# The need (or lack thereof) for quiet at different sporting events **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 28, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636 "2012-06-28T22:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/21 "2012-07-03T14:05:28Z")
When a visiting team is shooting free throws, I don’t see what good it does for the fans to make their usual constant “aaaaaaaaaah” noises. It seems it would be much more effective to be silent, and then, just as the shooter is about to release the ball, shout as loud as you can. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/22 "2012-07-22T22:45:21Z")
Why is the crowd supposed to be quite before a golfer swings and a tennis player serves, but they are “allowed” to scream at the top of their lungs and do jumping jacks in the stands when a hitter is batting and when a BB player is attempting a free throw? Just don’t tell me it takes less concentration for a batter to hit a 90+ mph baseball, especially when said ball could potentially kill him. (Tennis balls almost never hit a player and if they do, usually no harm is done. Golfers don’t have anyone throwing or hitting a ball at them.) Or a BB player doesn’t really have to concentrate hard with the game on the line with 2 seconds to go and his team is down by one. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/23 "2012-07-22T22:47:44Z")
The tradition of the sport. Golf and tennis are historically “gentlemen’s” sports where decorum of opposing players and any spectators are insisted. Basketball and baseball, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/24 "2012-07-22T22:50:09Z")
Most recent [previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=656821) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/25 "2012-07-23T02:49:18Z")
Notice, too, the difference between team sports, where there is a “home” crowd, and individual sports, where you aren’t supposed to be against anyone. I’d point out, however, that professional bowling has undergone an alteration in this area over the last decade. Perhaps something similar will happen eventually with tennis or golf. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/26 "2012-07-23T03:00:56Z")
Since the previous thread was active only a few weeks ago, I have merged the new thread with it and moved it to the Game Room. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/27 "2012-07-23T04:50:43Z")
Virtually all individual sports where the athlete starts from a still position and is not reacting to an opponents action are the same - thus the silence on a tennis serve, but plenty of crowd noise during a rally. Think about not only golf, but archery, shooting sports, darts, bowling, table tennis, etc. It’s not uncommon and it’s no mystery why it is done. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/28 "2012-07-23T15:49:51Z")
> [@Blakeyrat](#): > > The Seahawks have been threatened with 15-yard noise penalties, but the NFL has never followed-through on them that I’m aware of. Apparently Centurylink Field is specifically designed to be the loudest stadium in the NFL. The Browns of the mid-late 80s got this penalty a few times when things got out of control. They also reversed which side of the field the line of scrimmage was on to move it away from the dog pound on several occasions because it was too dangerous for the refs and the players at that end. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/29 "2012-07-23T23:05:39Z")
One thing about golf is the swing is ultra-technical, while hitting a baseball is supposed to be harder, you also are given chances to miss and the contact you are trying to make doesn’t need to be nearly as precise as it does in golf. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636/30 "2012-07-24T00:10:45Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > One thing about golf is the swing is ultra-technical, while hitting a baseball is supposed to be harder, you also are given chances to miss and the contact you are trying to make doesn’t need to be nearly as precise as it does in golf. A baseball trainer would tell you that a baseball swing is just as technical. And a golf ball can’t give you a concussion if you lose your concentration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-need-or-lack-thereof-for-quiet-at-different-sporting-events/626636.md?page=1)