What gets you in the zone?
That was the question we posed to our PreGame community this past June for Men’s Health Month, Men of Ritual.
From silent visualization to loud hype tracks, every ritual revealed something deeper: consistency, intention, and the quiet moments where champions are made.
We launched the Men of Ritual Campaign to spotlight those unsung routines. The sweaty, gritty, spiritual, and sometimes quirky ways men prepare to rise. In return? You gave us everything.
Here are just a few of the rituals that caught our eye:
“Country music, typically Luke Combs. A good dynamic warmup followed with some sprints.”
Soundtrack meets sweat. A little country calm, a lot of ready-to-roll.
“I like to listen to my rap music when we first leave school for a game, and then I will turn on my chill playlist when we get closer, so it will help calm me down. I also throw up before every game and that is part of my ritual to get me prepared for my game!”
Every game day starts with a bus ride, a beat drop, and a mindset shift. Ritual: activated.
“Put my playlist on, drink my Bucked Up, and stretch.”
Simplicity is power. Music. Fuel. Movement. Lock in.
“I usually start off with blasting something that will get my hype but then as I get closer, I’ll throw on some worship music, speak with the lord, kiss my fiancé, and LOCK IN!!!!”
It’s not just about the noise—it’s about the build. The arc. The shift from chaos to clarity.
“When I get to the facility, I spend time in the weight room stretching and doing activation exercises to get my body prepped for kickoff. After that, I go out to the field and take a slow lap around to get my mind right. I’ll visualize the different plays we’re going to run, who I’m going up against, and what I need to do on that play to be successful. Visualization has been a huge part of my weekly routine ever since I was in high school. Then, I’ll lay down on the turf and do a quick breathing exercise to clear my head, only focusing on the game. By the end of that, it’s time to get back in & locker room and start getting dressed for warmups!”
A ritual rooted in prep, presence, and performance. High-level athletes don’t leave game-day success to chance—they ritualize it.
“Before a show I mentally run through the magic show and listen to pump-up music.”
Stage or stadium, the ritual is the same: See it. Feel it. Be it.
“So first, when I arrive at the arena, I usually walk straight to the field from end zone to end zone and imagine myself doing great things in the game. Once I finish that, I walk to the locker room and set up the accessories that I am going to wear for the game.
I go back out to the field and do this breathing exercise, and that basically helps me clear my head. anything that happened during the day or anything that happened that week, I try to forget about it for at least game time, and that helps me be more locked in during game time. After that, I pray, and it’s game time.”
Letting go of the week, breathing into the moment, and stepping into purpose.
“Headphones: OG Eminem. Stretching. Would love muscle warm up Heat and Compression!!!!”
Sometimes it’s the sound, sometimes it’s the science. Rituals that hit hard and heal deep.
“I usually like to start my day with fitness and movement. As I warm up on a bike or walk outdoors, I go through my day’s schedule. I run through a quick assessment of what needs to be prioritized based on how my body is feeling i.e., more sleep, improved nutrition, ₫ bility, and recovery etc.”
Even the ones who keep pros performing have rituals of their own.
“I do my best to be in an even state. Meaning not too high or low, but just right in the middle. I usually play softer (R&B) music and work my way into rap once we are close to kickoff.
I personally meditate and stretch at midfield before every game. Using my massage gun and roller to relax my muscles. After a good sweat, I go back into the locker room and mellow back down before team stretch.”
Controlled. Conscious. Centered. That’s a ritual we can all respect.
“Fitness is how I stay locked in—every morning starts with a workout, whether it’s Peloton sprints or dumbbell circuits. It’s not just training, it’s a ritual that shapes everything I do.”
Legendary discipline. Ritual is the reason behind longevity.
“I listen to the football mental imagery podcast by Brian Cain, which is a lot of visualization and affirmation to myself that I have the ability to do anything I put my mind to in the game.
As a man that has struggled with mental health in the past, affirmations go a long way in any aspect of life. Having that positive thought process and confidence in myself and my preparation does not only creates success, but also helps me battle the adversity any time it can come up during a game.”
Ritual as mental armor. Ritual as healing. A ritual rooted in prep, presence, and performance. High-level athletes don’t leave game-day success to chance—they ritualize it.
The Takeaway:
Every man has a ritual—some loud, some silent, all sacred. These aren’t just pregame routines. They’re reminders of who we are and what we’re here to do.
This Men’s Health Month, we salute the rituals. The early alarms. The cold plunges. The protein shakes. The Spotify playlists. The whispered prayers. The stretches. The stillness.
Because behind every great man is a ritual that raised him. Stay moving, stay grounded, and stay ritualized.