Picture yourself getting suited up for a race or game. Do you have a specific ritual or routine? Athletic superstitions are apparent among quite a few athletes at St. Louis High School.
Jaiden Dickman, a cross country runner, finds that she happens to be one of the athletes at SLHS who takes part in these superstitions. Dickman said, “When I’m gearing up for a race, I start by putting Biofreeze on my toes all the way up to my nose. Then I tie my shoelaces three times, and I loop the strings under when I’m finished. I feel like these things give me comfort and help my performance.”
Lauren Gager is an athlete on the varsity volleyball team who takes her superstitions quite seriously as well. When asked about her specific superstitions, Gager stated, “Normally for volleyball games, I wear black muffs because I feel like I play my absolute best when I wear them. Another thing I do is put my ring from Ecuador on my right shoestring because it’s my good luck charm.”
Some athletes believe performing their habitual routine will be the difference between winning and losing. On the other hand, some athletes don’t believe in superstitions at all.
One of the athletes who doesn’t have an athletic superstition is Jaycee Best, who is a member of the cheer team. She expressed, “I don’t believe in superstitions because I think how I perform is up to me. I do not think doing a specific routine would help me perform better for cheer.”
According to an article published by Verywell Fit, athletes who believe they are in control of their own performance have fewer superstitions, while the ones who believe their performance is unpredictable have superstitions. Maybe completing a routine or ritual helps athletes perform better, or maybe it is just the placebo effect. The world may never know.
