How’s your bracket going? Yep, it’s that time of the year when all basketball enthusiasts are going gaga over the NCAA and March Madness. Fans all over the country and even other parts of the world are surely glued to their TV sets to watch the latest basketball games eager to see their school triumph. Others just want a glimpse of the future of basketball, particularly the likes of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Rui Hachimura and Ja Morant. Others want to see the games live.
If you’re planning on catching your favorite college team try to make it to the Final Four, there are some things you need to consider. Your safety, in particular. You’ll be elbow to elbow with other fans and students and there’s always the possibility of people getting hurt. As we’ve seen in the NBA in recent weeks, fans can get rowdy. In college, it’s even worse, especially if the teams playing are bitter rivals.
Below are some sporting events safety tips you need to know before you put on that face paint and troop to the arena to shout your support for your school.
Plan Ahead
It’s great to be spontaneous but for something like March Madness, you need to make plans. This is perhaps one of the most important sporting events safety tips we can offer. Simply put, if you an ahead, everything falls into place and lessens the risks of things going wrong.
First, ask your friends to join you watch the game. Once you’ve got a group together, book your tickets. Make sure you know the venue and the routes going there. Arrange for a mode of transport. You can carpool since it will be pretty difficult to find parking space, especially during March Madness. If you prefer to commute, make sure you know which trains to catch and where to get down. You also need to know how to get home after the game.
Designate a meet-up point in case anyone gets separated from the group. No man (or woman) left behind. This should be your mantra.
Don’t Go Alone
Make sure you bring someone with you. You’re better off watching with a friend than alone. The atmosphere may get a tad too testy, especially between fans of opposing schools. If you’re alone, you can easily get picked on. However, you shouldn’t pick a fight just because you have someone to back you up. Just enjoy the game without causing any trouble. It’s more fun when you’re with a group of friends, anyway.
It’s also pretty easy to get lost in the crowd if you’re watching alone. Even if you are in a big group, go with a buddy if you really need to leave your seat.
There’s also the possibility that someone in the crowd are out there to target unsuspecting fans. If they see that you’re all alone, you become a bigger target for these hooligans. Safety in numbers, people.
Keep Valuables Safe
First of all, don’t go to a game wearing jewelry or your fanciest watch. Leave your valuables at home. Of course, you need your phone and wallet. Make sure they’re safely hidden. If you’re bringing a bag, don’t put your valuables inside. Keep them as close to you as possible and within your sight all the time.
Wear the Right Attire
Go in clothes that you’re comfortable in. Of course, you’d want to wear something in the colors of the school you’re rooting for. Forget about wearing a voluminous coat or kimono like Queen Bey did during the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. If there’s a stampede, people can easily pull you to get out of their way.
You’re no supermodel WAG with front row seats so leave the high heels at home. Wear sneakers or something that won’t hurt your feet when you stand too long. Also, forget flip flops. You don’t want people accidentally stepping on your toes. Sneakers are safest bet.
Don’t Drink Too Much
Many sporting events allow fans to have some wine and beer. For this year’s March Madness, the NCAA has finally allowed alcohol sales in all sporting venues hosting the tournament games. This is a first in the history of the NCAA. This doesn’t give you the go-signal to get drunk, though. Save the celebration for later.
If you have to drink, just do so moderately and have water in between. Drink just enough to let loose and have some fun. Stay in control and don’t let too much booze cloud your judgment. Just ask the guy who threw a cup of beer at Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
Grab a bite to eat before heading to the games. It may be quite difficult to get food once you’re in your seat. The lines outside the arena will likely be too long and you’d be wasting a lot of time trying to get a hotdog or something.
Also, you’re not quite sure how clean the food being served in the venue is. Of course, they’d be stupid to serve contaminated food but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
As mentioned, you need to stay hydrated, especially if you’re drinking beer. Bring a water bottle so you can take a sip every now and then.
Pack Light
It really doesn’t make sense to bring a huge bag to a March Madness game. It’ll only make it more difficult for you to manoeuver through the crowd. One of the vital sporting events safety tips is that you should be quick and nimble. In case something bad happens in the stadium, you should be able to run to safety as fast as possible.
The only things you need is your phone, wallet with cash, of course, a water bottle, and perhaps an energy bar, in case you get hungry or dizzy from all the shouting. If you suffer from asthma, don’t forget your nebulizer. Of course, you already know this. If you can’t fit everything in your pockets, bring a small sling bag.
Be Aware
When you get to the arena, take note of the emergency exits. Choose one nearest you, which you’ll use in case of trouble.
It’s easy to lose yourself to the game with all the shouting and cheering. However, we’re taking about sporting events safety tips and it’s just right to tell you to be wary of what’s happening around you. Be on the lookout for shady characters. You already have the arena’s security personnel looking for potential trouble but it won’t hurt to have additional eyes, right? If you notice something fishy, alert the authorities. Don’t do anything stupid unless you’re pretty sure what’s happening and that you really have to act fast.
There are definitely more sporting events safety tips out there but we can only fit a few right now. If you have any suggestions, please share them in the comment section. Find more safety tips over at The Gentleman Pirate.
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