Manners & Etiquette For Rushing The Court And/Or Field

CBS4 Sports Photojournalist Brian Madden has attended hundreds of live sporting events and has witnessed all sorts of crazy things that happen at games. He's seen the good, the bad and the ugly. So he thought he'd put together a little guide for how fans should act following a home team's big win.

DENVER (CBS4) - Act like you been there. Fun is good. Enjoy yourself at live athletic contests. Be proud of your school. Root, root for the home team. Cheer until you have no more breath in your body. Just, don't cross the line.

That line is smudged between right and wrong; what is appropriate, and what is not. The only people who are allowed to cross the line are those who have an immediate impact on the game -- players, coaches, officials, support staff, media, and entertainment have earned that right.

Everyone knows their role and place in relation to sporting contests. It's a choreographed dance that is rehearsed in concert with one another every game day. The field of play (basketball court, football field, baseball diamond, etc.) is reserved for those who have persevered to make the painstaking strides to achieve high athletic ability in their respective realm. Respect it! Don't cross the line! It's a two-way street.

Players and coaches should not go into the stands, and fans should not go on the field. Simple. This imaginary gray area is a zone to reduce chaos. However, there is a time and place for everything. Rules may be broken. In this case, there is an appropriate time to cross that line. Rush the court for the right moment. Don't take advantage of it. Choose your spot and do not cheapen the memory.

Charging the field, which results in a fantastic finish, can be shared by both fan and player. If we just follow some simple guidelines, then everyone will enjoy the process and the euphoria of a great, dramatic victory. Keep in mind the context and the significance of the contest.

The Appropriate Situations To Rush The Field/Court

- Anytime your team wins a championship
- Defeating the No. 1 ranked team

That's it! Everything else celebrates mediocrity. For example, if fans rush the court for a victory against their rival, they have now accepted the fact that their rival is better than them. The perception will shift their team/school to the inferior program. Any supporter will lose the upper hand to its opposition.

Bragging rights, the precious entity that consumes the fanatical, will carry no weight.

So before you leave you seat, think twice. Don't embarrass yourself or your team by making the selfish mistake to indirectly give attention to the lesser side. Rise to the occasion and celebrate appropriately.

• By CBS4 Sports Photojournalist Brian Madden for CBSDenver.com