The Home Advantage Phenomenon

If you’re an athlete, you are most likely aware of the phenomenon called the home advantage. Whether your home field is a pool, a rink, a court, or an actual field, the difference is clear. Playing on your own turf, in your own environment, often improves the overall outcome of a competition.

Sydney Jones ’17, a member of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, said recently that “having a home game completely affects the mentality of all players. When you’re on your home field, the familiarity breeds more confidence than when you’re in a completely new environment.” Playing somewhere you are familiar with allows for less mental competition with yourself. You are able to play without worrying about unknown factors. This is your home turf, and that means you have the upper hand.

However, the players are not the only ones who are affected. Teams playing at home have bigger crowds on their side, which, in turn, has been shown to influence the officials, especially in sports like football, hockey, and soccer. When officials have very little time to make a decision, the crowd’s vocal cues can usually play some part in influencing calls. The pressure of having a crowd, especially a loud one, close by often leads to a biased referee, which may change the flow of a game.

A way games can often mean long, uncomfortable bus rides, as well as the stress of packing up all your equipment and necessary belongings. Being away from your home field may affect your warm-up and your pre-game rituals, which can in turn affect your performance on the field. A simple physical game can very quickly turn into a mental one. There’s also the more practical obstacles like bathrooms and access to trainers. Being out of your comfort zone presents the problem of unknown factors. The opposing team’s crowd can also present mental challenges to you. It can cause distractions and lead to costly mistakes.

The home game advantage is a phenomenon that affects almost every kind of athlete. It can be hard to push past the mental aspect of playing away from your own turf. With a supportive crowd on your sideline, and by playing in your own environment, it can help a team persevere despite adversity. As trivial as it may seem, the home game advantage is a huge part of being an athlete, here at Choate, and beyond.

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