Courtesy of Celcius

Athletes often have foods or drinks that they enjoy before a game such as a Celcius.

As the countdown to his regatta starts, freshman rower Victor Habrat looks down at his socks. They are navy blue and speckled with contrasting yellow ducks. However, the duck socks aren’t just any old pair of socks. Habrat wears them because they are an important part of their pregame rituals. 

Athletes like Habrat often have brief rituals that they do. From articles of clothing, specific foods or must-listen songs, their pregame superstitions help put them into the best mindset to play their sport. 

Habrat isn’t alone in his superstitions. Some of the world’s best current and former athletes have their own famous superstitions. 

For example, NBA player Michael Jordan was famous for wearing his University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for good luck. Tennis legend Serena Williams would tie her shoelaces the exact same way before a match as well as wear the same socks throughout an entire tournament. Decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps would listen to “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas before every meet. 

Habrats’ socks are special to him because his parents got them for him after his first regionals.

“[Wearing the socks] helps me feel more confident when I compete,” said Habrat.

 

Freshman soccer player Sarah Vu has a playlist that she listens to before a game. It includes artists like Megan Moroney, Ty Myers and The Weeknd. She also does group huddles and handshakes with her teammates, which empower the team and get them hyped for the game.

Junior field hockey player Giselle Adams drinks a Celsius before each game. She got into this habit because she felt she needed an energy boost after her exhausting junior year schedule. 

“If I don’t drink a Celsius, I feel like I’m going to do bad, and we’ll lose the game,” Adams said.

Nirvan Shah, a senior water polo player, listens to “Shotta Flow 5” by NLE Choppa before games. He also participates in cheers like group huddles with the rest of his team. 

While pregame superstitions have a light-hearted nature, they also carry a deeper psychological purpose. Pregame superstitions help athletes feel a stronger sense of control over their performances. They can help athletes get into a more confident mindset that helps them play their best game. 

“Doing [my superstitions] before I play gets me really pumped up to play my best,” Vu said.