Listening to music has numerous benefits: it can improve mood, reduce stress, and refine focus. Athletes often rely on these benefits before they compete, using music to mentally and physically prepare for better performances. According to Arizona State University (ASU), music can even enhance physical functioning as “the tempo of a song can maintain an individual’s heart rate, which can improve stamina, speed, endurance, rhythm and overall performance.” That evidence explains listening to music while competing. So, why do athletes listen to music before competition?
For junior Leah Passe, a first-time cross-country runner, fast-paced, upbeat rap is her go-to before meets. Yet her choice of music varies depending on factors such as stress, the length of her drive or her mood that day. “I usually just think of what artists I’m most in the mood for at the time, and I think will hype me up the most, and then that’s what I play” Passe said. Her favorite artists include Drake, SZA, and Eminem.
Passe thinks that music positively influences her mental state, helping her feel prepared and focused before a race. “[Music] has a pretty big effect, because if I’m in the right state of mind before a race, then I feel really prepared and I’m relaxed” she said,“if I’m hyped up, then I feel ready, and I stress less about how fast I’m gonna go, and I think more about how locked in I am”
For Passe, listening to music that makes her happy and calm is crucial to her performance. “Having a clear state of mind during a game or a meet helps you perform better,” Passe said.
Junior Fletcher Coblentz, a defensive lineman for SMB Wolfpack, also uses music to prepare mentally for football games. However, his music choices shift throughout the day. Around 6 hours before the game, Coblentz listens to classical or jazz to calm his nerves. “Way before [the game], I like to calm down so I can focus, but right before a game, I need to get a little energy going,” Coblentz said. As game-time approaches, he switches to southern and aggressive rap to fuel his competitive spirit.
For his position, which demands physicality and intensity, music helps Coblentz get into the right mindset. “I listen to music with the intention of making sure I’m sufficiently aggressive,” he said.
His pre-game playlist features songs like “Crunk Ain’t Dead” by Duke Deuce, “I Bet U Won’t” by Mouse and Level, “Stay Fly” by Big Tymers, and “OD CRASHIN” by Baby Kia. “I listen to [OD CRASHIN] on repeat until the bus gets to wherever we’re going. I listen until I have to take my AirPods off,” he said. Music also brings the team together, with the whole squad blasting music in the locker room.
Pre-game music benefits athletes by helping them achieve the right mental state, which is critical for optimal physical performance. Both Passe and Coblentz recognize that the right playlist sharpens their focus and prepares them mentally for the challenges ahead. Music not only amplifies their enjoyment of the sport, but it also serves as a psychological tool that many athletes across various sports use to enhance their game.
