Over the last few years, Lake Forest Academy faculty and students have really been trying to rev up  school spirit. A great way to contribute to this collective effort is by going out to sporting events and supporting friends and classmates. To be the best fan, there is some etiquette, jargon, and slang you should take a few minutes to learn. The Spectator staff reached out to a few major sports fans and coaches on campus to help you sound like you really know what you are talking about at the game. 

Paul Makovec, Boys’ Varsity Soccer coach, recommended fans shout “knock the ball around,” “look for the easy pass,” and “get the ball wide and play as a team.” These three phrases all translate to “don’t just kick it forward.” If you want to get specific, you should yell, “give the ball to Bogi,” “Jorge, pass the ball,” and “JJ, quit talking about fantasy football during the game!” Otherwise, cheering when your team wins a corner kick, possesses the ball, and scores a goal works just fine. 

Jennifer Madeley has seen a lot of hockey games. She recommends that you cheer when your team scores a goal, your goalie makes a save, there is a fight, or you are on the jumbotron. If your husband gets scored on, she warns that you do not cheer and instead say, “that was a lucky goal.” She also advises that you call the other team’s players “benders.” Her favorite hockey terms include, “this is my favorite barn to watch the game in” and “light the lamp!”

Kyle Koncz is LFA’s resident basketball connoisseur and coach. He offered some advice that applies to the NBA (and maybe LFA’s team?) When someone takes a terrible three-point shot, he believes the appropriate response to be, “Man, Steph Curry really ruined basketball.” When a player dribbles like crazy with the ball, say, “Whoa, player X was in his bag!” and when they take too many steps, say, “See, that is what I mean, no one knows what a travel even is anymore.” When an unknown or role player has a great game, you should yell, “That player is going to get paid!” Okay, you might have to adjust that one for our LFA players.

Glinda Hall is a beloved LFA tennis coach and baseball mom. Her favorite things to tell tennis players are: “stop double-faulting” and “sometimes just over the net and in the box is good enough.” Shouting “great shot,” “great rally,” and “on your toes!” are great terms of endearment for between points, but stay quiet while the ball is in play. As for baseball, cool terms to use include: “run it out” and “good eye!” When the ball flies where it should not, you can ask “where was that one?” and when you are impressed, tell them “nice catch!”

If this was too confusing, watch our swimmers and runners compete – just get excited when they are going fast!