The Soundtrack of Sport: Music’s Power to Unite, Inspire and Transform
2002. Miami vs. Florida State. The Orange Bowl was alive.
It was the first big-time college game I had ever attended, and the atmosphere is something I will never forget. As the Miami Hurricanes prepared to take the field, the stadium lights dimmed, and Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” began to echo through the speakers. The slow, haunting beat rolled across the crowd like a wave, building anticipation with every note. Then, right as the drum break hit, the Hurricanes stormed out of the tunnel—and the place absolutely erupted.
I remember sitting there, goosebumps racing down my arms. It wasn’t just a football team taking the field; it felt like an entire city rising together. One song turned a game into an experience. One song carried decades of tradition, passion, and swagger—and it was impossible not to get swept up in it.
The Power of Music to Influence
I love sports. I also love music. From a young age, those two worlds overlapped in my life. One of my favorite memories as a kid was waiting for my dad to come home from work so we could play basketball or football in our exercise room—always with Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang, Michael Jackson, or Stevie Wonder playing in the background. Music wasn’t just a soundtrack; it was part of the experience.
In high school, my track coach played jazz. Looking back, his life and his lessons mirrored that music. Coach Gatewood was simple, but he believed in excellence. He showed us what it meant to be smooth and under control, yet relentless in effort. He demanded respect, trust, and resourcefulness—never letting us settle for less than our best.
Scripture reminds us of this same truth. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Our hearts are shaped by what we allow in. The music and voices we invite into our lives—and our teams—leave a mark. They form what we believe, and what we believe directs how we live.
For the last 20 years, I’ve also had the privilege of being a drummer and band director with Run51, the house band for the Ultimate Training Camp. I’ve experienced music not only as a listener but also as a creator. Run51 has crossed genres to reach people of every background—from hip hop to hymns, from pop and R&B to contemporary Christian worship. In 2022, when my wife was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, we wrote a song called Never Let Go. The lyrics and video encouraged others facing life-altering challenges to hold on to God’s hand, because He will never let go. Just last week, a college athlete reached out to say how that song brought peace to his family as his mother battles cancer. Moments like these remind me that music is more than sound—it is a lifeline, a message, and a force for healing and hope.
The Power of Music to Unite
That’s the power of music in sport. It does more than pump us up before kickoff. Music reaches deep inside, stirring places words can’t always touch. It unites, inspires, and gives shape to identity and purpose. Every team—whether they realize it or not—has a soundtrack. The question is: what story is your team’s music telling?
History gives us powerful reminders. In 1995, at the Rugby World Cup in South Africa, a nation still healing from apartheid rallied as President Mandela wore the Springboks jersey and the stadium rang with song. Sports and music both cross barriers of race, language, culture, and class. As Mandela himself said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” The same is true of music.
Closer to home, we remember Boston in 2013. Just days after the Marathon bombing, Fenway Park reopened for a Red Sox game. The city was hurting, the atmosphere heavy. In the 8th inning, the speakers played Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” a Fenway tradition. But that day, it wasn’t just a sing-along—it was a declaration. Thousands of voices rose together, louder than ever, tears mixing with smiles. It wasn’t about baseball anymore; it was about resilience and unity. Music turned a game into a moment of restoration, reminding an entire city that they were not alone.
Moments like these reveal a deeper truth: when music and sport collide, they shape culture and call out the best in us.
The Power of Music to Teach
And yet, the culture-shaping power of music isn’t limited to stadiums or historic events. For coaches, it plays out daily in locker rooms, bus rides, weight rooms, and warm-ups. These are the spaces where music speaks the loudest. What plays in those moments influences mood, mindset, and the values your players carry. Music can inspire focus, build unity, or — if left unchecked—plant seeds of pride or division. Neutrality is an illusion; what fills our ears and eyes is always shaping us.
The Apostle Paul captures this in Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Every lyric, every chant, every melody plants a seed. Some seeds grow character, unity, and courage; others grow selfishness or distraction. The soil is the same—the difference is what gets planted.
As a coach, your role isn’t to control every playlist but to recognize that music is a lens into your team’s culture. What your players listen to reveals what they value, what they long for, and even what they’re wrestling with. Paying attention opens the door to moments where music becomes a force for transformation—building not just better athletes, but stronger people of character who carry lasting values beyond the game.
The Power of Music to Shape
But music doesn’t just shape teams—it shapes you. Every athlete knows what it feels like to throw on headphones before practice or competition and let the right song lock you in. I’ll never forget being at the 2012 London Olympics, providing chapels and worship spaces for athletes and coaches in Olympic Village. Right in the middle of it all, Beats by Dre headphones exploded onto the scene. They weren’t an official Olympic sponsor, but they were everywhere. Athletes from every nation wore them walking into arenas, during warm-ups, and in interviews. The message was clear: this is what locking in looks like. It wasn’t the first time culture saw how music shaped athletes, and it certainly wouldn't be the last, but it highlighted just how powerful it is to have a soundtrack that promotes focus, confidence, and elite performance.
Science confirms this. Studies show that when athletes listen to music they love, they experience greater endurance, improved motivation, and even higher peak performance. Research with strength athletes revealed that bench press output increased with self‑chosen music compared to silence. Other studies show athletes feel less fatigue and more determination when music is synchronized with their movements. Michael Phelps once admitted he always listened to rap before racing: “It helps me get into my own little world.” NBA star Jalen Brunson once revealed he needs a Justin Bieber song before stepping onto the court because it centers him mentally. Baseball player Teoscar Hernández has said he only listens to Christian music before games to prepare his heart and mind. Different sports, different athletes, but the truth is the same—music sets the tone for who you are and how you show up.
And Scripture reminds us why this matters. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” For athletes, that’s a reminder that what we allow into our ears and minds—including the music we let shape us—will either conform us to the patterns of the culture around us or transform us toward something greater. It’s more than background noise; it’s a life-shaping soundtrack.
Proverbs 23:7 adds, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, what we meditate on becomes who we are. The soundtrack you create day after day doesn’t just get you hyped for practice or calm you before a game; it’s forming the person you are becoming. The songs and messages you feed your heart and mind become the thoughts you live by, the words you speak, and the actions you take.
What’s the soundtrack of your heart? Music is never neutral. It will shape your mood, your mindset, your responses, and your future. The invitation is to choose wisely. Create a soundtrack that gives life, fuels courage, offers vision and hope beyond what you can see, and strengthens your character. Build a playlist that helps you lock in, become the person God made you to be, and compete in a way that reflects His glory.
Athlete, the music populating your soundtrack today shapes the person you will become tomorrow. Make it one worth remembering.
10 Questions to Consider:
What does our team’s current “soundtrack” say about who we are?
How does the music we play in key spaces affect energy, focus, and mood?
What behaviors or messages are celebrated in the songs we gravitate toward?
Do these lyrics reflect the values we want to live out on and off the field?
Does our music bring the team together, or does it create division by taste or background?
Is there one song or anthem that unites us all?
Who controls the playlist, and what does that reveal about leadership on our team?
Could music become a tool to help players grow in responsibility and influence?
What memories will players carry from the songs tied to this season?
Could our team’s anthem point toward gratitude, perseverance, or faith as part of our story?
