Sports Rituals of Professional Athletes

UNUSUAL ATHLETE RITUALS ACROSS SPORTS

• FOOTBALL'S ODD HABITS
• AMERICAN FOOTBALL: A LITTLE PAIN TO GET PUMPED
• RUGBY: TIMING MATTERS
• TENNIS: OBSESSIVE PRECISION
• BASKETBALL: LUCKY SHORTS
• BASEBALL: RITUALS AT THE PLATE
• GOLF: RED MEANS GO
• MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: EXTREME TRADITIONS
• SWIMMING: MUSIC TO FOCUS

We all have that odd quirk, superstition, or that thing that absolutely must be done in a certain way - even if another way does the job equally as well (if not better!). Some players may have personal habits or rituals when playing online slots or live casino games, but it's important to remember that each game outcome is entirely random and not influenced by previous results. 

Even UK sports betting punters have personal habits, but it's crucial to understand that these do not affect the outcome of any bets placed. In a similar way, it seems that even today's and yesterday's superstars are not immune to such beliefs. Indeed, some athletes maintain personal rituals as part of their routine, although their success is primarily due to skill and dedication.

FOOTBALL'S ODD HABITS

Bobby Moore, England’s captain when they lifted the 1966 World Cup, had one simple but strict rule: he was always the last player to put on his shorts. Teammates tried to prank him by rushing ahead, and Moore would simply start over. Even for one of the greatest defenders in football history, routines like this helped him feel in control before the biggest matches.

Laurent Blanc, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a European Championship winner in 2000, had a lighter ritual. He would plant a kiss on goalkeeper Fabien Barthez’s bald head before every match. What started as a joke became a consistent pre-match habit during a highly successful era for the French team.

Chelsea legend John Terry, one of England’s most decorated centre-backs, won five Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2012. He followed a strict set of superstitions: same seat on the team bus, same CD, same pair of shin pads - and the same urinal at Stamford Bridge before every game. Carles Puyol, former Barcelona and Spain captain, who won multiple La Liga titles and the 2010 World Cup, had a more unusual ritual: tugging on a teammate’s hair for good luck, blending superstition with team bonding.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL: A LITTLE PAIN TO GET PUMPED

John Henderson, a defensive tackle who played in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons, had a pre-game ritual that would make anyone flinch: he asked a staff member to slap him as hard as possible before kickoff. It might sound extreme, but Henderson was a two-time Pro Bowler, and routines like this clearly worked for him.

RUGBY: TIMING MATTERS

Jason Robinson, an England rugby legend and Rugby World Cup winner in 2003, had an exacting approach to taping his wrists and fingers. He would apply tape only at precise moments before kick-off, and any disruption could unsettle him. For a player known for blistering pace and agility, maintaining that small sense of control was crucial.

TENNIS: OBSESSIVE PRECISION

Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medallist, is famous for his on-court rituals. He aligns his water bottles perfectly, avoids stepping on court lines, and repeats the same movements before every serve. Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, follows her own routines: bringing shower sandals, tying laces a certain way, and refusing to change her socks as long as she keeps winning.

BASKETBALL: LUCKY SHORTS

NBA shooting guard Jason Terry, a 10-time All-Star and 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, would sleep in the shorts of the next day’s opponents. Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP, famously wore his University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls kit for every match. Strange? Yes. Effective? Clearly, given their careers.

BASEBALL: RITUALS AT THE PLATE

Turk Wendell, a relief pitcher for the New York Mets and a key figure in multiple playoff campaigns, wore a necklace made from animal teeth, chewed black liquorice during games, and brushed his teeth between innings. Jason Giambi, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Yankees, wore a gold-coloured thong during slumps—teammates even borrowed it!!! 

Kevin Rhomberg, a Cleveland Indians outfielder, refused to turn right and insisted on reciprocating any touch immediately. Meanwhile, Paul O’Neill, a five-time World Series winner, adjusted his gloves and stance meticulously between pitches.

GOLF: RED MEANS GO

Tiger Woods, 15-time major champion and one of the greatest golfers in history, wears red on the final day of tournaments following his mother’s advice that it is his “power colour.” It has become a signature ritual, visible to fans around the world.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: EXTREME TRADITIONS

Lyoto Machida, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, follows a family ritual that raises eyebrows: drinking his own urine each morning. Recommended by his father, Machida credits it with helping him feel physically and mentally prepared for competition.

SWIMMING: MUSIC TO FOCUS

Michael Phelps, 23-time Olympic gold medallist and the most decorated Olympian of all time, had a favourite pre-race song—”Boom Boom Pow” by The Black Eyed Peas. He’d listen, step onto the blocks, and let the music lock him into the moment before racing against the world’s best.

Over to you: Which athlete’s rituals surprise you the most? And do you think these routines actually make a difference? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!