There are many superstitions that athletes have. Just like Michael Jordan’s lucky UNC shorts from when he was back at the University of North Carolina, the baseball players sacred don’t step on the chalk before the game, or even Marshawn Lynch’s “power pellets” which are the skittles he eats before every game. Athletes let their superstitions run wild, but what about James Logan athletes and even coaches; what are their biggest superstitions?
When people think about superstitions and sports many immediately associate the idea with baseball. At Logan, it’s no different with the baseball team.
“Well, when I played, if I was doing well in the game I would try to make sure I was wearing the same stuff; same like batting gloves, clothes, wristbands, arm sleeves, and even do the same routine,” Coach Aeryk Hernandez said.
Baseball and baseball players have a long history of rituals and superstitions. Former Yankee Wade Boggs was famous for eating only chicken as his pregame meal. Former A’s star Jason Giambi was famous for wearing a gold thong under his uniform to bust his slump, and Athletics manager Bob Melvin rotates through a few different parking spots at the Coliseum depending on how the team is performing.
Hernandez also saw a few superstitions with the team.
“I noticed last year that if we were rallying the players would go back to the same spot, and if we were winning games we would do the same warm-ups and routines before the game.”
Superstitions don’t have to be only the individual athletes. For Logan softball, the team shares in the superstitious ritual.
“Somebody draws the on-deck circle then we all put our feet in and then somebody draws a little circle inside the big circle,” said Logan varsity softball player Kayla Uribe. “The meaning of the little circle is that we put all of our thoughts and distractions that can interfere with us on the field. We sort of throw them away and once everybody is done putting their distractions out we wipe away the circle.“
A 2015 article, published in The Cut, showed a connection between these superstitious rituals and better performance. The article “Why Superstitions Help Athletes Perform Better,” by Joe DeLessio, shows this correlation with studies, data, and statements from prominent sports psychologists. Even without the science, many athletes will tell you that pregame rituals and superstitious behaviors provide confidence and familiarity in stressful situations.
Uribe also deals with superstitions in her own way.
“I like to go by myself, and then I calm myself down and tell myself that if something happens that I don’t plan on happening, I will learn from it,” Uribe said.
Although baseball and softball may be the most famous, other sports are full of rituals and superstitions. Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo always puts his right foot on the grass of the soccer field first. The Detroit Red Wings hockey team see fans throw dead octopus on the ice during home playoff games. Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry always ends his pregame routine with a shot from the tunnel. Even golf star Tiger Woods is recognizable with his superstition of always wearing a red shirt on Sunday.
At Logan, Water Polo is another example of a sports team following superstitious behavior. Miguel Rodriguez described the various ways the team mentally prepares for each match.
“Well, before every game we huddle up and one starts yelling ‘Who got my back” and they’ll say “I got your back,'” Rodriguez said.
So, maybe there is something to the superstitions and rituals that help athletes prepare not just physically but mentally. There are always many superstitions that athletes have and Logan is no different. In fact, it’s one of the things that makes sports so compelling.
