To Cheer Or Not To Cheer--That Is The Question...

"To cheer or not to cheer" seems to be one of the prevading questions in ITA tennis these days. Its a question that we wrestle with during the school year and then this year it has become quite an issue at the national tournaments.

At the Men's Junior College National Tournament in Plano this past week, the teams and fans were encouraged to yell and support their team as loudly as they wanted. As referee, I felt that it was a wise decision and one that would increase the excitement and interest in our tournament--and it proved to do exactly that! On the last night of our tournament we had four doubles teams playing at the same time (with a chair official on each court) and the fans were louder than I have ever heard but very respectful of the opposing teams and fans. When we were through, one coach said to me, "this is the most fun I have ever had in a college tournament."

If we choose to stifle the excitement what we will basically do is tear the heart right out of collegiate tennis. It is time that we all wake up to the fact that college kids and fans are there to have a good time and support their team with all their hearts--and we as officials are not self-appointed guardians of "silence." The last thing I would like to see in collegiate tennis is a Wimbledon-like atmosphere. (If we do, you can be sure that the young people will stay at home.)

One of the arguments used for stifling crowds is that they will get out of control. Crowd control is the responsibility of the home institution and every university I have ever seen does a great job in monitoring their crowds. I have been to collegiate campuses throughout America and I have never yet seen a crowd so out of control that a wise security team can't handle them.

It does seem strange to me that the crowds are regularly being stifled at the NCAA tournament this week in College Station--but when the tournament is held at the University of Georgia there is virtually no crowd control and people come from everywhere to "bark" at the players and nothing is done.

My simple idea is this: let them cheer as loudly and as long as they want.