Rituals are a series of special activities or actions that people do over and over again (Hagan, 2019). They can involve things like gestures, words, and objects, and are done in a specific order. Rituals are important in many different cultures and groups, including religions. They can be part of big events like weddings and funerals, but also smaller things like school programs or club meetings. Some actions that we do every day, like shaking hands or saying hello, can also be considered rituals. Rituals often have certain characteristics, like following rules and traditions, having symbolic meaning, and being performed in a formal way (Bell, 1997).
In some cultures, rituals are seen as a way to connect with a higher power. People believe that by doing these actions, they can change themselves or influence the outcome of events in a positive way (Hagan & Schack, 2017). In sports, rituals can range from spiritual practices to singing songs or repeating certain words before a game. Athletes might wear lucky charms, eat specific foods, or do certain actions in a specific order before competing (Hagan & Schack, 2017; Jirásek, 2015). These rituals are seen as a way to control luck or other outside factors, even though there’s no real evidence that they actually work (Womack, 1992).
Bell, C. (1997). Ritual: Perspectives and dimensions. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hagan, J. E. (2019). In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
Hagan, J. E., & Schack, T. (2017). Integrating pre-game rituals and pre-performance routines in a culture-specific context: Implications for sport psychology consultancy. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Available from https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2017.1292301, Advanced online publication.
Jirásek, I. (2015). Religion, spirituality, and sport: From religio athletae toward spiritus athletae. Quest, 67, 290299.
Womack, M. (1992). Why athletes need a ritual: A study of magic among professional athletes. In S. Hoffman (Ed.), Sport and religion (pp. 191202). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.