How to Maximize Your Home Court Advantage

If you have ever played organized sports, regardless of the level, you know how crucial home court advantage can be. Even as a fan, it is easy to recognize the gyms that are tough to play well in.

It could’ve been your own home court advantage or one that you experienced on the road. Regardless of which, you know that it is a very real thing. It is also something that adds tangible value to a team’s success.

So the question is not, whether home court advantage is valuable or not, but rather, how can you maximize your home court advantage? Because the more you can do this, the more you are going to be able to set your team up to win games at home, and to be that team who’s gym is feared to play in. Your gym will be the gym where visiting teams fall apart in late-game situations, miss free throws, turn the ball over, and ultimately fall apart.

So take advantage of these seven ways to maximize your home court advantage, and start defending your house from the competition.

A big part of having home court advantage is all of the signs, posters, colors, etc. that litter the gym supporting the home team. It is like decorating your house the way that you like it. You know that when you are home, it is yours, and you feel comfortable there. It is the same way with the gym. Having a scorers table with the team logo, having signs with the player’s names on them, or whatever it might be, adds to that comfort. It allows the players on the floor to feel like everything is set up for them to have a great game.

Outside of signage, the fans and what they are wearing can also add to the environment of the game. Whether it is some kind of coordinated color out, or maybe a themed night, this will show the players that the fans are invested and care. Also, it will help to generate a buzz and some excitement for the fans as well. They will get excited to dress up and be a part of what everyone else is doing, and then they will bring that energy into cheering the team on.

It is great when fans get on their feet, clap their hands, and cheer at the top of their lungs. What takes this to a whole new level, though, is when the fans are organized in their cheers. Whether it is a cheer unique to the school, a funny one that was made up for that game, something to throw off the free-throw shooter, or whatever, organized cheers can be an excellent way to maximize home court advantage.

Organized cheers are also a great way to get all of the fans excited and into the cheering. It will encourage fans that might not be as boisterous to join in and be a part of what is going on.

Having the right announcer calling the game can really get the crowd up and on their feet. On the flip side, having a dull announcer will do the opposite. So find someone that is going to bring energy to the game and will inspire fans to get up and be loud. If the announcer is inexperienced, have them do some research and watch other famous announcers online. They will be able to study them and then bring some of that know-how to their own announcing.

Music can do an excellent job of creating energy in the gym. Whether it is getting hyped for warmups, encouraging the fans to get on their feet, or keeping the fans engaged during timeouts, music is a crucial part of home games. It is up to you to make sure that you are maximizing this with the right songs for each occasion. It may take some trial and error, but it starts with doing some research and finding the right tunes for you. A great way to begin this process is to get online and look up music. There are a lot of music streaming sites online that you can start with to find the right playlist for you.

As a basketball trainer in Tampa, Florida, I have several different clients that play high school basketball. This allows me to go to different high school gyms and not only watch the games, but observe the crowds. By far, the best gyms I have been in always have the best student sections. These student sections are loud, full of energy, and most importantly, are the player’s peers. The players on the court are going to play that much harder to impress their peers. They will thrive off of the energy and support that their classmates are giving them.

This only happens, though, if the student section is cultivated and valued by the school. It is up to the administration to help encourage this and provide a section where students can have fun and be part of the game by cheering.

As much as you may want to be able to rattle the other team and put the pressure on them, it is never okay to cross the line. Whether it is students, parents, or whoever, good sportsmanship needs to always be a part of what you are doing. This means that you need to place an emphasis on this and have guidelines in place. Because at the end of the day, everyone in the gym is representing your home court.

As much as you may want to be able to rattle the other team and put the pressure on them, it is never okay to cross the line. Whether it is students, parents, or whoever, good sportsmanship needs to always be a part of what you are doing. This means that you need to place an emphasis on this and have guidelines in place. Because at the end of the day, everyone in the gym is representing your home court.

Energy and excitement are a part of what makes sports so much fun to play and attend. A big part of this comes down to the players on the floor, but also the fans that contribute by bringing energy and excitement. The more fans can get invested in the game, the more exciting it is for everyone. When it comes to home court advantage, you must get this fan buy-in. You need to create an environment for the fans where they can feel free to cheer, celebrate, and so on.

Hopefully, with these seven different ways to maximize your home court advantage, you will be able to provide this with your games. You will be the team that defends home court at all costs, and the court that away teams fear.

Authored by: Kyle Ohman, Basketball HQ CEO, April 2020