All have seen or heard of elite sportspeople performing a ritual movement, dance, or, the same warm-up before competing. For a track athlete, doing the same warm-ups before running a hundred meters, or a golfer using the same lucky putter from the outside view, many athletes have repeated practices for “luck.” It may look weird or even strange, however, it’s a common practice to have these rituals, known as superstitions. Athletes’ superstitions are usually pre-game. It could be face painting, listening to the same playlist, wearing the same socks, wearing the same headband, or bracelet: whatever it is many people have a superstition.

Superstitions range from every sport at any level like NBA to even the Olympics or other big sporting events. Some people use a ritual because they think it makes them perform way better. Like Czech Republic snowboarder Eva Samkova, who is famous for drawing a fake mustache on her lip. There are also pre-competition rituals like Alina Kovaleva on the Russian curling team. They throw a ball of rice around before their curling match. Every superstition is different. It could be weird or it could be kind of normal. For example, basketball player Micheal Jordan wore the same North Carolina shorts under his Bulls uniform that “helped” him with six NBA championships and a lot of other rewards. Another athlete with superstition is Rafael Nadal. He performs this ritual every time he plays. He takes very cold showers before every game or he thought he would play badly. He also faces water bottles towards the tennis court and he also goes over mechanics before every single match.

Some people at AHS like Tristan Hayes like to listen to the same playlist before a golf meet, basketball game, or football game. “I love bumping Lil Baby.” Hayes loves to listen to rap, country, or basically every kind of music to get him into a mood for sports. “I just love listening to music before the game with all my teammates,” he said. Kinnick Juhl hangs out with his friends before games. He likes to go to Casey’s convenience store too. He also loves to listen to music pre-game. “I like to eat at Casey’s before every home game with my friends,” he said. Tyson O’Brien wears the same socks. “Wearing the same old crusty socks just helps me perform better in every way,” he said. He also goes to Casey’s before every wrestling match, track event, or football game.