When first coming to Haverford I had no clue how loud and exhilarating Haverford sports can be.
After freezing in the cold and cheering in the gym, I can now confidently address which Haverford sports are the best to watch. When judging, I’m considering weather conditions, how the fans interact with the game, how the game interacts with the attention span of the viewer, and if the viewer can get a proper view of the game.
At Number 5: squash. Squash is a fast-paced game that can get very loud with a small crowd because the solid walls immediately bounce noise. Because the sport is played inside, it is guaranteed to be warm, and the viewer usually has a lot of space and viewpoints to watch the game.
While cheering loudly and being in a heated environment are tempting to the average Haverford sports enthusiast, squash has downsides that make it less appealing.
The first is that spectators must be silent when the players are playing. There is no other rule like this in all of Haverford sports, except golf and tennis.
Squash also involves a 15-to-30-second break between points. This is the time when you are allowed to cheer. This can confuse a newer viewer of the game. Another downside to the average Haverford student is that squash is a somewhat complicated game, and the rules are not well known.
At Number 4: soccer. Soccer comes with many challenges but can be rewarding to viewers if they commit to watching the whole game.
A major challenge is how long it takes for a team to score. Although when the Fords score it gets the loudest of all sports, it is quickly followed up with another long wait in between goals, making it a hard game to stay focused on.
Another factor that makes soccer hard to watch is that it is played outside, which can get cold and windy.
It is also hard to get a good view of the field as it is so big, and sometimes people are standing in the way of your view. Soccer fails to engage the viewers enough and comes with colder weather.
Number 3, lacrosse, is similar to soccer but there are a couple of major differences that merit its higher ranking. Lacrosse is a high-paced sport with loads of contact and has low to medium-scoring games.
Lacrosse has just the right amount of goals to keep the viewer engaged—not too much to stray away from the excitement of scoring every minute like squash and not too little to make it feel as if the sport is dragging, like soccer.
Another advantage to the sport is it is played outside in the spring when it is warmer.
Another positive trait of lacrosse—for the viewer—is that it is a very physical sport. There is always something to watch on the field. There are a few downsides to this sport, but the main one is that the game is too technical.
It is hard for a casual lacrosse viewer like me to understand all of the rules.
Number 2: football. Football is an exceptionally fun sport to watch. From the rivalries to the chants to the themes—this sport is a lot of fun if you are in the student section. One of the best things about this sport is, surprisingly, the fan attendance.
Football has one of the best student sections. You could be the shyest person in the world, but as soon as you step into the Haverford football student section, you can let go of that and just have fun.
And you can’t forget the elaborate themes for the games, from White Out to Peaky Blinders.
Another advantage of football is that it provides simple breaks from the action. In some sports, it can feel as though the game is being played for hours with no breaks. However, for football, it is actually quite the opposite. It takes about 45 seconds to reset and start a new play. And here’s the best part—each play is different.
Rather than just the ball being kicked around in soccer or a long continuous feed-passing game in lacrosse, there are multiple ways you can advance the field and get points in football, making it almost impossible to get bored.
The best sport has to check all of my criteria boxes: perfect weather, fun and rowdy fan interactions, and a visually stimulating game for the viewer that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
As always, there are cons, the most obvious being the cold weather, and like almost every other sport on our list, it is sometimes hard to view the game fully from the student section.
Football keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next, but like many other sports, it can get cold during night games, and the student section can get so packed it feels like you are going to fall off the bleachers.
The best sport has to check all of my criteria boxes: perfect weather, fun and rowdy fan interactions, and a visually stimulating game for the viewer that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Basketball checks all of these boxes.
Not only is basketball in the warmth of the gym, but the bleachers are situated perfectly next to the game, ensuring everyone has a good view. It is a high-paced game with some of the final scores even going up into the high 70s. This keeps the viewer actively engaged as the game can change the lead within a minute.
To top it all off, you are in an enclosed space that makes your voice heard.
This game is also packed with traditions, including turning away when the opponent’s roster is being read and sitting on the lap of the person above you during halftime. Every little detail makes basketball the best Haverford sport to watch.
