Back on Track with Mak – Crowd Sizes

I peered into the crowd during the Girl’s Varsity Basketball game and the stands were spotted with a few spectators – parents and maybe a few best friends.

Later in the evening, I peered into the crowd during the Boy’s Varsity Basketball game and the stands were packed with spectators. Practically half of the school filled the bleachers. 

The difference in the crowds between the two games was huge. And I don’t think it was simply the time frame. 

Yes, the boys played at 7:00, which is a bit more convenient than 5:30 when the girls played. The 7:00 time slot gives students time to go home and then come back after eating dinner for some sports entertainment for the night. 

But I feel like that’s not the reason people went to that game over the latter because convenience is not a major factor for most when considering which sporting event to attend. 

Perhaps it could have been the fact that some people in the crowd have friends on the boy’s team. The majority of the boy’s athletes are pretty well known around the school. Still, there are several girl’s basketball players who have supportive friends. With that in mind, the crowd sizes should be close to even. So I’m not sure it’s about that. 

Or maybe it’s just the culture the school community has created. Most of the “hype” around sporting events revolves around the boy’s teams.  Historically boy’s teams have received the most attention, especially the football and basketball teams. 

It couldn’t possibly be because our boy’s teams generally have better winning records than our girl’s teams. During the 2019-20 season, our football team had a losing league record of 1-6, while our girl’s volleyball team had a winning league record of 11-0. 

So really, the “hype” should be around the female teams. The girl’s teams are the ones who have better winning records in general and the ones winning state titles, not the boy’s teams. Girls volleyball and girls soccer have more state titles than all of the boy’s teams combined. 

It’s truly not about any of that. It’s about the fact that there is sexism rooted deeply into sports that drives spectators towards male sports over female sports. I refuse to believe this should be the standard. 

The whole school community should prioritize support for all athletic teams, regardless of whether it’s a boy’s or girl’s team. Girls should get the priority time slot just as often as the boys, and our school’s fan base, the Cat Pack, should promote both genders equally. 

The next time you choose a sporting event to attend, think about why you’re going. If you’re just going to socialize and be seen by your peers, consider attending a female sporting event. If you’re looking for a competitive game with heart and dedication, a female sporting event is still your best bet.