Trip To The Game

A Trip to “The Game” We are going to the game. This common saying is repeated by parents across the United States when they have plans to take their children to a sporting event, especially a basketball game. However, which game are they going to? Which level of competition are they going to? In the game of basketball, the experiences of going to a game are vastly distinct at every level of play: high school, college, and professional.

The first and lowest level of basketball is high school basketball. High school games are unique because of the contrast of fans at the game. In one section of the cozy gym, the rowdy high school student section yells and hollers, making their presence felt. Sandwiching the students on each side, the parents

College basketball games provide a unique experience, because in contrast to the division of high school games, the college basketball experience is full of unity. Both the adults and students lead and participate in cheers and chants to rattle the opposing team. Unlike at the high school level, the parents and students know they can impact the game with their crowd noise. While the student section stands the whole game, the adults and parents in the arena also stand and make noise in crucial moments of the game. Almost always, the entire arena is coated in the same color scheme, with both parents and adults participating in the theme of the game. School pride flows strongly through the veins of those in attendance, often leading to outbursts of shouts and curse words directed at both teams echoing through the crowd. With college games being played in arenas with great capacities, dwarfing those compact gyms of the high school level, the noise level is at times deafening. This noise and environment tends to keep smaller kids and elderly adults away from college games. As a result, the college basketball experience is shared with more younger to middle aged men and women. The college basketball experience is perfect for those who want to feel an adrenaline rush and be involved in the crowd and game when going to a basketball