Game Day Rituals: How the Saints Enter Their Match Mentality

Whether you are a fan or a player, many people have rituals that they perform before every game. Even professional athletes have their own rituals, such as former Chelsea captain John Terry, who was known to listen to the same CD on his drive to games and would always park in the same spot. 

In St Andrews, our players are no different. 

When speaking with the women's hockey team, the importance of being in the right mindset before their games is made clear. Many of the players have their own pre-match rituals, with one player expressing that she purposely puts her socks on the wrong feet every single game.

And if you ever walk past the locker room before one of their matches, you’ll definitely hear “No Broke Boys” or “Ugly Hearts” as it has become their unofficial anthem to set the tone before they face their opponents. 

I also got the chance to speak with James Page, who is a player for the Men’s 1s Rugby team here at St Andrews. He talked me through his pre-game rituals that he does in preparation for his games. Even if there is no injury to protect, James will tape up his wrists and ankles before every single game. While this may seem small and a large use of tape, James knows that once it is on, it's time to lock in.

While these habits may seem small, for athletes, they help calm their nerves, creating focus, allowing them to enter the mentality needed in order to play their game. Sports are not only just physically but mentally challenging, and for the Saints, it's clear that their mental preparation begins long before they step onto the field.

Credit: @ustahockey on Instagram