Hearts pumping and adrenaline racing to the beat of a song. Many athletes and sports teams listen to music before or after a game. Whether it’s to enhance their performance or to celebrate their accomplishments, music affects athletes and their performance both in and out of the game.

     Music improves mental stability, lessening anxiety and providing a source of motivation. Multiple sports teams hype themselves up by playing music to get them in the right headspace before their practices and games. 

     Quarterback Sam Gieblehaus and players on the football team agree that they listen to their own music. Before practices and games they will put on their headphones or earbuds to get in the zone. 

     “For football, I usually listen to my own music before games,” Gieblehaus said. “I listen to rap or hip hop music on the bus ride and the locker room to help prepare myself for the game.” 

     Softball player Devin McArthur agrees that music helps her and the softball team play better together. McArthur says the team listens to old throwbacks to get in the mode and feel ready for game day.

     “I think having music brings the fun out of the game,” McArthur said. “We play better with music because it gets us ready for game day and it completes the silence when we’re making plays.”

     Soccer player Jeremy Garcia said that he and the soccer team all get ready for game days by listening to upbeat music together.  After wins, the team either celebrates in the locker room or on the bus by listening to music to set the mood. 

     “Preparing for home games, we listen to music altogether in the locker room to get ready for the game. It helps us get in a good mood and be more focused for when we play,” Garcia said. “When we win, we listen to hype music like rap which gets all of us in a good mood after victory.” 

     Softball player Devin McArthur agrees that music helps her and the softball team play better together. McArthur says the team listens to old throwbacks to get in game mode and feel ready for game day.

     “I think having music brings the fun out of the game,” McArthur said. “We play better with music because it gets us ready for game day and it completes the silence when we’re making plays.”

     Sophomore, Cailyn Kieper is on the girls varsity basketball team. Last season before games they would scream at the top of their lungs while listening to fun music in the locker room to get lots of energy for the game. 

     “I think if we didn’t listen to music we definitely wouldn’t have the same energy,” Kieper said. “It helps us to do better cause then were ready to play against other teams.”