Resist aggressive impulses that may follow sporting events

Posted in General on July 5, 2017

Penn State is home to several sports teams. Whether you are catching a football game or showing your support for the track runners, it is easy to get excited and invested in the success of the players and team. This passion, though, can quickly transform into aggression. According to the Huffington Post, domestic violence is even likely to increase after attending a major sporting event.

It is important to resist this and avoid any actions that may escalate to violence. Too many people get hit with assault charges because they get into a fight at or after a game. Follow these tips to keep yourself in check:

Approach the game with good attitude

Sports should ultimately be a fun way to relax, support a college’s athletes and have some fun. Though you should be enthusiastic, of course, it is important not to become so invested that the game has the power to make you angry or violent. This means you should decide—prior to attending—you will have a good time regardless of the outcome.

Do not engage with aggressive fans

There will likely be aggressive fans cheering for both teams. You should avoid interacting with anybody on either side of the aisle who seems likely to act out or escalate her or his behavior. If a group rooting for your team is rowdy and begins engaging you, joining them could easily make you culpable for a fight, destruction of property or another incident they instigate.

Deescalate tense interactions

It is not uncommon for fans of opposing teams to trash talk each other. Though this usually does not mount to violence, it can, and it is best avoided for this reason. If a fan of the opposing team—or yours, for that matter—begins using provocative language, you should take actions to de-escalate the situation or leave the premises rather than respond in kind.