposing team had more fans than they did. Girls Basketball games are often dominated by parent support and the rare fan to watch a Cross Country or Nordic Race is often only student reporter. Fewer than 10 students attended the recent SMB Wolfpack state semi-final. A few more attended their championship game two weeks later, but were stuck behind Minnehaha Academy’s boisterous crowd. But why don’t students recognize that their support has tremendous benefit on their athletic peers? 

While reasons to not attend games – homework, sleep, relaxation time – are numerous, students who don’t regularly attend sports games need to consider how their actions can affect their fellow classmates. A lack of fans can be detrimental to athlete confidence. There is no doubt that a packed game with supportive fans can raise the morale of student athletes. In some cases, this boost can change the outcome of the game.