Home-court advantage is an often talked about concept in the sports world and is generally accepted as a matter of fact instead of an ambiguous and abstract concept. However, is there really any evidence to suggest that it exists?
In order to examine the value of home-court advantage, we’ll acquire the input of an athlete. The viewpoint of the athlete is important because their eyes are the window through which home-court advantage is perceived.
When senior volleyball player Anna Graham was asked if there was an advantage to be had in playing at home versus on the road, she was unequivocal in her response, “There is definitely a home court advantage. There is just a sense of pride when someone comes on your home turf, in front of your friends and family that makes you want to refuse to lose. Being at home with the fans yelling is an incredible atmosphere that we do not take for granted. We appreciate the support of the fans so much and recognize the fact that we probably wouldn’t be as successful as we are right now without the unending support.”
She sees tremendous value in having fans who are unwavering in their support. Their passion and consistency has enriched her playing experience.
Graham continued, “The fans at Shorter are incredible! Having a group there to support us makes all the hard work worthwhile. Without a solid group of supporters, playing the sport we love wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Excited fans change the entire atmosphere and lift the team morale tremendously!”
When asked about the fervor of Shorter’s fans, Graham stated that, “Our fans have gotten crazy at times: dressing up like lumberjacks, referees, and even characters from “Braveheart” once. It is always fun to hear the fans yell crazy things at people.”
The volleyball player reminisced on a particular stunt that a fan pulled at a game a few years ago that further suggests their impact on the game.
Graham recalled, “One occurrence that caught me off guard was my sophomore year against Lee… we were in the fifth set and we were winning 15-14 (normally fifth sets only go to 15, but you have to win by two points); I got to set the ball and got a kill… by the time I had landed from hitting the ball, I was in someone’s arms being spun around. It turns out that a Shorter student was calling lines and once he called the ball in the court, he took off running to hoist me in the air.”
While it is one thing to appreciate the dedication and fervor of the fans, it is another to actually be affected by the fans of an opposing team.
“Fans from opposing teams affect everyone differently. Honestly, I feed off their energy. It makes me laugh when someone from another school tries to insult me and it motivates me to work harder. However, if I am having a bad game and the fans are yelling at me then it may have a more negative effect.”
Graham exudes a confidence that is expected from a senior of her ability and mental maturity, yet even she admits to having been swayed by the chants of a crowd in pressure situations. It would seem from talking to an athlete that home-court advantage feels like a reality, which is a valuable insight in determining its apparent value.
Now, that we have the perspective of an athlete, the next place to look is at an academic journal that attempts to evaluate all of the factors of home field advantage with a cool handed and scientific approach that weeds out bias and emotional tendencies that are abundant elsewhere.
According to a study done by Jeremy P. Jamieson, there may be some truth in the idea that home-court advantage is in actuality, a real factor in the outcome of a game. In his research article, The Home Field Advantage in Athletics: a Meta-analysis, Jamieson referenced previous research which confirmed the fact that teams with a balanced Home and Away game schedule on average will win over 50% of their games in any given season.
Jamieson also concluded that there were four factors that related to the home crowd that affected home field advantage.
Jamieson states, “These factors include crowd, familiarity, travel, and rule factors. Crowd factors represent the differential support from spectators received by the home team versus the away team, which impacts the magnitude of the home-field advantage.”
This is a significant finding because it shows that there is evidence to suggest that home court advantage is not only real, but can be understood in practical terms.
It appears as though home-court advantage can be moved safely from the realm of fantasy into the realm of reality. The next time you go to a game, know that your presence is having an important affect on the outcome of a game.
