When the stakes are high and you want to give your best, your confidence is key. Many sports athletes have pre-game rituals to get grounded in the present, narrow their focus, and get ready for optimal performance.
Here are some famous examples.
- Former Yankees star, Bernie Williams would nap 15 minutes before a game!
- Top soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo places his right foot on the grass before entering the field.
- John Henderson, a former football defensive tackle would ask an assistant trainer to slap him across the face before every game.
- MMA Olympics gold medalist, Kayla Harrison has a music-themed pre-fight ritual: her Eminem playlist.
Rituals may sound superstitious but help many get in the zone, focused, ready to deliver. My current pre-game ritual is to lock myself in my office and listen to these. Don’t judge. What’s your pre-game ritual?
