Freshman basketball player Davion Cox’s heart pounds as he steps onto the free-throw line. His hands are clammy. The ball feels slippery and unfamiliar, and he sweats nervously while looking at his teammates, knowing that he can’t afford to miss this shot, especially since they were on foreign grounds. Cox notes the clamor and cheering around him: the hopeful faces of the Dons on his left, and the distracting screams of the rival Hillsdale Knights on the right. Cox looks down, takes a deep breath, concentrates on the rim, and releases the ball.
Recent studies demonstrate how this “advantage,” players being comfortable in their own court, can, in fact, turn into a disadvantage—especially during playoffs and championship games, when there is an increase in pressure.
A study conducted by David A. Harville and Michael H. Smith in “The Home-Court Advantage: How Large is it, and Does it Vary from Team to Team?” compared the home winning percentages of National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Major League Baseball (MLB) teams before and after they moved to a new stadium. For 26 of the 37 teams, there was a distinct decrease in the home advantage following a move. Because the new venue was unfamiliar, they were less likely to win, for the players had yet to learn the secrets of the environment.
Sophomore soccer player Shaye Kenny says, “I definitely think home court has its advantages and disadvantages. I mean for soccer, it’s just a grass field and two goals, so I personally don’t think it’s that much more advantageous.”
While the advantages of home court remain rather ambiguous, some scholars have argued that the home court is an asset in athletic contests. For one, fans play a crucial role in the athletic performance of the home team, cheering and encouraging the players. Additionally, the familiar surroundings can be of comfort during a stressful competition.
In fact, the advantages offered by games played in front of their home crowd seem to be unconfirmed. In the MLB and NHL, the home teams only have a 53 percent chance of winning, while football teams have between 54 and 64 percent, according to ESPN.com. Therefore, in that regard, home court advantage seems to provide a boost the home team.
At Aragon, home court seems to be fairly advantageous. Senior basketball player Jacob Andriola says, “You know the hoop, you know the court, you have your own people on the team, and you know where you’re at. It’s the hoop that you shoot hundreds of shots into everyday, so having to play on the home court is much more comfortable and familiar, and it gives you more confidence.”
For soccer, players report the home court concept applying as well. Kenny says, “Of course if you’re playing a home game, you’re going to feel more at home with your surroundings than if you’re playing at another school.”
Senior basketball player Paul Su adds, “At the first Hillsdale quad, we’re down by 17 in the third quarter, and the crowd just starts to cheer like crazy. But in the first three quarters the crowd was silent, because Hillsdale was killing us. Our team just started going off. When there’s energy from the crowd, the team feels it, and we respond to it.”
