Does superstion have a future in hockey?

[LeafsFanDan]

**Before we get into this article I want to make it clear this is a opinion piece, not backed up by any sources or references and is not intended to offend anyone.**

 

Seeing as the Canucks got their first win in 7 games after changing up their dress code and  dressing up "casually" for the pre-game you can make a sure bet the players will do so again out of long standing tradition in hockey called "superstition". Now for many fans like my self you can't help but shake your head at the fact that superstition is still around in modern day NHL. Lets break down why my argument against it makes sense.

 

Exhibit A.

 

A player on team "X" regularly drinks 2 bottles of water per game, in one of the games he decided to drink 3 bottles of water and his team lost by 7 goals and the player had no points and was a minus 5. The player blames superstition and doesn't ever drink 3 bottles again.

 

Fact check - in reality drinking 3 bottles may actually increase the players performance over time, one coincidence and a player is self subbotaging his own opportunities to improve due to superstition.

 

This is a basic example of how superstition can hinder performance. 

 

Exhibit B.

 

Players who buy into superstition focus a lot of energy into un proven theories rather than focusing on actual tangible processes to improve. Rather than putting extra minutes into the gym or skipping desert at a meal a player simply thinks they can talk to goal posts or avoid touching a trophy to avoid "bad curse" ? How is that accepted in modern day professional sports?

 

As a fan who spends 100$/game i expect athletes to be professional, intelligent and rational students of the game. It boggles my mind that the owners and coaching staff allow bizzare and mentally unstable practices like superstition beliefs to cloud judgemental and impede performance of a professional athletes.

 

Superstition is fake, unproven, dangerous and has no place in highly competitive professional sports. It wears down psyche and creates unrealistic expectations and false beliefs.

Some people may argue there is no harm to the players having a little "fun" but my point that its not fun to see, not fun to hear,  rather its distracting and alarming.

 

And as someone who supports and invests into the product on the ice I would like to perhaps inquire how to start a petition to ban or remove superstitious rituals from hockey.

 

Curious to hear people's opinions on the topic. 

[Dumb Nuck]

Superstitions can give a player confidence or put doubt in his mind so yes I definitely feel it affects the athlete, however superstition for fans is dumb, but I suggest watching the Super Bowl episode of it’s always sunny in Philadelphia.

[goalie13]

3 minutes ago, LeafsFanDan said:

And as someone who supports and invests into the product on the ice I would like to perhaps inquire how to start a petition to ban or remove superstitious rituals from hockey.

And how do you propose to do that?

 

Some rituals are as simple as a goalie tapping his posts before the start of the game, or not skating over the blue or red lines on the way to his net.  Are you going to hand him a minor penalty if he keeps to his rituals?

[Nuxfanabroad]

We'd better lock & throw this into the abyss. Heard it's bad luck to be superstitious! :^O

[The Lock]

Honestly, if player superstitions are what keeps you up a night, you need to figure out your life. lol

 

I just don't know how else to put that.

Edited February 14, 2021 by The Lock

[higgyfan]

I think it's a bit silly, but it can be a team bonding event or even an icebreaker when the lads are feeling tense.  Of course, like anything else, it can be taken to an extreme.  I don't think banning it would work, as the players would just go underground to do their rituals. It's a hockey tradition and will likely continue to be for years to come.

 

I do think our guys should do like Bieksa said regarding Perry's hockey stick though.  Get that barrel out boys and grab Brock's stick!

[the grinder]

9 minutes ago, LeafsFanDan said:

**Before we get into this article I want to make it clear this is a opinion piece, not backed up by any sources or references and is not intended to offend anyone.**

 

Seeing as the Canucks got their first win in 7 games after changing up their dress code and  dressing up "casually" for the pre-game you can make a sure bet the players will do so again out of long standing tradition in hockey called "superstition". Now for many fans like my self you can't help but shake your head at the fact that superstition is still around in modern day NHL. Lets break down why my argument against it makes sense.

 

Exhibit A.

 

A player on team "X" regularly drinks 2 bottles of water per game, in one of the games he decided to drink 3 bottles of water and his team lost by 7 goals and the player had no points and was a minus 5. The player blames superstition and doesn't ever drink 3 bottles again.

 

Fact check - in reality drinking 3 bottles may actually increase the players performance over time, one coincidence and a player is self subbotaging his own opportunities to improve due to superstition.

 

This is a basic example of how superstition can hinder performance. 

 

Exhibit B.

 

Players who buy into superstition focus a lot of energy into un proven theories rather than focusing on actual tangible processes to improve. Rather than putting extra minutes into the gym or skipping desert at a meal a player simply thinks they can talk to goal posts or avoid touching a trophy to avoid "bad curse" ? How is that accepted in modern day professional sports?

 

As a fan who spends 100$/game i expect athletes to be professional, intelligent and rational students of the game. It boggles my mind that the owners and coaching staff allow bizzare and mentally unstable practices like superstition beliefs to cloud judgemental and impede performance of a professional athletes.

 

Superstition is fake, unproven, dangerous and has no place in highly competitive professional sports. It wears down psyche and creates unrealistic expectations and false beliefs.

Some people may argue there is no harm to the players having a little "fun" but my point that its not fun to see, not fun to hear,  rather its distracting and alarming.

 

And as someone who supports and invests into the product on the ice I would like to perhaps inquire how to start a petition to ban or remove superstitious rituals from hockey.

 

Curious to hear people's opinions on the topic. 

omg snowflake they are not sacrificing goats or virgins ,  guys throw their  sticks in garbage cans  if in a slump to get a garbage goals and you want to ban that   talk about taking the fun out  of the game , they aren't robots for your amusement ,   next thing you want to ban goal celebrations because it hurts the other teams feelings   

[Nuxfanabroad]

5 minutes ago, the grinder said:

omg snowflake they are not sacrificing goats or virgins ,  guys throw their  sticks in garbage cans  if in a slump to get a garbage goals and you want to ban that   talk about taking the fun out  of the game , they aren't robots for your amusement ,   next thing you want to ban goal celebrations because it hurts the other teams feelings   

A few yrs back, didn't some Eastern EU team sacrifice a virgin goat?! Thought it was a bold stroke.

[Roger Neilsons Towel]

No, but I think superstition might. 

[the grinder]

2 minutes ago, Nuxfanabroad said:

A few yrs back, didn't some Eastern EU team sacrifice a virgin goat?! Thought it was a bold stroke.

 and prolly bbqed it   ,

[crobar]

Superstition is in all of us to some degree. Banning superstition in sports = bye bye sports. Cant believe Im commenting in the ridiculous thread.

[smithers joe]

don't believe it does unless they break a mirror our walk under a black cat.

[JM_]

my magic 8 ball says no. 

[LeafsFanDan]

Problem is that while superstition can be excusable at some basic level its not acceptable at proffessional level.

 

By buying into superstition the players effectively give power to a force greater than then selves. They undermine their own abilities and training and relinquish control of the outcome to a force/entity they call superstition.

 

I work in psychology and in my circles its widely accepted that superstition is deeply damaging at proffesional levels be it sports, gambling, performance whatever.

Imagine a doctor being super stitious or a teacher, basically setting their training aside to follow some imaginary belief. Has 0 place in sports, sooner fans understand this the better I feel.

[LeafsFanDan]

6 minutes ago, crobar said:

Superstition is in all of us to some degree. Banning superstition in sports = bye bye sports. Cant believe Im commenting in the ridiculous thread.

Your comment made no sense..  banning superstition will quickly be accepted, its not in a contact or anyone's best interest to leave sports over ban of superstition. What do you mean bye bye sports? Clearly you aren't a serious person who studies mental issues or performance related dilemmas.

[ImConfused]

So this is what being a "LeafsFan" does to you, eh?

 

Man I'm glad I'm a Canuck lol

[HighOnHockey]

This thread is amazing...

[-AJ-]

I'm not sure about superstition, but maybe stition.

[Ghostsof1915]

This is what I care about that players do:

- Practice hard

- Play hard

- Stay in shape and workout regularly

- Eat healthy.

- Get a good nights sleep. 

 

Do I give a damn if the player when he wakes up, no matter where he is. Gets up early, makes his bed and insists on a bowl of Shreddies? No.

 

 

 

 

[LeafsFanDan]

3 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

This is what I care about that players do:

- Practice hard

- Play hard

- Stay in shape and workout regularly

- Eat healthy.

- Get a good nights sleep. 

 

Do I give a damn if the player when he wakes up, no matter where he is. Gets up early, makes his bed and insists on a bowl of Shreddies? No.

 

 

 

 

Problem arises when players skip the hardwork  sleep or extra practice time in "lue" of superstition.