As a non-athletic and non-sports interested individual, the game has always eluded me. Especially all of the history, customs and insider lingo. There is one custom that I think confuses most people, even those who are semi-sports inclined. The slapping of the buttock.
So I have made it my mission to explain this phenomenon. The can’t-keep-hands-to-oneself phenomenon.
I first posed the questions to the Business Honors class which includes a few sports enthusiasts. Humorously enough the first response was from Cole Schlagel, a senior, who said that “it is a love tap” and you use it when you “want to say a good job.” Nicole Troester, a senior, agreed and said that “it is a subtle” good job. Mrs. Shoberg, the Professional Staff Assistant of the Business Department, said that it is a form of comradery.
As far as why the slap is on the butt, Riley Brodie, also a senior, says that it is an area that “probably isn’t going to hurt.” Katie McCurdy, a community member, says that “there is no padding there so they feel the tap” and know that it is a job well done by a teammate.
So it is a noticeable way of telling your teammate that they did well.
After bringing up the topic, and causing a lot of laughter, students began looking it up themselves. A kernel of wisdom they derived from their search was the five rules that outline the “art of butt slapping.”
The first rule is no squeezing. And you would think there is no need for an explanation about that. Cliff Mendrez, the author of the article, states that the butt slap should be a quick tap with a flat hand and should last less than half a second. Mendrez says that “if your hand is still in contact with the guy’s butt after half a second, your thoughts are not on the game.”
The second rule is to pick only one cheek. Mendrez recommends picking the closest one to “avoid that split second of choosing which one” and to just “get a hold of yourself and pick only one cheek.”
Rule number three is to keep your eyes up. Never look at their behind otherwise it will “only make you look like you’re actually enjoying this crazy antic.”
Number four states, to wait to give your teammate a slap on the bum. Mendrez says to never go “rushing towards him like a kid drooling for ice cream.”
The final rule is to listen to the horn. Once the game ends, that is the signal for the end of all butt slapping, until a few seconds after the game “to congratulate your team.” And Mendrez offers a piece of advice that you should never under any circumstance “take it to the showers.”
