Student athletes have some special rituals and superstitions about their game performances.
A superstition in sports can be defined as a certain or practice that if done it will lead to a positive performance in the game.
The rituals are done before every single game to give the player a boost of luck. Examples of these are wearing a lucky piece of jewelry or article of clothing.
“I tie my hair up with the same hair tie before every volleyball game,” said Braelyn Heath, junior. “I’ve done this since eighth grade.”
“I wear the same socks for every football game, but I wash them before each game,” said Jaden Breedlove, junior. “They’re pink for breast cancer awareness. I try to meditate before each game to calm my nerves.”
“I wear my Chatham headband for each football game,” said Amario Henry, junior.
Sport superstitions don’t have to be a certain piece of clothing. They can be some small ritual completed before every game.
“I always double-knot my shoelaces before every football game,” said Shane Mays, junior. “It makes me feel more secure and in control of the game.”
“I pray before every band competition we do,” said Khamari Robinson, junior. “Praying makes me feel like everything is gonna go the way I want it to,” said Robinson.
“My friends and I go out to eat every Thursday night before our football games on Friday,” said Henry.
These superstitions may not have an actual effect on the game, but it makes the athletes feel comfortable and have some luck. It’s been proven for superstitions to have more of a positive mental effect of athletes, according to Google.
“My bracelet is very sentimental to me,” said Maddie Swanson, junior. “It reminds me that a special person is still with me. I wear it when I play volleyball.”