Left sock, music, prayer: these rituals that accompany players

Between admitted or unconscious superstition and mental preparation, rituals punctuate amateur football. Whether they are performance levers or simple reflexes, these often hidden gestures help players to better manage uncertainty. Players, coaches and psychologists decipher what is really at stake before kick-off.

In the locker room, before kick-off, it’s not all about tactics, opponents or legs. There are these tiny gestures, repeated without thinking: headphones on, a sip of water à la Zidane, a shoe put on first, a bag prepared to the millimeter. Routines which, far from being trivial, shape the way in which everyone enters their match.

Far from being innocent, these small details accompany the players well before the first ball touched. Between superstition, routine and the need for reassurance, they are an integral part of the match. Simple folklore or a real performance lever? Before money time in the various amateur championships, testimonials from players, coaches and psychologists to understand what is going on in your head… even before kick-off.

Prepare your bag the day before, triple check your crampons, put on the same shorts or always the same sock first: in the locker room, these actions are repeated without the players even thinking about it. Simple habits, almost instinctive, but which take on their full meaning for some, as kick-off approaches.

An invisible preparation

Useful for channeling stress and creating benchmarks, these routines can become real mental supports. But when they become too important, they can also turn into dependence. A sometimes fragile balance, which those involved in amateur football know well. With more than 14,000 clubs and nearly 2.1 million licensees in France, amateur football constitutes an ideal field of observation. Because behind the 90 minutes of play, another preparation takes place, more discreet, but often decisive.

“Before entering a competition, many athletes repeat the same gestures or habits. Far from being trivial, these rituals respond to a key need: managing uncertainty.”confides psychologist and mental trainer Michel Sambuchi. “Among players, there are a multitude of rituals and habits before matchesexplain l’entraîneur Karim Mokeddem. Upon arrival at the stadium, everyone adopts their own codes: some prefer to arrive very early, others meticulously organize their belongings or always put on the same warm-up outfit. »

Fleury midfielder Grégoire Lefebvre has no ritual apart from high-fiving his teammates before the start of each match. For others, it’s a different story. On the pitch, music in the ears, laps of the pitch, moments of isolation: so many repeated gestures which allow the players to gradually enter into their match. “It’s very varied, but these little rituals are mainly used to gain concentration.”underlines the former technician from Créteil. Serious but relaxed. “I like to bring my joie de vivre to unwind because we must not forget above all that football is a sport and a pleasure.” relate Aniss El Hriti, player of FC UNA Strassen (Luxembourg).

Un repère face à la pression

“In competition, nothing is completely controllable: opponent, conditions, internal reactions. This part of the unknown creates stress. The ritual then acts as a point of stability. It offers a familiar, reproducible framework that helps the athlete regain a sense of control and refocus on themselves.”recalls Michel Sambuchi. Refocus to be efficient, but also sometimes to reassure yourself. Some players go further in this mental preparation, by integrating a personal, even spiritual dimension.

Around 6:25 p.m., a scene which repeats itself every Friday, an hour before kick-off at the Auguste Gentelet stadium or outside. “Before every match, I say my prayer to be protected from any danger and help my team win. This gives me balance in my match management and frees me from any pressure. I play much more liberated”confides Cameroonian defender Jovanie Tchouatcha, from FC Fleury 91 (National).

In another locker room in the Paris region, preparation involves alternating between relaxation and concentration. And the results are just as positive. “I like to chat with my teammates, laugh, talk about everything. Once back in the locker room, I switch: I like to be in my own bubble and think about what I have to bring to the match. It helps me to be focused from the kick-off.”explains Yanis Laban, defender at Saint-Brice (Regional 1).

A tool to perform better

“The ritual does not directly boost performance, but it improves the conditions. Under pressure, athletes tend to think too much, which disrupts their automatisms. On the contrary, a simple ritual allows you to channel attention, reduce mental overload and regain the right level of energy.supports Michel Sambuchi.

Sometimes, this gesture is done naturally, quite simply, out of habit or out of need. Without being considered as a knock. “I cream my knees and elbows before every training session or every match†laughs the center forward of the Racing Club de France (N3), Marvin Emmanuel or like Aniss El Hriti who “Need to do 15 minutes of core, push-ups and mobility exercises before each match”.

Connection with the issue and the game

Beyond the superstitious aspect, these practices mainly concern the mind. For Karim Mokeddem, it is a real form of psychological preparation: “It’s a way of connecting to what’s going to happen, a kind of visualization of the performance to come. HAS” These rituals have also evolved: they are more and more similar to structured mental preparation. “Today, certain rituals have become real tools for visualization and performance.”he concludes. As sports psychologist Michel Sambuchi reminds us: “The challenge is not to eliminate rituals, but to maintain flexibility. An athlete must be able to do without them or adapt them without losing his means. HAS”

Basically, the ritual is not a good luck charm. Above all, it helps to tame uncertainty, calm stress and enter the match with more lucidity. It remains to be seen where mental support stops and dependence begins…