Observation Paper on Stress at a Local High School Football Game - Assignment Example

Observation Paper on STRESS at a Local High School Football Game Football is a high quality game which necessitates a lot of potentiality and management of various kinds of stress associated with the game. Stress can be defined as the organism’s total response to a particular environmental demand or pressure. Physical, and psychological( emotional and mental) pressures play vital roles in a high school football game as the players, the parents, other spectators, officials, coaches, and referees have to undergo a great amount of stress as the game is in progress. This large amount of stress can affect the normal behavior pattern of all the people involved in the game and people tend to be aggressive and pressure ridden, depending upon the nature, the conditions and the importance of the game. Stress in a game has its positive sides also: it can bring about more challenges, better performances and vigor in the game. Very often it is seen that the team that manages the stress factors of the game emerge victorious at the end. Keen observation can always result in the true understanding of the effects of pressure on people and this prompts one to have an analytical and critical conclusion regarding the changes in human interaction in a tensed atmosphere. This paper attempts to show how stress affects the behavior pattern of people at a local high school game. It was a thrilling experience to observe the football match between St. Aloysius High school and St. George High School held in the last summer at the St. George school ground. Both the schools had been rivals for a long time and it was a great sight for the spectators as both the teams had good players in their sides. As expected, the gallery was full and there were loud shouts, slogans and noises. The officials, the teachers and the spectators (which consisted mainly of the parents from both the schools and the local supporters who favored either one of the teams) were keen to start the game. The climate was quiet pleasant even though the humidity was a bit high. The atmosphere was quite tensed as it was a decisive game to decide the winner, as both the teams had 3-3 match record in the previous games played on both the school grounds. One could quite easily observe and read out the tension from the faces of each spectator and there was no doubt that it would increase as the game progressed. Understandably, all the players seemed to be stressed as they knew for certain the high expectation and responsibility thrust upon them. As spectators for an international football game identify themselves with their national or other favorite teams, such feeling of oneness and identity is much higher in a high school football match of this sort as there is a greater proximity between the players and the spectators. One could clearly understand this feeling of identity from the way the school children wore their school uniforms and carried their school emblems to boost their respective school sides. As suggested by Bradley, “The psychological satisfaction that people gain from “football” victories, related media coverage, social events, wearing the respective team colors and identifying with the emblems and symbols, which represent hundreds of years of history as well as everyday realities, is immense” (p. 96). Thus, in a high school football game, it is likely that everyone is moved by the collective rather than personal identity, and considers it as a great honor if his/ her team wins. Thus, as the game progressed I could observe how the individual’s own natural self gives way for the group psychology that is more at work in a football match. The game started and there were only occasional moments of stress and tension in the first half. There were shouts for goals and each time the ball approached the goal post, one could observe feelings of anxiety and joy on the face of the spectators who supported the team that had the possession of the ball. On the other hand, one could also see pressure and stress mounting up among the supporters of the other team which was followed by a feeling of relief when the opposing team missed the opportunity. Football is a challenging research domain. The twenty-two players need to demonstrate collaborative behavior and each one has to play specific roles entrusted to him in an uncertain, and dynamic environment. The behavior of players and the decision making processes can range from the most simple reactive behaviors, such as running towards the ball, to complex reasoning that take into account the behavior and perceived strategies of team-mates and opponents. Players can also show aggressive, unhealthy and anti- social behaviors when moved by undue stress and tensions. The following are some of the commendable specific behaviors I could observe on and out of the field:- 1. Mr. Jack who wore the No: 10 jersey was obviously the best player in the St. George side. Being a dashing and energetic forward, he caused a lot of problems for the other team. The shouts and encouragement from his friends, teachers, coach and other supporters didn’t pressurize him. Instead he played his natural game and displayed his natural self until he was consecutively fouled by the other team’s defenders. Thus, one could clearly observe feelings of agitation, helplessness, despair and anger on his face and body movements. One of the unwritten rules regarding a football game is the sportsman spirit that is to be shown even when one’s team is the losing side. It so happened that jack was mercilessly and brutally fouled by one of the defenders inside the penalty area, which the referees failed to see. In his despair, he appealed to the referee for which he got a yellow card. Besides, he was maltreated by the defender who fouled him. This was something which turned the other wise cool player very much aggressive and made him to push the defender to the ground. The incident suddenly was backed up by the other boys who started exchanging hot dialogue each other. This is an example of how stress is caused by despair and how it can change the behavior pattern of an individual. 2. The first half completed without causing much of a stress either to the players or to the spectators, as both the team couldn’t score any goals. But the second half was eventful with both teams scoring one goal each. It was jack who scored the first goal for the Georgians. It was as a result of mistake committed by the goal keeper of the St. Aloysius High school. The goal intensified the stress and tension of the St. Aloysius players and one could see the defenders blaming their goal keeper. This caused great damage to the goal keeper’s morale and self-confidence and it affected his performance badly all through out the game. It was most evident when the game ended with a penalty shoot out. 3. A vast amount of pressures is usually put on the referees whenever they want to make correct decisions during a competitive match. At times, a faulty decision made at one stage of the match can have its effects on decisions made later on in a match. The referee who failed to see the crucial fowl done to jack inside the penalty area, made another controversial decision that resulted in a lot of pressure or stressful situation. The narrow off side call by the referee to which the spectators reacted violently was another instance of how the referees get stressed and how it affects the natural flow of the game. 4. The spectators in a football game can at times turn out to be a violent mob, who are ready to do anything for their team to win. One is surprised to observe how fast the process of supporting a particular football team facilitates feeling of shared identity with fellow supporters and creates feeling of hostility and unrest towards the other group. As MacClancy (1996) states, “sports…are vehicles of identity, providing people with a sense of difference and a way of classifying themselves and others, whether latitudinally or hierarchically” (p. 2). The behavior change in the spectators was quite shocking as it was unprecedented. The change took place again as a result of another piece of controversial refereeing. As the forward from St. Aloysius high school was moving quickly with the ball beating all the defenders, came the call for offside. Obviously it was sufficient enough to arouse the supporters of St. Aloysius College to turn against the referee and interfere in the smooth functioning of the game. The spectators who supported the St’ George team also joined in the controversy by stating that the referee’s decision was the right one. Another significant conclusion I could draw from my observation was that even spectators who did not favor any team in the beginning and remained neutral also joined in the controversy and took sides with one of the teams. It was interesting to see spectators who were totally strangers to each other at the start of the game gradually start to come out of their shells to share their common interest. 5. Another key area of stress could very well be identified is that of the parents and the other team members at the side bunch. The type of their stress is varied in different ways. To mention the stress type of the parents, an observation of Tom’s mannerism and behavior throughout the match would be of great value. Tom is the dad of Tisson, St.George’s goalkeeper for this crucial match. It is quiet unexpected that he, the team’s reserve goalkeeper, got a chance to prove his talents. He is talented and Tom has no doubt about it. This has been a long cherished dream accomplished for him to play for his team in an important game. He got the chance only because the main player got suspended for this match. Tom knows that any chances of his son’s future career depended on the way he handled this pressure situation. Any caring parent who is concerned with the development of his children, as Tom is, would feel tremendous pressure. The type of pressure I observed in Tom is that of a parent who is worried about the development of his children. There was a similar serious concern for the coach of their team who played with an inexperienced goalkeeper in such a crucial match. He seemed much stressed at any moment the ball reached his goal post. Moreover, I could see a highly stressed goalkeeper in Tisson in the beginning of the game and one could see him growing in confidance, and self-assurance as the game progressed. Even though the other players in the reserve bench also were tensed I could observe their intense longing for their team to win the match: they, at times, seemed to be anxious and tensed, but for most part of the game they were really enthusiastic, boosting, cheering up and encouraging their friends who were on the playground. 6. The last ten minutes of the game was breathtaking as a goal at that critical juncture could decide the winning team. The score was 1-1 and any move that came closer to the goal post caused mental stresses for all the spectators. There were ecstatic moments when the whole gallery was silent, especially when Tisson made a miraculous save in the last minute of the game. The physical stress of the players could also be seen as most of them seemed to be tired at the end. Moreover, one could watch their incessant thirst to win the game overcoming their fatigue. Everyone was anxious at this stage of the game to know whether the game would result in the extra time or even a penalty shoot out. One could witness many missed opportunities, bad luck and spectacular moments of individual excellence and collective strategies, and everyone was thrilled, worried, anxious and nervous as the game ended up in the penalty shoot out. 7. Tension and stress mounted to its supreme height during the penalty shoot out. The coaches, teachers, and the captains were busy with preparing list of the students who have to take the penalties. The coaches of both the teams seemed to be pondering over the best of the choices and all other spectators including the teachers and parents were making guesses regarding the right selection. This was again another crucial stage of the game where a wrong selection would prove to be disastrous. I was keen to observe the body language and facial expression of both the goalkeepers and the players who were selected to take the penalties. The goalkeepers, of course, were much more tensed than the others under scrutiny were, as they knew that their performance would be very crucial at this stage of the game. There is no doubt that this awareness of the importance of their roles and the high expectations that hang around them added to their stress. One could also notice them taking deep breaths in an effort to get rid of their stress and mental struggles. 8. Thus, the most awaited penalty shootout began with the kick by a forward from the St. George high school. The first four kicks by the players in both the teams found their destination. As the St. George captain successfully took the last penalty, everyone’s attention was focused on the last penalty taker and the St. George goalkeeper. There was absolute silence among the spectators and all the St.Georgian supporters expected him to perform another wonder for his side. The kick was finally taken, a full-length drive to the left side and he did win the game for his side even to the disbelief of his own coach! That was the long awaited moment and all on a sudden the stress and tension gave way to celebration and extreme happiness for the winning side, while the losing side kept on lamenting over their bad luck. I could then observe the sportsman spirit of everyone as the lost team consoled each other and were soothed by the players of the winning side. I was astonished to find the exchange of jerseys by Jack and the defender who fouled him ruthlessly all throughout the game. There were absolutely no feelings of enmity between them. Thus, one can undoubtedly state that a local high school match of this sort presents to a keen observer behaviors that demonstrate confidence, vitality, stress, anger, desperation, disbelief, encouragement, mutual understanding and respect. It also demonstrates behavior that is moved by one’s local, regional or team spirit. The behavior that is shown by the St. Aloysius defender in fouling Jack suggests pressure tactics, but at the end of the game, he shows mature sports man spirit by congratulating Jack and exchanging the jerseys. In the same way, the comparatively cool temperament displayed by the St. George goalkeeper is a classical example of how one can remain at his best even in tensed situations. The observation also highlights the fact that people tend to go against their actual selves and are moved by the pressures of the game to behave in such a way that suits the atmosphere. It also points to the fact that one loses total control over one’s self, when overwhelmed by stress, feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and uncertainty. Whether high school children should be subjected to this sort of stress is the right question that lingers in the minds of anyone who watches matches of this sort. Whatever may be the answer to the question there is no doubt that players should be specially trained to cope up with and overcome stress. It is unanimously agreed that along with maintaining the body physically, creating a stable mental environment can often be the difference between winning and losing. There should be effective psychological counseling for the players or else this type of stress can be detrimental to the players’ mental states. Football not only improves general fitness; good behavior on a football ground can build friendships, release tensions and boosts self-esteem. For this, students and spectators should be trained to exercise social behavior that is oriented towards other selves and everyone should be able to differentiate social healthy behavior from that of nonsocial behavior. Works Cited 1. Bradley, J. (1995). Football in Scotland: A history of political and ethnic identity, International Journal for the History of Sport, Volume 12. 2. MacClancy, J. (1996). Sport, identity and ethnicity. In J. MacClancy (Ed.). Sport, identity and ethnicity. (p. 2). Oxford: Berg. Read More