7 Things You Should Never Do at a Football Game

Attending a football game, especially at the NFL and major college levels, can be one of the most memorable events of a lifetime. However, an unruly fan who violates one of the unwritten rules of how to act at a football game can quickly ruin the experience. Here’s a look at seven things you should never do at a football game.

1. Bring a laptop or tablet

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots works on a Microsoft Surface tablet.
When you have five Super Bowl rings, you can bring a tablet to a football game. | Christian Petersen/Getty Images

This rule should be self-explanatory and actually applies to all sporting events and concerts. Unless you are a member of the working media in attendance, there is no reason to have a laptop or a tablet at a football game. Be present and enjoy the game.

2. Have one too many drinks

Seattle Seahawks fans drink a beer before a game.
We’re all for having a good time, but don’t take it too far. | Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

If you’ve ever been to a football game (particularly at the college or professional level), you have likely been around a fan who had one too many drinks. And our guess is that it made the day or night far less enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.

The only thing worse than an obnoxiously inebriated fan is a fan who gets so drunk that they empty the contents of their stomach in the middle of the stadium.

3. Get into a physical altercation

Two fans fight during the season opener between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders.
There is never a good reason to fight at a football game. | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

This is another thing that happens far more often than it should at football games. Most times, fights happen at sporting events as a result of heavy drinking or exhaustion from baking in the sun for several hours. Neither is a legitimate excuse, though. This should never happen at a football game.

4. Go shirtless for no reason

A fan of the Green Bay Packers goes shirtless during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Going shirtless at a football game is lame. | Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

The only time it’s excusable to go shirtless at a football game is if there is some seriously cool and creative body paint involved — and even then it’s still kind of lame.

Nothing is worse than having to sit through a game on a hot day with a sweaty, shirtless body in close vicinity. The people who go shirtless in below freezing temperatures (like the Green Bay Packers fan above) are just flat-out crazy.

5. Go streaking

Ground security escorts a fan off the field.
Streaking at a football game never ends well. | Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images

Going streaking (with or without clothes) at a football game never ends well. Those who are mindless enough to do it usually end up taking a punishing hit from security guards or players on the field. And to top it off, streaking is a guaranteed way to get hauled off to jail and banned from a stadium for life.

What’s even more head-scratching is that streakers never get the attention they so desperately seek.

6. Be that guy (or girl)

Detroit Lions fan reacts after a touchdown.
Don’t ruin the game for everybody else. | Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

We’ve all likely attended an event that got ruined by an intolerable fellow spectator. We’re all for having a good time and cheering on your favorite team. But when it comes at the expense of the viewing pleasure of everyone around you, it’s simply annoying and unnecessary.

Nobody wants to hear constant heckling or armchair quarterbacking, and nobody wants to get stuck sitting behind a fan who refuses to sit down (in a non-student section, of course).

7. Throw things on the field

Bottles and debris litter the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
There is never an excuse for fans throwing stuff on the field. David Maxwell/AFP/Getty Images

This one should be self-explanatory. Unfortunately, it does still happen from time to time. No matter how bad the coaches, players, or refs may be, there is no justifiable reason to ever throw anything on to the field.