It’s a thing. There is scientific evidence that for team sports, there are benefits to playing at home. And the statistics support the notion. With strong conviction, people assert that the repeated evidence shows home teams have a significant advantage, leading to more wins. As far as home field advantage when it comes to nose work? that is a horse of a different color.
Pro-sport fans and athletes theorize better rest accounts for their team’s performance at home. Sleeping in your own bed, going to the most familiar stadium, all contribute to a level of comfort not afforded to the opposing team. The home team’s fans fill most of the stadium seats. Having the cheers on your side is inspiring. And when the crowd erupts with a raucous, at the least opportune times, it can mess with the opposing team’s focus and their ability to communicate.
Last, there are the home town referees who sometimes can’t help but be a little biased no matter how hard they try to be fair. I mean no disrespect. I think the officials can never be 100% unbiased in calling the games. It isn’t humanly possible to see everything clearly. Maybe it gets into the heads of the players on the out of town opposing team that the calls are not in their favor. After all, none of the players want to be called out for mistakes or unsportsmanlike playing, but it’s worse when, from their own perspective, the calls are one-sided.
This past weekend, Team Winnie had a home field advantage. Entering the Mescal Movie Set trial in Benson, AZ, we started out in the seventeenth spot on the waitlist for the ELT-S. It was disappointing to realize that practically every spot on the run list would have to shuffle in order for us to have a shot at getting pulled off that list, and here we are, an hour’s drive from the trial sight. It seems cruel when locals don’t get drawn for entry to the trials in their own backyard, but such is the nature of NACSW. Just as athletes obsess over the unfairness of playing a team with home-field advantage, the random draw seems unfair, but it’s not rigged. It’s random, and it is the most effective way to be fair. There was some movement on the waitlist in the first few weeks after the draw, and leading up to trial day, we were, much to my surprise, in the third position.
I have been an active volunteer since beginning this sport in 2018. Volunteering in trials, local and away, is the best way to learn more about this addicting pastime. It brings me closer to the other teams, and I meet the officials who have dedicated themselves to this sport. Quite happy just being included, I spent the first day of the two-day event at Mescal cheering on the competing teams, and laughing and joking with my friends.
Late in the day, the trial host, Barbara Nagy, informed me that something came up. A spot on the run order had opened up. Surprised, thrilled. Sad that one team had to pull out, but grateful for the opportunity, I realized home field advantage. For logical reasons like planning time and travel, the two teams still ahead of me on the list couldn’t take the spot. Me and Winnie, we are right there. A stone’s throw from the trial and always ready to play the game. And play we did.
Home field advantage got us into the trial. I am not so sure it had much to do with why we came out at the top of the results list. In nose work, there are too many factors included in the reasons we do well or not so well. Experts have documented many variables in nose work. I have touched on this subject myself both in Winnie’s book, A Little Dog’s Adventures in a Big Dog’s World, and here in blogs on her website, Puggle Adventures. Everything I’ve said on this topic remains true.
Although nose work afficionados are a close knit community, we are individuals when we step to the line. We are not competing with other teams, nor are we competing against them, but rather we compete with our own selves. We compare our own performance last time to how we do the next time. Focusing on learning and growing as a team, and making changes for the better, it’s not a race. It’s not a battle. Any dog/handler team can be on top one week and not so close to the top the next. As I say, the variables are far too extensive to quantify.
Team Winnie is an average team. We place consistent in the middle of the group. That is our groove. I know her strengths; she knows my weaknesses. When we put that together, for most of the time, we place in the top of the bottom half or the bottom half of the top. For us, it is the sweet spot. Not that I don’t allow us to aspire to be at the top. I would love that but never expect it. I always know it is in the realm of possibilities and I am prepared to enjoy it if the stars align. It’s just there are so many stars.
Well, our time came. The perfect set of circumstances got us into the trial, and just as many things fell into place for us to end up at the top. It has only happened twice before for Team Winnie, so it is a very special feeling. I hang onto it and file away the sense of pride. I pull out the feeling when we need it and vow to leave every search and every trial with the same feeling. This attitude has served us well. I’d like to challenge every person in nose work and in life to think about adopting this practice. File away the good vibes from the last time you felt like you were on top of the world. Live each day as if you are winning. You are at the top of the list in so many ways, so don’t allow yourself to dwell anywhere else. When things get you down, defer to the file of feelings you tucked away and live there instead.
Congratulations, so proud of Team Winnie!! And thanks for all your volunteering!!