When you’re in the stands of a game, it’s interesting to think about what the athletes do beforehand. Before the game, there are a variety of unique superstitions that athletes follow to help them get in the zone.
To some, superstitions are silly, but it is hard to understand the severity of it when you’re watching from the sidelines.
Some popular examples of superstitions are NBA players Jason Terry and Stephen Curry.
Terry was known to sleep in the opposing team’s shorts the night before, during the games he would also wear five pairs of socks.
These superstitions are a way to calm the pre-game jitters that many athletes experience. Without these small, yet impactful acts, it can change the performance and mentality of some athletes.
“The mind is such a powerful tool,” said Curry. “[I] have a go-to routine that keeps me busy until we are ready to take the court so I’m not just sitting around anxious for the game.”
However, superstitions are not only a problem for professionals, they occur in young athletes as well.
Junior Justin Odom likes to clean his helmet before and after every game.
“It helps me feel refreshed and ready before my games,” said Odom.
However, the FVHS cheer team has a different kind of tradition. Senior Emma Campbell likes to drink the same Celsius before every game.
Additionally, before every home game, they sit down and have a team dinner together. Before their first game, they read the poem “Little Eyes Upon You” by Shirley Mitton.
The poem is about how little kids are watching them and reminds them to be good role models and give them someone to look up to.
Seniors Kendyl Kraus and Emma Campbell both like to eat before soccer and dance. Kraus likes to eat healthy and Campbell will only eat Twizzlers.
“If I eat bad things, I feel like I’m going to play badly,” said Kraus. “It makes me feel better about myself.”
Superstitions have never been about luck, they’re about adjusting your mindset. These rituals show how preparation and belief can shape the way athletes perform.
