The sacred moments of the locker room, the hallowed halls before the pitch, the moments before the lights shine down and the psyche unpacked when the team walks down the halls to their sporting crescendo.
Through a host of lights and a spectacle locker-room emersion, Apollo Brands Pty (Ltd) (official distributors of Under Armour in South Africa) unveiled their 2024 in-category product focus and innovation roster at their HQ on November 14, 2023. To allure the athletic and honour the bold, the event placed particular emphasis on celebrating Team Sports Athletes and the significant moments within the locker room and pre-game rituals.
Unveiled in Under Armour’s 2024 collection was baselayer technology, hero’ing Heatgear, Coldgear, Iso-Chill, and Authentics. These cutting-edge baselayers are designed to offer a next-to-skin fit, regulating temperature and providing essential support for every athlete. They also highlight the Unstoppable Collection, a woven fabric collection designed for athletes who want to look good, feel confident, and perform at their peak. Lastly, they introduced the Infinite Run Category Collection, with a key focus on the UA Infinite, UA Infinite Pro and UA Infinite Elite.
But taking a step further and delving into the lives of athletes, and unpacking what really goes through the minds of Team Sports athletes before they step onto the field and into the lights, the event gave spotlight to, and heroes the sacred moments of the locker room, exploring the psyche of Team Sports Athletes as they prepare for their sporting crescendos.
It has been reported that over 74% of high-level athletes engage in one or more rituals before games, ranging in length and complexity. One of the most recognisable collective rituals in sport is the Ka Mate haka performed before all international rugby matches. Other teams may use group prayers, team cheers, specific songs or chants, or visualisation sessions to mentally prepare themselves for performance. At the individual level, there are many anecdotal accounts of professional athletes’ pre-game rituals which stand out as unique or surprising. On an international level, for instance, a Canadian Hockey Player is known to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before every game as a standard ritual. To better understand these behaviours, sports science researchers have examined them through one of three lenses being: rituals, pre-performance routines, and superstitions.
These performances and rituals have been suggested to influence an athlete’s performance by optimising one’s emotional state. Those moments before the whistle blows… how important are they to an athlete? What thoughts and emotions do they process before they take to the pitch – what is the mental capacity of team sports athletes and how much does mental preparation play a role in the locker room?
Prominent figures such as Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi, Robyn Moodaly, and Kegan Johannes, shed light on their leadership, introspection, and locker room rituals.
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Rugby Player, Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi, believes that the true power of an athlete lies not just in physical ability but in the mastery of their mental game, especially before a game. ‘Those moments before stepping onto the field are a mix of emotions, a mix of nerves, excitement, and focus. It’s in that mental switch that I am truly able to prepare and drown out the outside ‘noise’ and perform to the absolute best of my ability. The locker room isn’t just a space; it’s a sanctuary where we build mental resilience, where we rally our teammates, our brothers, our warriors, and face the on-field pressures together, with strength and that undeniable will to win,’ he adds. What takes place in the locker room is that if an immersive experience, one that not many get to experience for themselves, unless part of a team bond. It’s moments captured in time, that they carry through with them onto the field that ultimately gives them that extra push when they’re feeling tired, motivate them to go a little faster, excite them to give a little more and give them the encouragement to perform at their best until that final whistle blows.
Professional Footballer, Robyn Moodaly, looks inward and uses her inner sanctum to propel her forward to greatness. ‘In the world of women’s sports, finding inner peace amidst external chaos is my superpower. It’s about introspection, being a role model, and embracing calm under pressure. Beyond the pitch, I aim to inspire, and in those crucial moments, I remind myself: my mental strength is my superpower,’ says Robyn. Researchers generally believe that performance rituals help athletes attain ideal mental states before competing by reducing negative and debilitating thoughts and emotions.
Other professional athletes have reported their superstitious beliefs leading to rituals such as using a lucky towel before competing, retying shoes at a particular point in every game, only using their right hand to remove their helmet, and leaving their ball or bat on the same lucky spot on the bench.
Professional Footballer, Kegan Johannes is no stranger to performing to the highest levels, but what actions does he take before stepping onto the field? ‘In the locker room, rituals become the heartbeat of our team, the rhythm that defines us before heading on to the pitch. From walking onto the pitch with my right foot first, to leading my team to success, these pre-match moments shape my narrative of victory. It’s not just a game; it’s a culmination of belief, preparation and believing you can succeed before you even step onto the pitch,” he adds.
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Under Armour’s 2024 line-up isn’t just about products; it’s about empowering athletes to rewrite their stories, one game-changing moment at a time, whether it be in the locker room, the hallway or on the playing field.
Whether it’s that silent moment of personal reflection, the resonance of a heartfelt team war cry, or an athlete methodically putting on their left boot first, each action holds significant weight in shaping individuals both on and off the field, propelling them toward greatness. These rituals, whether collective or individual, contribute to the unique narrative of each athlete’s journey, instilling a sense of preparation, focus, and belief that transcends the playing field, all of which are embodied further through the use and application of Under Armour apparel.
For more information, visit https://underarmour.co.za or download the Under Armour on Google Play or the Apple Store, today!
