One of the most common occurrences in sports is trash talk. You can see it on the field between players, between broadcasters and in student sections in the stands. It has gotten to a point where it can add an unnecessary layer to the game.
The use of trash talk has been widely accepted throughout our society as normal. You see friends trash talking to each other, and people widely just accept that teens cuss and talk trash all the time. In sports though, it can go from just the normal banter with friends to trash talking strangers, which can lead to uncomfortable situations. South head football coach Chad Hepner talks about how trash talk is now widely accepted in society.
“It’s everywhere you know, even when you got buddies that are playing pickup basketball in the backyard, that’s all they’re doing is they’re trash talking to each other so in that way it’s kind of become part of the culture,” Hepner said. “But when it comes to really competing, I teach our players, to do their talking with their pads and with their play, not their mouth”
In sports, trash talk has occurred more and more. It is more common in sports than even in society. Players are used to trash talk, so there is a normality around it. It also occurs in student sections making fun of opposing teams, as fans chant against them. This motivates some of the players, but others are taught to tune it out. For some players in between the lines, it can provide extra motivation. Ben Kocik ’26 discussed how trash talk can motivate him and his teammates during a game.
“It’s kind of every game you know, you go out there and it’s just competitiveness,” Kocik said. “You know everyone’s out there talking crap, but you just got to put your head down.”
The trash talk can get to a point where it can penalize teams and players. Officials have the ability to change the course of a game because the players decide to take it too far with the talk they engage in between players, fans and coaches. It can escalate to a point where it can make the game unsafe and take away sportsmanship. Referee for the MHSAA basketball and football Mike Dempsesy has thrown many flags on people trash talking this is what makes him throw the flag.
“If you think somebody is intentionally disrespecting or talking trash or saying inappropriate things to an opponent, that’s a penalty and if you hear it should be enforced” Dempsey said.
