Blog post #4: Sports Superstition, what is it?

When we are watching sports we always notice that the player or the athletes are doing something inappropriate before, after, or during the game. We often ask ourselves why are they doing that. For us it is weird, for them it is good luck. They believe that if they did something unusual it will enhance the flow of the game. Like in the game of baseball, baseball is one of the sports who seems to have a lot of superstition. It is said that if you put a wad of gum into your hat or helmet it will bring good luck. Well, we see some players who actually do it but we can't tell the difference of doing it and not doing it.

According to the article entitled "Athlete's superstition and rituals" by Elizabeth Quinn in a site called "sportsmedicine". A superstition is generally something that is developed through hindsight, through accident and then required in future events. A superstition arises when a player established good playing performance and wants to repeat it once again. In order to repeat it once again, the player will recall what did he does when he played well before. If they are able to get a good performance by doing what he did before, then the athlete will probably do it again every competition.

 Elizabeth stated that "Perhaps the real value of superstition and ritual is the athlete's boost of confidence and the sense of control that they provide." I agree with Elizabeth because superstitious belief is not yet even further explained by science, it is just a belief that makes yourself feel secure and confident.

 I have read an article entitled "The power of superstitions and rituals in sports" by Liam Blackwell in a site called "thesportinmind" that superstition is some kind of an extra power or boost for the player. It is repeated not just because to bring good luck but also to give the athlete a much better set of mind. It could be the clothes you wear, the food that you have eaten, the equipment, the habit, anything that a player can think of and had given him some kind of idea that the ritual actually works.

 Liam stated that "This recall and visualization prepares them both mentally and physically for a successful competition." Liam is true, superstition is not proven and explained yet, but in the world of sports it is much more better to believe in something rather than nothing.