Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Take your pick: you can play a sports game on your home field, court, or rink with a wave of fans cheering your name — or, you can play at an unfamiliar venue without any fans. For many Choate athletes, the choice is obvious.
There are many factors that influence the outcomes of athletic competitions. Of course, skill is a must, but having a passionate fan base can shift momentum and put pressure on opposition teams. Especially in close games, chants and excitement from fans can influence on the energy of the players and the crowd — sometimes it’s the difference between a win or a loss.
Choate Varsity Hockey player Thomas Plamondon ’23 said, “When playing in the REM [Remsen Arena] we obviously feel more comfortable since we practice in the space everyday.” In contrast, he says, “Playing on foreign ice especially when the school has a passionate fan base can be challenging but also motivating at the same time.”
After an away game, Boys’ Varsity Soccer player Oliver Scott ’22 noted, “It’s super hard to score a penalty kick when you have a whole student section booing you.” Teammate Oscar Hellansvik ’22 agreed, “It’s like a mind game, at times.”
Fans expressed similar sentiments. For example, when Choate students traveled to rival Deerfield Academy in celebration of Deerfield Day, many students noted the energy of both student sections. Chloe Crowell ’25, who attended Deerfield Day as a fan, reflected on this point stating, “As fans we felt eager to show our support but also it was hard because we were the visitors.”
Yet, home games don’t always provide an advantage. For example, several faculty members had to keep fans from stepping onto the court and incurring a technical foul for Choate during the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Game against Loomis in early January. “The energy from the crowd was unbelievable as the teachers withheld students from stepping onto the court,” noted Lex Njomin ’23, who was at the game. “On the play we finally took the lead, the teachers themselves were nearly pushed onto the court.”
Nonetheless, in most cases, the upper hand of playing at home outweighs potential disadvantages. Oftentimes, the home court lead is often only associated with athletes but the reality is that being home or away impacts everyone — fans, coaches, and athletes. Plamondon said, “At the end of the day we want to win and playing at home is sometimes the extra factor we need in order to come out on top.”
