Fans – The Heart Of The Game
The time for the volleyball championships to start has come. People are spending their money on tickets to watch professional volleyball. At that time of the year, people are excited and eager to see their favorite teams and players. They are also looking forward to spending quality time with friends and family. People from all over the world gather to watch the matches. I’ve been to a lot of volleyball games and I’ve made a conclusion that some volleyball fans can be very distinct. No matter which part of the world you are coming from or where the matches are played, you will always encounter 3 types of unusual fans- the analyzing fan, the party rooter and the diehard fan. Wherever you sit, you will always find at least one of them sitting close to you.
The analyzing fan buys a ticket for the match with one clear goal- to analyze the gameplay of both teams. This fan usually trains volleyball and is more interested in the style and tactics of the game than seeing his favorite team or having fun. He’s often wearing a hoodie, that makes him look mysterious. He tries to notice every mistake and come up with an idea of how to avoid it. A common thing for him is to come to the match with either a laptop or a notebook, where he can write the important things that would help him. He makes statistics so that he can get a better knowledge of the game. For instance, which zone does the setter mostly give the ball to or where the players mostly serve the ball. It is good for you to sit next to such a fan, because he doesn’t say a word through the entire game and won’t disconcert you. This fan also goes out of the sports hall first immediately after the end of the game, because there’s nothing left for him to do. He is from the minority, but it is impossible for you to not see such a person when you go to a match.
The party rooters are way more common than the аnalyzing fans and go to matches only with the intention of having fun. This sort of fan is not interested in the game at all. He is there for the food, drinks, the half-time entertainment and the raffles He is unprejudiced and will cheer for whichever team wins. The basics and rules of the game are also unclear to him. The party rooter tends to talk about a lot of things unrelated to the match, which is always irritating for the people sitting next to him. He applauds both teams and cheers whenever the crowd does so that people don’t notice his disinterestedness. It is common for that type of fan to ask in the middle of match which teams are playing and who’s winning. A must-do thing for him is to take a picture from the stadium and upload it on social media. That way he can show off and make false impression to others that he loves the sport. Although sports aren’t his most favorite thing, volleyball provides a friendly atmosphere, unforgettable moments and great entertainment. That’s what makes this kind of person a fan of the game and encourages him to buy a ticket every time such an event is held nearby.
The diehard fan also tends to analyze the game of the players, but he’s not focused only on it. He is a true supporter or else called “the 7th player” in volleyball. The diehard fan purchases a ticket no matter the price. Such fans always come with drums and megaphones and paint their faces with the colors of the flag of their team. They also bring T-shirts with the names of their favorite player or make posters with messages regarding them. The diehard fan is also the most passionate one. He sheds tears of joy if his team wins and cries his eyes out if it loses. It is a real joy to encounter one of these fans, because they are entertaining and have positive vibes that reach out to you. Those fans are well-known for shouting through the entire match. They scream with joy to support their team or boo the opposing team to disconcert them. It is not necessary that they can play volleyball. People just go there to help their team win by providing it with their moral support. They are even ready to go out on the field and help the team win, even if volleyball is not their strength. Even an hour after the match they are still in the hall, waiting in line to get autographs and take photos with their idols.
One thing is sure- volleyball wouldn’t be the same without its fans, doesn’t matter if they are common or distinct. If it wasn’t for the fans, part of the beauty of the game would be lost. They all contribute in different ways to the development of the game. Although ordinary fans are the majority, the uncommon volleyball fans are the ones who make the game more interesting. A volleyball match would never be the same without the guy with the hoodie, who has buried his head in the computer, the non-stop talking and eating disinterested party monster and the painted from head to toes fan, that shouts his lungs out.
