In many college sports, few events rival the energy of a victorious home team and its fans rushing the court or field in celebration. Over the years the tradition of “court storming” has become ingrained into the culture of many universities and while it is often seen as a celebratory tradition, storming the court can carry many significant risks and dangers that are important to consider. With recent injuries to players because of court storming, many conferences are considering banning the tradition.
One of the primary concerns surrounding the topic is the issue of safety. When hundreds or even thousands of joyful fans rush onto the court at the same time, chaos can arise. In the middle of the frenzy, there is a significant risk of trampling, falls and collisions, all of which pose a danger to both players and spectators. Instances of injuries, ranging from minor bruises to more severe wounds, have been reported in numerous court storming incidents.
Jeff Sarmiento (11) believes that court storming poses a risk because it has the potential to ruin the outcome of games.
“Court storming can bring excitement to viewers and the team’s community after a victory. Although it’s amusing to see every once in a while, it can lead to games being paused or a play being ruined,” Sarmiento said.
Two recent basketball-related court storming incidents have brought the issue once again to discussion among NCAA conferences. After Duke University’s loss to Wake Forest University on February 24, Duke’s center, Kyle Filipowski, hobbled off the court after being caught in a swarm of jubilant Wake Forest basketball fans. According to ESPN.com Filipowski sustained a knee injury but was luckily back on the starting lineup four days after the incident. The second incident was on January 21, after the University of Iowa’s loss to Ohio State University. During the frenzy of celebration, there was a collision between Iowa’s star Caitlin Clark and an unidentified woman who was celebrating Ohio State’s win. Clark, now the all-time leading women scorer in NCAA basketball, wasn’t seriously hurt and did not miss any games.
Sydney McGuire (11) agrees that court storming could be hazardous to players and fans.
“Even though court storming is fun, it can be dangerous for the athletes. For example, when Caitlin Clark got hit after the Ohio State vs Iowa game,” McGuire said.
In addition to safety concerns, court storming can have financial implications for universities and athletic programs. In the event of injuries sustained during court storming incidents, schools may find themselves liable for medical expenses and legal fees, potentially leading to costly lawsuits. Also, the negative publicity that is made because of these instances of violence or disorderly conduct can deter prospective students, sponsors, and donors, impacting the university’s reputation and revenue streams.
Currently, 11 of 32 Division I conferences told ESPN that they can impose fines on member schools in certain cases of court or field storms. Currently the ACC doesn’t have any fine structure, or disciplinary measures and opponents of storming are advocating to punish participants under trespassing laws, as happens with streakers and protesters.
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had his share of road losses that happened because of unbridled celebrations by home-team fans. After it happened at Virginia 11 years ago, Krzyzewski said, “Just get our team off the court… and our coaching staff… before students come on… we deserve that protection.”
