For many athletes, game days can bring more than just excitement. From new team members to seasoned players, it is common to feel nervousness and pressure before an important competition or match. To combat this, many athletes have developed personal routines that allow them to stay consistent.

Junior Sammy Kakala, an active participant on NDB’s varsity basketball, track and volleyball teams stated that her routine begins with a pre-game meal and walk. “Before every school basketball game, I would go home and eat apples and peanut butter. After that, I would walk for 20 minutes on the treadmill before getting ready,” said Kakala. “As I got ready, it was essential that my hair was in a slick back braid. No other hairstyle would do because I felt as though I wouldn’t play well without it.”

She continued, “I would wear navy spandex under my uniform and then, as I left my house, I would put on my [NDB] travel outfit that matched with the rest of the team. When I got to the gym, I would put red pre-wrap on my right knee for my patella tendinitis. It had to be red. Once I ran out of red, I had no choice but to use gray – which felt incredibly wrong to begin with … Every game, I had the same routine. Otherwise, I felt like I wasn’t going to play a good game.”

For many athletes, routines often help ease uncertainty. The nerves may still be there, but routines often help them trust their preparation rather than get overwhelmed in the moment. In the end, game-day superstitions may seem small. However, for many athletes, those small rituals can make a big difference in their game day.