"Go Sports!" Navigating Loneliness in a Room of Sports Fans

Whether you just watch the Superbowl for the commercials or happen to tag along with your basketball friends to a game, you may have experienced the strange feeling of being in a room surrounded by people that have something in common without you: they're all sports fans.... but you're not.

Sure, you can admire and enjoy the atmosphere of an in-person game or the laid-back nature of a watch party with some finger foods, but you might still feel a quiet sense of loneliness as the sporting event goes on.

This social displacement can reflect a feeling of a lack of belonging. While being mildly interested in the game but caring more about being with your friends, you might miss out on the full shared experience of highs and lows and suspense and cheers while feeling the pressure to fake those emotions.

Here are some ways to consider moving through these events to manage this feeling:

• Own your lack of knowledge:

  • "No idea what that was, but yeah! Let's go!"

• Take your time to learn about the rules yourself, and ask your friends questions during commercial breaks for clarification. Become curious, and take it as a learning opportunity!

• Ask your friends about their connection to the sport:

  • "How long have you been watching this team?"

  • "When's the last time someone saw a game in person?"

  • "Has anyone ever met a player from the team?"

• Bring coexisting activities into the space:

  • Fiber arts, reading, puzzling, or doing something else while watching

  • Making a game of how many times someone shows up on the screen

  • Taking photos of friends having a good time

It may also be helpful to acknowledge your feelings of isolation to your friends. Being able to express that you're navigating ways to feel more present may invite friends to extend opportunities to you to help you feel more involved. In the end, it's less important that you truly care about the sport, and more that you feel connected to the environment in a genuine way.