Before the game begins and the crowd fills the stands, athletes are already preparing. In the minutes leading up to competition, many turn to familiar pre-performance routines: a deep breath, a friendly competition, a team meeting or the switch into new uniforms. According to sports psychologist Dr. Jordan Silberman, these rituals matter because they “help athletes mentally prepare for competition by reducing anxiety and increasing focus” (WaveWear). Across a variety of sports, these routines have become a grounding presence on game day, shaping how athletes manage pressure before the whistle blows.
Girls’ Varsity Cheer
For girls’ varsity cheerleaders CJ Jenkin and Mary Maslakova, pre-performance routines are centered on trust. Before games, their stunt group pauses for a brief grounding exercise designed to settle nerves and boost the team’s morale.
“We hold hands, count to ten and take three long, deep breaths as we imagine ourselves hitting the routine, hitting our stunts and doing the best we can,” Maslakova said. “I recommend it because it helps prepare yourself mentally and physically for the game. You feel more calm when you know that everyone else is calm.”
Jenkin emphasized that the routine reinforced trust within the team.
“It’s all about trusting each other and knowing we can rely on one another,” Jenkin said.
Boys’ Varsity Basketball
Before every boys’ varsity basketball game, the team gathers to shoot half-court shots for money, turning warmups into a competition that builds energy. The tradition brings the team together before every tipoff and helps players shake off nerves.
Senior Davi Leite, said that the routine helps set a positive tone before the game.
“Everyone on the team shoots, and it gets all of us going. It’s really fun,” Leite said. “I made $40 [last season] and I was very happy for the rest of the day. It led me towards the game day in a very good mood.”
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
For girls’ varsity basketball, pregame rituals are rooted in consistency and shared standards. The team gathers before warmups to write key words on a whiteboard, a tradition that helps set expectations for the game.
Senior Kitty White explained that the routine reflects how seriously the team takes their mental preparation before tipoff.
“We’re a superstitious team, and we like to make sure we all do certain things before every game, or else we feel a bad energy,” White said.
These words, which often include reminders like “energy,” “hunt” and a drawn goldfish to represent short-term memory, reflect how the team wants to approach each game.
“Energy is a staple for our team,” White said.
Boys’ Varsity Soccer
For boys’ varsity soccer, pregame routines are all about getting locked in, and one long-standing tradition centers on practice
jerseys. During warm-ups, players wear their practice jerseys before switching into game uniforms before kickoff, a small but intentional moment that shifts preparation to competition.
Junior Kaz Rubel explained how the change goes far beyond appearance.
“By the time we take them [the practice jerseys] off, we’re fully mentally and physically prepared for the game,” Rubel said.
While fans see the final result on the court or field, much of the work happens beforehand. In those final moments leading up to competition, athletes familiarize themselves with pre-game rituals that set the tone once the game begins.
