Many athletes in sports such as crew, volleyball, soccer, powerlifting and more have specific music playlists that they listen to before games for motivation or to get them in the right headspace. Some of these songs are very popular, but they can vary from player to player. These pregame playlists motivate the athletes into performing better and further developing a team bond while also helping them focus, concentrate and get in their mood.
The Global Sports Matters states, “Music does more than excite and hype an athlete. It activates the amygdala, which is the section of the brain that processes emotions.” Music will usually activate the brain, and most professional athletes have a certain routine, including music, to help them perform consistently. This is the case for many student athletes at Boston Latin School as well.
- Katelyn Zwickau (Vl)
Zwickau is a member of the BLS crew team, where they race boats using oars. In crew, Zwickau says that the artists that they play in the beginning are famous artists like Taylor Swift and Imagine Dragons. When Zwickau is not rowing, she observes that the athletes seem to have more energy and drive to do their best during the game. When she is in the game, music seems to motivate her and give her more drive like the other rowers.
- William Yu (IV)
Yu swims for the BLS boys’ varsity swim team. He oftens listens to Chinese music, “Good Morning” by Kanye West and “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert, which gives him “extreme hype before a game or meet,” noting that he “will probably perform better” with these songs. These pieces of music are usually played before a game and help with the team spirit and motivation.
- Alan Zhao (IV)
Zhao is on the debate team and another varsity sport team as well. Before his sport, he often listens to “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, “Pompeii” by Bastille, “Burn The House Down” by AJR, “Mockingbird” by Eminem, “Give a Little” by LeGrand and many more songs in his personal playlist. He states that, “It helps me concentrate and get my mind in the zone.” With a better mindset, he can perform to a higher standard during physical and mental activities such as debating against other top notch schools.
- Valerie Dam Nguyen (I)
Nguyen, who plays for the BLS girls’ varsity soccer team, states that the girls’ team playlist is made at the beginning of each season. Everyone has access to the playlist and can add whatever songs that they want. They listen to this playlist on bus rides to games very often. She also states that “Pump It Up” by Endor is usually the song they play while walking off the bus to a game. Sometimes they run the playlist during warmups, and they usually listen to popular 2000s, rap and Taylor Swift.
- PBS NewsHour
Costas Karageorghis, a professor in sport psychology who has spent 25 years studying music and its effects on the brain, states in a PBS NewsHour article, “It’s an ideal stimuli because it reaches [parts of the brain] that can’t easily be reached.” Therefore music can improve mood, muscle control, and can even help the brain build muscle memories.
