One-on-One: Do pregame superstitions actually help athletes perform better?

Many people have their superstitions, and athletes are no exception. Several high-level athletes rely on pregame superstitions as they prepare for games. But do these rituals actually help them?

Contributors Cristina Solano and Micah Gatewood debated whether pregame superstitions actually help athletes perform better or if they’re just illusions that athletes create to convince themselves a game will go their way.

Yes 

By Cristina Solano

They say success is all in your head, and that’s especially true for athletes. Yes, pregame superstitions can actually help athletes perform better. Many players rely on routines or lucky items to boost their confidence and focus before competition. A prime example of this is Michael Jordan.

Jordan wore his old University of North Carolina basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for every game. This small ritual connected him to his roots and reminded him of past success, helping him play confidently and consistently. 

While the shorts didn’t physically improve his skills, the superstition gave him a mental edge, a sense of control and calm in high-pressure moments. Sports psychology supports this idea; when athletes believe something helps them, their mindset and performance improve. 

In Jordan’s case, his superstition became part of his winning mentality, proof that a luck ritual can make a real difference.

No 

By Micah Gatewood

Sometimes, it’s an athlete’s night or their practice and work ethic pay off. However, the last thing that would make an athlete play well is their pre-game superstitions. A large part of the reason an athlete is so successful is based on their team practice, individual workouts and dietary habits. 

Relying on superstitions will leave an athlete with more stress about a game and a fear of not playing well. Athletes should instead take the time before the game to focus, listen to their favorite music, stretch and build morale with their teammates. 

The narrative of a pre-game superstition is an idea of control that athletes think they have to make the game go their way. It is an illusion to the athlete and adds more stress to the game.