Almost all of the competitors that we interviewed in the run-up to this World Cup told us that they have music as a huge ally in the moments before entering to compete. To relax by moving away the nerves, as a means to find concentration and even as a stimulus that prepares the mind and body for the combat that is coming. It is that music achieves all this and more.
The influence of music on the mood of people in their daily life is clear. For a few years, some specialists have investigated its application in amateur sports performance and also in high demands. These investigations have shown that it is not only a “mental bias” influenced by music, but also that it causes physiological effects such as a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, together with a decrease in the production of lactic acid in the blood, which allows a faster recovery after great demands.
For the moments prior to the competition, music generates proven effects on athletes. Psychological evaluations confirm that it reduces anxiety and even the perception of fatigue, generates motivation and stimulates positive emotions. Hence, many of those who will compete in this World Cup in the Netherlands have told us that they put on their headphones and listen to their chosen songs to get rid of previous nervousness, find “the axis” and increase the concentration necessary for high performance. While others find in music the means to stimulate themselves, visualize how the competition will develop and the tactics that they have trained so much.
There are already so many elite athletes who immerse themselves in music before entering the competition that even the big sportswear brands have adjusted their designs to this trend. A storied German brand recently launched an oversized hooded jacket, with double-layer panels on the sides and front, which helps keep you insulated and focused, as well as being sized for the much-used headphones.