One thing that gets overlooked sometime in sport is the art of celebrating. There are a wide variety of feelings about celebrating. More conservative people tend to frown on the act as an excessive show of one’s self. Other people are so emotionally charged that they have little choice in the matter. Regardless of who you are, there is value in considering the psychology and benefits of celebrating.
Expressing a Need
Some people are emotionally charged. They make decisions on how they feel about the world around them. The best thing for these people is to celebrate a positive event, like a strike, to promote confidence, which encourages more success.
Building Team Bond
When bowling for a team, a tasteful celebration of an individual accomplishment can help boost the moral and positive psychological state of the group. There is a fine line between celebrating to draw attention to your self and celebrating to pump your team up. How you do it will make the difference.
The best way to accomplish this is through involving them directly either through a fist bump or some other show of solidarity. A celebration doesn’t have to be shared by the group to be enjoyed by the group, but it’s important to know the personalities of your teammates and them yours. If a more emotionally conservative person understand why you are celebrating, they are more likely to accept it and even share in the celebration.
Entertainment
Bowling is a fun and exciting game for those involved. But for spectators – whether family, friends or fans – bowling can sometimes be tedious. The personal celebration of a strike can excite the crowd and engage them with the game on a human-interest level.
Gaining a Home Field Advantage
Having home field advantage at an alley or lane can help intimate your opponent and give you a psychological edge. A good performance can go along way into claiming a home field advantage. Celebrating a strike or a win can even further claim your territory.
Intimidation
Some players are extremely skilled and methodical with their approach to the game. When these players get into a groove, they can be difficult to beat. If these savants have any mental weakness, a powerful display of emotion can rattle their cage enough to snap their concentration.
Calling Attention to Your Skill
Sometimes its hard to stand out in a crowd of excellent bowlers if you trying to get the attention of a sponsor or a beautiful bombshell. A well-choreographed dance move can be just the trick to do both.
Types of Failed Celebrations
Running Onto the Lane
Whatever you do, don’t celebrate by running onto the lane! You will fall down and it will hurt! I’m not sure why people do this. Are they trying to check to make sure it was a strike? If you haven’t seen this, check it out on YouTube. There are a surprising number of videos of people running onto the lane and immediately wiping out.
Overly Excited Jump
Same dangerous exist with jumping as running onto the lane. The chance of falling and hitting your head is less, but it is still too dangerous. There are also way better ways to celebrate than a jump for joy.
Chest Bump
Chest bumps are okay but they are a little out dated. Plus, there is the additive disincentive of injuring your teammate by accidently knocking them to the ground!
Skipping
Skipping is for children. Leave it to the kids!
Types of Successful Celebrations
Fist Pump
The fist pump is an emphatic gesture that doesn’t take much agility or effort. Done with the right timing and intensity, it can send a powerful message. I prefer three slow rhythmic fist pumps as I turn to return to the bench.
High Five/Fist Bump
If you want to engage teammates in a celebration, an old fashioned high five or fist bump is a solid way to go. I prefer a old school high five. The high five has gone from hip to played out to American institution. As with everything, it’s all about attitude and nothing is cooler than a confident and comfortable high five.
Pointing
Shooting your finger is a tricky area. Fictional characters like Shooter McGavin
Spin Move
A more grand gesture is a spin or dance move. A sweet spin move is difficult but in bowling shoes on a bowling alley it becomes much easier. You have to have good balance and agility to pull this one off. I’d practice in the comfort of your home before breaking it on in public. There are hundreds of additional choreographed moves that can be exciting to use when celebrating a strike. If you would like additional ideas, this book is a great source: Best Dance Moves in the World . . . Ever!
Signature Move
If you are a creative type, there are limitless things that you can do to celebrate a strike. Some of the more aggressive and macho include a simulated shotgun blast at the pins, pelvic thrust at the pins, or homerun swing. Another option could simply be to yell a signature phrase like yatzee, bingo, bada-bing, or boom goes the dynamite. Just keep in mind how annoying it could be if you well a phrase 12 times in a row on your way to a 300 game. Then again, that might be the perfect thing to get under your opponents skin.
There is a genuine advantage to be gained from celebrating a strike. Just remember to keep it classy and safe! A premeditated celebration will help direct your emotion in a constructive way.
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