Start watching sports even if you do not understand them!

Photo courtesy of Nathan Shively/Wikimedia Commons

I would not describe myself as a sports fan, or anything even close to the term, but recently I have developed an interest in watching something new: hockey games! For years I have heard my roommates talk about their favorite hockey teams and watch games together, but I always excluded myself because I thought the game would be boring.

This thought stemmed from my lack of knowledge about the game. I did not grow up around hockey and I have been to a total of two hockey games in my time at Geneseo. But after watching a game a few weeks ago, I realized that it does not matter if you understand the rules of the game or not. Watching a sports game at home with friends and family provides an opportunity to bond and have a great time.

With our conflicting schedules this semester as seniors, my roommates and I struggled to find a time to hang out during the week. With classes, jobs, student teaching, and a plethora of other activities, we needed a free activity to consistently rely on during the week. This led us to start a new tradition in my house—watching a hockey game on Thursday night regardless of who is playing. 

Sure, some games are certainly more important than others, like when rivals play each other, or when the Sabres are on. But any hockey game is an interesting one; they fight like every 30 seconds! It is a fast-paced game with players constantly getting in trouble and literally getting put into time-out.

Every week I have a great time watching these games and it provides a consistent opportunity for me to hang out with my friends, which is why I think everyone should consider watching sports on television, even if you do not understand the rules of the game at all.

For far too long sports have been considered to be “for the boys” and carry with them an insane number of stereotypes. Boys and men screaming at the TV and wearing their favorite team’s merch has been seen in the media forever. But why does this stereotype exist? Because they are having fun watching a game!

Regardless of your gender identity, everyone is entitled to fun—it's like a universal language. Watching a movie you have never seen before with friends is a very common activity that is considered to be normal, so why not a sports game that you have never seen before? Right now is the perfect time to start watching something new, especially because the Winter Olympics are currently taking place.

Watch a hockey game, or curling, or maybe an incredibly talented figure skating routine. And if you have no idea what's going on, it's okay! Maybe you can bond with friends over a shared confusion and do your best to guess what's going on, or find a friend that does understand and ask them a million questions. 

There should be no rules and limits as to who can consume certain entertainment; most things are for everyone. Sports and other adjacent activities are a great way to spend time with friends, or maybe even make some new ones. With the Superbowl and the Olympics, now is the perfect time to try out something new. Turn on that hockey and let the fun begin!