Superstitions in Sport: A Blessing or a Curse?

Athletes across all sports are known for their discipline and determination, leaving nothing to luck when it comes to their training. While this may be true, superstitions play an important role in the world of sports, adopted by everyone from fans to sports stars, and spanning disciplines from football to horse racing. These superstitions come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from ritualistic practices to some pretty silly beliefs. But might there be some science behind these superstitions? Could they enhance the performance of some athletes? Or are they as futile as St Andrews students pushing their friends away from the PH?

Superstitions at Home 

It's easy to dismiss such superstitions as absurd, but they may hit closer to home than some of us even realise. Think about your habits on your team's match day or during the last lap of a race. Do you have any behaviours that you change? Perhaps even something longer-term, like the piece of string from a Celtic top tied to my wrist. What started as an 11-year-old’s fashion statement is still important to me as 21-year-old, and I’m convinced that if I take it off, Celtic will be doomed. 

I am not alone in this; research has shown that 25 percent of sports fans engage in rituals ahead of the game. Some fans have even gone so far as to refrain from washing throughout the duration of the football tournaments their teams have played in. When it comes to fan superstitions, they often stem from wanting to feel a sense of control over what’s going on, when in reality they do not. I know that my piece of string doesn’t put balls in the net, yet I’m reluctant to find out what happens if I take it off. For many fans, their sport is tied to their identity, so winning is crucial — yet they have no control. Superstitions help to ease this anxiety. 

Superstition at the Highest Level

But fans aren’t the only ones with superstitions; many athletes admit to holding a few as well. Formula One drivers are particularly known for their superstitions, with almost all following a pre-race ritual, such as meditating, visualising or listening to the same playlist. Others, like Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, wear a ‘lucky’ pair of socks during race weekends. In a sport where the driver is not fully in control of their car set-up or engineer choices, superstitions serve a similar purpose as they do for fans: providing the illusion of control.

Some athletes have been known to be more superstitious than others. Serena Williams follows a strict routine: bringing her shower shoes to the court, tying her shoelaces in a specific way, bouncing the ball five times before her first serve, and wearing one pair of socks the entire length of a tournament. Despite the growth of sports science and data analysis, athletes still rely on their superstitions in the most critical moments. But do these beliefs have any real effect?

Superstitions: A Blessing or a Curse? 

While superstitions can reduce stress and ease feelings of helplessness for athletes — common side effects of competing — they also play other roles, such as giving competitors a confidence boost and getting them into the right headspace to perform well. But they aren’t always helpful. Competitive sports can be prone to changes in the environment and rules, so adapting is crucial. If an athlete's superstition is disrupted, it could negatively impact their performance and erode their confidence. 

Sports superstitions have the potential to bring both fans and athletes comfort and confidence. They can be a real asset to performance, provided that we control the superstition rather than allowing it to control us. Who knows? Perhaps there is a touch of magic in Serena’s worn socks or Verstappen’s pre-race playlist.

Illustration by Isabelle Holloway