When Alex Ovechkin scored his 500th career NHL goal last Sunday, I was working the game and had to follow certain rules which include “no cheering”.  We’ve all, at some point, have seen or heard “No cheering in the pressbox” but the position that I work from is in the seats and surrounded by fans.  There the rule means even more.

When Ovechkin scored though, I let out an audible, “YEAH!” then activated the goal sequence on the video board and ribbon boards in the arena.  I still had a job to do and the vocal cheer was about all I could do while also doing my job.  At one point, Ovechkin was receiving an ovation from the crowd and I was able to applaud the achievement of the player that’s done so much for hockey in the Washington, D. C. area in addition to some history.

At that moment, it’s hard not to cheer, it’s an achievement that only a select few will ever accomplish.  Ask anyone who was there to see any other big moment in sports, and they’ll tell you they cheered, even when in the pressbox.

If you’re on the field during a championship celebrate, and a player wants to hug you, that’s ok.  However, don’t go hugging everyone you can find.  Keep it professional, congratulate the winner, smile and be happy for their win.

What not to do, however, is over cheer.  Applaud the accomplishment, but don’t dance, taunt, or go around high-fiving everyone, that’s not your job.  It’s ok to be a fan, and in fact, encouraged because you’re around a sport that others love.  But knowing when you can be a fan, and when you need to be a professional is very important.