The New Zealand All Blacks face their opponents, the English, in the 2004 Rugby World Cup. As seen on the youtube video “All Black’s Haka (Good Quality)”, the captain of the All Blacks, Richie McCaw, stands in the middle of two rows of men lined up shoulder to shoulder. Suddenly, the stadium fills with the sound of McCaw’s yelling.

“Slap the hands against the thighs, puff out the chest, bend the knees, let the hip follow, stomp the feet as hard as you can,” McCaw commands. All of the players move in rhythm and begin to chant “Ka Mate,” which is a form of the Haka, an ancient war dance used by Mauris before battle.

The All Blacks adopted the Haka in 1888, but it was not well known until they toured Britain in 1905. The All Blacks now perform the Haka before every game to mentally prepare themselves.

“Ka mate, ka mate, ka’ ora ka’ ora,” translates to “I die, I die, I live, I live.” The screaming increases as the All Blacks gain momentum. A universal “hé!” or “rise” ends the ritual calling out the other team to either accept or deny the challenge.

Various athletes from the high school to the professional level go through pregame routines and rituals before game time. These rituals can range from ancient dances, such as the Haka, to simply going through the same set of actions before every game.

Some teams adopt a spiritual approach to prepare for each game through prayer. Players on the Palo Alto High School varsity football team, after meeting at center field, circle-up, take a knee, hold hands, and listen as Davante Adams (‘11) leads a prayer. The team repeats Adam’s words back to him and then they take the field prepared to play.

Free Safety Gabriel Landa (‘12) believes that these prayers help provide the team a certain spiritual support.

“It unifies us and helps us to relax and focus on one thing,” Landa said.

Many athletes agree that their state of mind affects how they perform, and today, whether individually or as a team, players all over the world have different ways of taking their mental game to the next level.

Paly football player Michael Cullen (‘11) goes through the same steps before each and every football game. He starts his ritual by making sure that all his gear is put on in the correct order.

“I put my socks on in the right order, left sock first, then right sock,” Cullen said. “Then, if we have a good game, I will wear the same shirt the next game. If I don’t play well, I wear the other shirt. After I’m all geared up and ready, I basically just don’t talk to anyone until we are actually on the field.”

Cullen’s deep concentration allows him to recognize that it is game time and helps him get into the zone, which he needs to be to perform well. While for some people not speaking to their teammates would make them feel disconnected from what is going on, Cullen believes that it helps him do his job better.

“If I do my responsibilities, then everyone else on my team will fulfill their responsibilities and we will play as a team,” Cullen said.

Teammate and cornerback Bill Gray (‘11) thinks that Cullen’s ritual helps motivate other players on the team to focus before game time. Gray and the rest of the team know it is time to get serious and get ready when they see their captain’s concentration.

“Because he’s a key player and a captain, when other people see him getting ready, it lets them know that it’s time to focus and get ready to go,” Gray said.

Colin Palmquist (‘11) also knows something about motivating his teammates. Palmquist is the captain of his club rugby team,The Woodside Beavers, which has a special pregame ritual of its own.

“We huddle up and we chant “mabui, mabui” three times,” Palmquist said. “I’m the captain so I stand in the middle and lead the chant.”
Like the Haka, this chant is designed to help get the team pumped up while building energy before taking the field. Palmquist gets his team energized and in gear for the game.

“I get into the zone first, but I keep the team on track and get them ready for the game,” Palmquist said. “Everyone gets ready to go and really pumped up. You get an adrenaline rush before the game, and get locked into the zone.”

According to Palmquist, the chant is not used to intimidate the other team, but rather to prepare the Beavers for what they have to do during the game. It allows the Beavers to play as a cohesive unit and helps them build unity on and off the field.

For Emilee Osagiede (‘12), a member of the Paly girls’ varsity basketball team, getting mentally prepared for games requires some time to be alone to visualize what she is going to do during the game.

“I write down the team I’m about to play on a piece of paper and then I burn it,” Osagiede said.

The tradition started during Osagiede’s sophomore year before her first league game of the season. Now, she always goes through the ritual before stepping onto the court with the Lady Vikes.

“When I see the paper burning, I envision the game and how I’m gonna play during the game and I feel like there is nothing keeping me and my team from winning,” Osagiede said.

To this day, the junior point guard feels that she cannot take the court without going through the process. According to Osagiede, when she does not do her ritual, her game feels off, and she cannot perform to her full potential. Going through the same process before taking the court each game helps Osagiede get into a rhythm of play, and a confident state of mind.

Unlike Osagiede, some players feel that pregame rituals have no effect on their game or how they play. Varsity soccer and lacrosse player Kris Hoglund (‘12) does not have a pregame ritual, has never used one, and does not believe it affects how athletes play.

“Some people are superstitious to think that you need to do the same thing before every game to do well,” Hoglund said.

To Hoglund, no ritual or sequence of actions can determine the outcome of an athlete’s performance once he or she steps on the field.

“It’s just how you play that day.” Hoglund said.

Pregame rituals can make all the difference to players. The mental focus that pregame rituals provide is something that many athletes try to tap into before a game. Although not all players use routine pregame rituals, many find that repetition prior to the game helps them achieve the consistent results they strive for.

“Being mentally ready, will bring being physically ready,” Landa said. “You know what to do in your head, and you’ll know what to do on the field.”