Some of Washington’s athletics programs are facing an uphill battle. A number of athletes have been distraught in the way struggles on the football field have carried over to basketball season.

The Pam Pack, in making the playoffs, made strides on the gridiron this past season. That modicum of success hasn’t quite translated to basketball yet as the team went into Wednesday’s home game against North Pitt still looking for its first win.

As any coach for either team will say, the first step toward winning is to build a culture. It’s the groundwork for a successful team. Diligence behind the scenes is the key to executing come game time.

It’s a rocky road. There will be challenges along the way just as there were during the football season. One obstacle the Pam Pack football team had to overcome was adjusting to a new head coach and a revamped coaching staff. The boys’ basketball team also faces a similar task as Ralph Biggs is in his first full year as bench boss.

For fans, patience is the key. Righting the ship isn’t an overnight process.

Unfortunately, some don’t understand that. There were incidents at Washington last season in which fans accosted coaches midgame. In fact, that may have played a role in the seating changes this season. The Lady Pack cheerleaders now sit behind the home bench, limiting the number of fans who can have a direct line to the coaches and players.

Emotions come with the territory of being a fan. That’s especially true for students cheering on their schools and parents who have children playing. Those emotions are channeled incorrectly too often.

Coaches and players are largely putting their best effort in on the court. Fans can best help get the Pam Pack back on track by being a positive force in their fandom.

The same can be said of any other teams in the area. Win or lose, fans should be mindful of the way their reactions impact the experience for everyone else. After all, athletes and coaches face plenty of adversity few fans are aware of.