What’s Trending: Sports Habits

20.8 percent of the athletes who responded said they listen to music while they are getting ready, warming up or on the way home from a competition; many said they listen to rock music or specific songs to get hyped up. According to Costas Karageorghis, author of the book “Applying Music and Exercise in Sport,” music can be a stimulant or a sedative. It can enhance mood, improve muscle control an...

Another 16.9 percent of the athletes said that they eat a certain food or have a certain drink before their game. Others said they have to eat at a specific time before the game or skip a certain meal the day of the game. A popular drink for athletes to have before a game is a Gatorade; they claim that it helps them feel more energized and prepared.

Another common response was doing a special handshake before or after teammates compete. Students who responded that they did a handshake said they always do it with their best friends or their teammates to get excited and ready for their game. Audrey Stephenson, a member of the varsity dance team, said in an interview over the phone that, “before competing, all of us, including our coaches, stan...

Some of the athletes who responded said they have to put either their left or their right shoe on first as part of their pregame routine. Others said they do this with their shin guards or other athletic accessories. Soccer and lacrosse player Colin Watson said that, for him, “it’s just sort of natural by now. I always put one sock, then the other and then one shoe before the other. I’ve tried ...