The sound of the roaring crowd and your teammates rooting for you is infectious, especially after hours of practice and countless games. That feeling is what athletes feed off of.

That feeling is a reality for Senior Arianna Ricondo, who recently signed with Alabama State University to play division one softball for the school.

“At first, I was a little scared [to go to Alabama],” Ricondo said. “After talking to my college coach about everything, she kind of reassured and made me feel comfortable. So I’m very excited to go into the program.”

The perceived and objective benefits of participating in sports for children and adolescents are numerous and span multiple domains, including physical, physiological, and social development.

Participation in sports can help build self-esteem and confidence, and can motivate children to excel academically. Not only does it provide a door of opportunities, but it also builds up social skills.

“I started playing softball at four years old,” Ricondo said. “I’m currently seventeen, so that’s thirteen years. I started playing because my parents put me in it. I just enjoyed it for exercise and basically just grew to love the game.”

Many players understand the importance that pregame routines play in their mental focus. It is easier to analyze the effectiveness of the routine.

“Before games, I listen to music to get pumped and it inspires me to remain in a focused state of mind.”

Even though pregame rituals are not necessary, they are an important part of the games that is rarely talked about. Most top athletes use pregame mental preparation routines to feel ready to perform to their best and consistently perform up to their physical talent.

On the field, no one is bigger than the other; all athletes are trying to achieve the same goal. Ricondo goal is an ambitious one, yet not out of reach.

“My goal in college is to be a starter as a freshman and be a very productive player for my coach,” Ricondo said.

Even though Ricondo loves softball, it’s not what she wants to pursue in life.

“I want to be a physical therapist and start as early as I can; a lifelong involvement in sports is a major factor that has motivated me to become a physical therapist,” Ricondo says.

A dedicated athlete puts forth their all by fully devoting to their sport. When people succeed it’s because of hard work. You are bound to face obstacles on the road to success, but with courage and perseverance, you can master them. Motivation looks beyond all boundaries, transcends all limitations, conquers all obstacles and carries you to your goal.

According to Ariana, the most important key to being successful is practice and repetition, all of which lead to getting the attention of Alabama scouts.