Athletes and superstitious rituals

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15668-X. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSuperstitious rituals are common in sports and can play a role in athletes' optimism, sense of control, and confidence in performance. Superstitious rituals have characteristics rooted in tradition and need for perfection. While superstitious rituals vary in type of activity, it is necessary to consider their impact on players and the team, and to guide athletes into positive forms of expression to optimize their performance and overall well-being when engaged in their athletic activities. This paper explores the potential benefits and challenges of superstitious rituals, and the ways in which positive alternative pathways can contribute to peak performance in athletes.PMID:38512306 | DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15668-X

Source: Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness - March 21, 2024 Category: Sports Medicine Authors: George G Pujalte Jeffrey P Nadwodny Adrianna D Clapp Adae Amoako Ramon J Pesigan Timothy Dekker Lorena Campos Mary Tierney Manisha Salinas Ryan Cudahy Mohit Chauhan Source Type: research