Alex Winkleman - 11
11/6/2018
At KHS, student sections are considered a very vital and entertaining part of sporting events.
The KHS “Jungle” can be found most prominently at home football and basketball games. The Jungle usually entails a theme for everyone to follow such as blackout, white out, neon night and many others to help show school spirit. The student section can be an intense and chaotic place where it is easy to get trampled, bulldozed off of the bleachers, and yelled at by people you don’t even know.
At volleyball games it has become tradition to bring a poster for a player as a way to cheer them on. Until this year, students have been told they are not allowed into the game with their posters. Usually the most prominent tradition in football and basketball student sections is a theme for each game, such as “CookOut” where everybody dressed like chefs or “WhiteOut” where everybody wears all white clothing. Occasionally posters can be spotted at football and basketball games as well.
This year, students are allowed into games with posters, but have not been permitted to hold the sign up. Obviously people were upset by this, as they put plenty of work into making witty signs to be viewed by potentially everyone. This stipulation was easy to get over since there are many other ways to show school spirit.
A common dilemma experienced at the first few football games was that students were bringing megaphones. Megaphones are a glorious invention that allow us to project our voice so hypothetically everyone within an approximately 200-foot radius. They get everyone’s attention easily, but some people to choose to use their voice negatively against our opponents rather than positively for our team.
At first, megaphones were fun and allowed students to easily speak to others over the crowd and lead student section cheers. However, a rumor circulated through our student section that if we were found using them, our team would have to forfeit the game. This rumor has been confirmed untrue by athletic director Sara Williams. According to her, many other actions would be taken before forfeiting the game. Most likely, the students with the megaphones would be kicked out or the megaphone would be confiscated.
With basketball season approaching, it is important to be aware of rules to ensure that everyone has a pleasant time at the game. Handheld signs are not allowed at basketball games, but banners on the walls are allowed. Though banners may not be as “in-your-face” as signs right down by the court, they are a good alternative to handheld signs. Megaphones are not allowed at any sporting event except for cheerleaders. Students in the student section are allowed to hold school flags or flags that pertain to the theme of the game. In the past, students have made flags for courtwarming and held it between games and at halftime.
There are plenty of ways to show school spirit whether it is dressing up to match the student section or screaming your lungs out encouraging your favorite player. Negatively taunting the other team is most definitely not a way to show school spirit. It is rude and disrespectful. To put it in perspective, treat away teams that come to our school the way you would want our team to be treated at an away game. If a player or referee hears you being disrespectful, you could get kicked out of the game. As long as you are respectful, don’t be afraid to show school spirit during basketball season. Yell as loud as you please and dress as obnoxiously as you want to match the theme. Be sure to come out and support your Tigers this 2018-2019 basketball season.