Effects of Abusive Spectators' Behavior on Performance of Home and Visiting Intercollegiate Basketball Teams

Abstract

This study determined the effects of anti-social spectators' behavior on the performance of home and visiting college varsity basketball teams. Spectators' behavior was observed during 12 intercollegiate basketball games and specific categories of abusive, anti-social behavior were identified. The number of violations assessed by both teams was monitored and the nature and moment of each occurrence was noted along with a description of the specific type of behavior. Five-min. intervals of running time were noted, beginning immediately with the onset of aggression from the audience. During periods of normal crowd behavior the home team had significantly fewer violations than the visitors. During intervals of anti-social behavior from the audience the home team incurred significantly more violations than the visiting team and significantly more violations than during periods of normal behavior by the audience. There was no significant change in the number of violations by the visiting team during either type of behavior by spectators. The results demonstrated that anti-social behavior from an audience had a decided detrimental effect on the home team.