Heckling Do's and Dont's

by **Sonny** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:27 am

From UCSD Lax site:
http://www.ucsdlax.com/pages/heckling.htm

It is a good read. Suggest you share with fans and alums that are attending your games.

**Sponsor**

by **laxfan25** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:41 am

Good post! And right on with the content.

by **shrekjr** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:54 am

Wish I would have had this to pass out earlier this week.

by **RopeNoRope** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:14 pm

Why do people get so bent out of shape about heckling at college lax games. In most other sports, except when dealing with young childrens athletics, heckling is just part of the game.

No one ever has a problem with Philadelphia Eagles fans yelling obscenities or throwing snowballs and trash. College basketball student sections are crazy.

When I attend games I typically try to avoid using foul language, but why shouldn't you try to create a hostile enviroment for your home team. I don't think that calling out players on the other team is out of the question. While attending home games parents of opposing teams have confronted me and told me to stop picking on their Son, to which I respond, " If you don't like it the family friendly section is on the other side of the field." Not to mention if you are a standout player on a team you should expect some heckling from the crowd.

I guess my point is, it is good for fans to get crazy, I know this is just club lacrosse but you wouldn't wear a Maryland Basketball Jersey to a Duke game and sit in the student section would you.

by **shrekjr** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:23 pm

I agree to some degree, and the visiting team should expect a certain level of hostility. But when the heckling includes profanity and refers to male and/or female anatomy, that isn't necessary, particularly when the crowd at a lacrosse game is small and includes young children very close by.

by **SDSULAX** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:24 pm

Tha author,Coach John Hughes, is a wise man.

by **GrayBear** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:00 pm

Why do people get so bent out of shape about heckling at college lax games

Because we are supposed to be above that, and because the "Creator's Game" has in fact historically been better than to condone that kind of behavior.

heckling is just part of the game

Maybe in your world. Not mine.

No one ever has a problem with Philadelphia Eagles fans yelling obscenities or throwing snowballs and trash.

I doubt this is true, particularly in the opinion of those hit by trash. Nonetheless, if it is true, consider me the first to have a problem with it.

While attending home games parents of opposing teams have confronted me and told me to stop picking on their Son, to which I respond, " If you don't like it the family friendly section is on the other side of the field."

Then please stop doing it if you consider yourself a representative of the sport.

if you are a standout player on a team you should expect some heckling from the crowd.

Why?

by **Adam G** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:14 pm

Good heckle: Holding up a sign at the UNC/Duke basketball game reading "Nifong went to UNC; Enough Said"

Bad heckle: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2912444

by BB on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:15 pm

It historically has started some wars!!!

There is a certain level of respect that should go along with the game. And it's fans, heckling is great if done smartly, there are plenty of ways to be funny and rag another team without swearing. Best Rule, don't yell anything you wouldn't want your mom/grandmother to hear you yell. Smart, is much better than crude.

by **Sonny** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:32 pm

Heckling is OK. Dropping F Bombs for 60 minutes is not.

Be creative. Use your mind.

by **laxfan25** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:36 pm

RopeNoRope wrote:Why do people get so bent out of shape about heckling at college lax games. In most other sports, except when dealing with young childrens athletics, heckling is just part of the game.

No one ever has a problem with Philadelphia Eagles fans yelling obscenities or throwing snowballs and trash. College basketball student sections are crazy.

As GrayBear pointed out - we're supposed to be better than that. Hockey has tons of fights - should we? Basketball allows trash-talking galore - should we? Football coaches have some of the worst language available - but we are specifically told to not condone it.
One of the things about lacrosse over my 36 years of involvement that I treasure is it's tradition of sportsmanship. You play the game hard, but without cheap shots. In my playing days, after a hard-fought game you still lined up and gave your opponent a firm handshake and sincere congratulations on a good game, rather than the weak touch of the gloves and mumbling that you see now. Is this too square for today's world? I sometimes regret that kid's starting to play today aren't inculcated with the finer traditions of the sport, and in my mind that is a loss for them, and for the game.

And if you're using Eagles, or any Philly fans as your standard for fan behavior - eek! These guys threw bottles at Santa Claus!

by **Danny Hogan** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:37 pm

they have a judge and a jail in the bowels of the linc don't they?

by **laxfan25** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:50 pm

Danny Hogan wrote:they have a judge and a jail in the bowels of the linc don't they?

Along with a bunch of other stuff you don't want to know about! :lol:

by **cjwilhelmi** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:55 pm

uwec_attack wrote:Good heckle: Holding up a sign at the UNC/Duke basketball game reading "Nifong went to UNC; Enough Said"

Haha that was funny.

Other funny heckling that I have seen/heard

-My friend on the Harding basketball team who sat at the end of the bench being told "Hey [so and so] grab a snickers your going to be there for a while"

-Basketball game against a team that had a player just out of prison, the student section held up enlarged monopoly get out of jail free cards

-Some people on the sideline who will remain nameless [cough Andrew Beckner cough Missouri State cough] yelling "Hey Corbin, your fat!" and you know what, they were right...

Witty/Smart heckling is hilarious. Pointing out the absolute obvious things can also be really funny.

by **RopeNoRope** on Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:17 pm

Pointing out the absolute obvious things can also be really funny.

This is one of my favorite tactics. You give me a roster of the other team and something obvious and funny to yell and its on. No F bombs needed, especially when little kids are around.

But, as I said before I'm not going to tone it down because somebody's Mom and Dad don't want me to single their kid out. If anything that would just give me my main target.