The Legal Performance Enhancer

Evan Burley
Sports Editor

On the court, field, rink, and everywhere in between, athletes use music to stimulate their mental state and prepare for competitions against other teams. With advances in technology that make it easier to put more speakers around a field, music is available right up until the start of the game. Even the national anthem is played on the speaker system in place at athletic facilities. Music moves everyone no matter what mood and before a heated battle against another team, athletes listen to music to gain an edge on their opponent.

Music can spark a certain emotion in the brain and take an athlete who is not focused and instantly put him in game mode, establish himself both mentally and physically. The excitement caused by a powerful riff or baseline can give an incredible boost of energy and allow for more determined and athletic play. “Music is said to be a gateway to ones soul,” and athletes use tempos to motivate and display their abilities.

Professor Peter Terry of the University of Queensland states that “the benefits of music on exercise have been known since the days that galley slaves were forced to row to the rhythm of drum beats.” Terry also says that recently, music has been scientifically proven to boost performance. "If you synchronize whatever activity you're engaging in to the tempo of music there's a very clearly energetic effect," Terry concludes. Professor Terry also feels that music can enhance athlete's feelings, and put them in the mood to win.

The question is, what music moves who? Everyone has specific likes and dislikes when discussing the proper warm-up play list. Senior Anthony Deleo prefers “Lil Wayne or Dave Matthews Band” before a big game. Many of today's athletes prefer a song with a lot of bass; a rap song perhaps, by artists such as Lil Wayne or T.I. However, many still prefer classic rock from likes of The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and AC/DC. Junior Bailey Knapton agrees that rap music is best before a game “because it pumps [her] up,” while senior Eli Smith feels that “rock gets the job done.” Junior Mike Reed likes to mix it up “depending on the mood [he] is in.” He likes both rap and hard rock from the likes of “Coheed and Cambria.”

That is not to say that these two types of music are the only songs to be found on team Cd's; heavy electronic songs with little to no lyrics are favorites of many sports teams. Also, many athletes like a little rhythm and blues before a game. Senior Sean Regan is one such athlete, and he prefers tunes from artists “Trey Songz and The Dream.” Senior Kelly Condon prefers a little more unorthodox selection. She goes “more low key” and doesn't like to “get too worked up.” Her favorite type of music to listen to before performing is “Disney music” such as “the Little Mermaid.”

Whatever the music, it is certainly beneficial as an extra emotional boost before a big game. Athletes clearly use music as a way to enhance their game in a totally legal way. The only problem with a musical warm-up before a game is getting the team to agree on the type of music.