Luck.

Even if you don’t believe in it now, you probably did at one point. Maybe you were one of those kids that searched for four-leaf clovers at recess or maybe you even avoided the cracks in the sidewalk.

Superstition is especially prominent in sports, and Watkins Mill is no exception.  

For instance, “In football you have to multitask and pay attention to different things at the same time,” defensive line coach Jamaly Allen said. “We have a call and response thing to get them mentally focused, so I say ‘hey’ they all stop what they’re doing and say ‘who.’”

Allen also uses songs to keep the players aware and to bring them together.  “It takes out the individual and puts you as a part of the collective,” Allen added.

Songs and chants are very popular in sports. “It’s a team thing,” Allen said. “It makes people believe in the team aspect and feel more unified. Now, the only thing in your mind is you have the ritual of, after this song, I go and I perform well in the game.”

“Before games we’ll do cheers like ‘1,2,3, ‘Rines’ then ‘4,5,6, Family’ because we’re all really close like family,” varsity volleyball player  Yeikela Mendez said. ” It helps me have a better connection with my team.”

“Before the game, we meet outside the locker room and our captains give us a pep talk, then we go through the locker room singing ‘olé’. Then when we get outside we do a cheer, then we warm up. It really makes us excited for the game and brings us together,” varsity soccer player  Annie Riley said. 

“We go to 7-11 before every game or practice, it helps me bond with my teammates and fill me up so I don’t get hungry  in the middle of my golf match,” said golf player Daniel Gregory.

Along the same lines of food, varsity cheerleader Royal Safo adds, “Some of us like to go to Chipotle before games, and on the way back from games we like to do chants and sing songs regardless if we won or not, just to keep a good spirit.”

“Team bonding is super important, especially when we’re carrying each other, we can’t hate each other,” Safo added.

“Our kind of motto, is ‘get it done.’ So whenever we break, we’ll do it on three,” varsity field hockey player Katherine Campbell said. “It signifies that we’re going to go out there, score another goal and get it done, get it over with. The chants definitely motivate you to go out there, work your hardest, and play with your best effort as a team.”

Rituals like these are not only used in sports,  Allen also uses these tactics with theater. “During rehearsal, especially during the long hours on Saturdays, I have them march in place,” Allen said. “And what that does, is it brings them together. Then we have one task which is to make sure this show is the best show ever.”

“Accomplishing something as a group is a great feeling and it makes you go above yourself and do better than you would normally do,” Allen added. “Because now you feel like you can’t let your team down.”