Over-the-top celebrations are often seen as immature, disrespectful and unprofessional. But researchers have now discovered that displaying such jubilation could be a key ingredient in the recipe for victory.
According to The New Zealand Herald, sports scientists who studied goal celebrations during soccer penalty shoot-outs have discovered a correlation between the enthusiasm of a team’s goal celebrations and their tendency to win.
Researchers say that players who openly expressed their euphoria following a goal were more likely to be victorious.
The effect, referred to as emotional contagion, involves being emotionally influenced based on the emotions of others. When players display joy and excitement, it is essentially infectious on the rest of the team, which can go a long way in promoting positive attitudes and eventual team success.
According to the study, published in the Journal of Sports Science, if a player celebrated a goal by gesturing with both arms instead of one, the following kicker from the other team was twice as likely to miss.
Researchers also found that those who looked down upon scoring were more likely to suffer defeat.
The New Zealand Herald reports that the researchers have said that other studies have shown the same effect in sports such as cricket and handball.
Of course to think that simply extending or enhancing a celebration will guarantee success is lunacy, but it’s tough to argue against the impact that a positive outlook can have on other members of a team.
In addition to their overall talent level, perhaps Spain’s ability to celebrate with the best is what helped put them over the top for their first World Cup win.
