Is home crowd a blessing or a nuisance?
There has been much debate going on for the last decade or so, about how the home crowd can influence the result of a particular game or match.
The question is how can the home crowd affect the outcome of a match? After all, the players play on the same field and the same rules are applicable, irrespective of the players’ origin.
Many studies and researches have been conducted to determine the link between home crowd and its affect on the outcome of a match. Moreover, the research tends to focus on the strength or the weakness of this link.
Almost in every sport, the home team or the local player has a massive advantage. However, this can sometimes lead to disappointment as well. The higher the expectation of the people, the more likely is the pressure on a players shoulder.
And if the local stars fail to handle the pressure, then their game is bound to crumble badly.
How can the home crowd play to ones advantage? If the home team is playing well, fans will chant the slogans and sing the praises for their team.
This will lift the confidence of the team. If for some reason, the team is losing, the fans will try to lift its morale and this will encourage the team to come back strongly. Roars of the home fans can sometimes crumble the opposing team as well.
In the case of golf, if a golfer hits a sweet tee shot, the crowd will cheer for him and this will raise his confidence, going into making the approach shots and putts.
Numerous times, we have seen that teams or players crumble while playing at home, why is that? It is mainly the expectations which the people have from their teams or domestic players, these expectations lead to immense pressure.
Those who fail to handle the pressure fail miserably. Even though the sportsman is playing on familiar field, and in a known atmosphere, but it is the pressure which leads to their downfall.
If we take the example of golf, the local players are familiar with the conditions, the course and the people.
If the player is not in a good form and he is having trouble finding his range, then the added expectations can lead to a poor performance, despite being well acquainted with his surroundings.
To be among the best, one has to perform particularly well under pressure. If a player can handle pressure, then no matter how his form is, he will at least not crumble.
For those who can perform under pressure, home advantage is a massive plus for them. Nevertheless, for those who cannot, they better learn to play under pressure, otherwise they will continue to fail on bigger stages.
In football or cricket, teams like Holland and South Africa have been labelled as “chokers”, why? Because they perform well in the early stages of the tournament, but when it comes to big matches they fail.
It is pressure of their fans, and the pressure of being the favourites going to the match, which eventually leads to their downfall.
No matter what sport you are playing, the home will always work in your favour, if and only if, you can handle the pressure very well.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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