The night before a game, our whole football team goes to a teammate’s house for a huge team dinner. It’s great for the team—and its chemistry. After dinner, we all drive over to the school and watch our JV or freshman team, whoever is playing at home. Then, on game day, one of our teammate’s parents makes another meal for the whole team, and we watch a motivational movie—such as Gladiator or Braveheart. We proceed into a quiet time, when most players put on headphones and listen to music. Then, right before we step onto the field, we say a team prayer. After that, we get crunk’d up and ready to bust some heads.

—David Shabani
Colleyville Heritage High School
Colleyville, Texas

Before each basketball game, a Marylawn Lady Knight tradition is to go into the chapel for home games or the locker room for away games and talk about the journey ahead and what we have to do to be victorious. After a short personal meditation, the captain asks the players and coaches if they have any comments. Then, the Lady Knights pray, and we’re off.

At home games, the crowd knows when we’re about to enter the gym, because they hear our thunderous clapping as we move down the hall. Then, after each team has been introduced, we go to center court and say the BEST part of our TRADITION:

WHOSE HOUSE? Our house!
WHOSE HOUSE? Our house!
WHAT TIME IS IT? Game time!
WHAT TIME IS IT? Game time!
HOW DO WE FEEL? Hot!
HOW DO WE FEEL? Hot!
WHAT DO WE GIVE THEM? One shot!
LADY KNIGHTS ON THREE!

—Courtney Martin
Marylawn of the Oranges
South Orange, N.J.

How does your team come together before a game?
What about after victory, defeat, or deep in the off-season? Is there a prayer or chant you say together before the game starts? A meal you share? A movie you watch? Bring it to us at [email protected]. If we like what you got, we’ll feature your team story.