It is not unusual to hear grownups barking in public. At sporting events, they do so on beat with thousands of others. At an airport, they do so after locking eyes with someone wearing the right pattern of colors. Rather than acting like animals, they are acting like they are part of the group. Their bark is a way of signaling their allegiance to a team and participation in something bigger.
While I focus a lot on how sport can be a way for young people to develop social ties, the same can be true for grown adults who are past their playing years. I don’t think enough about how just being a sport fan can be important for psychosocial development of adults. And just like youth sport, how it can beautiful or incredibly toxic.
Maybe we can think more about building healthier fandoms, that highlight the power of sport and minimize the worst parts.
The Sideline Fix 
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