🏈 What a Rugby Study Taught Me About Hype and Momentum

By Clinton Shrout

There’s something about game day energy that’s hard to explain but easy to feel.

The QB who’s bouncing on his toes. The wide receiver who won’t stop talking smack. The crowd, the music, the vibe—it all builds into something we call “momentum.” And whether you’re a player, a coach, or just a fan, you’ve seen it. Sometimes a team just looks ready.

Well, it turns out that feeling might be backed by science.

A Study Worth Paying Attention To

A recent study of professional rugby union players looked at their hormone levels before and after games. Researchers were trying to find out whether things like testosterone and cortisol—two major performance hormones—could predict outcomes.

They studied 22 players over six matches. Here’s what they found:

• Testosterone levels were significantly higher before games that ended in a win.

• This was especially true for “backs” (skill-position players like receivers and defenders).

• Higher testosterone-to-cortisol ratios (T:C) correlated with better individual and team performance.

• The effect didn’t show up as strongly in the linemen-equivalent players (the “forwards”).

• Playing at home did increase hormone levels after the game—but didn’t seem to affect readiness beforehand.

In other words: the more “up” a team was before a game, the more likely they were to win—especially their skill players.

So, What Does This Mean for Football?

This is where things get interesting.

We can’t exactly take saliva samples from NFL players before kickoff. But we can watch for the kinds of behaviors and energy that signal high emotional readiness—what the study suggests is linked to better performance and more wins.

Think about it:

• Have you ever seen a team that was flat in warmups and then laid an egg in the first quarter?

• Or a team that came out with swagger, and before you knew it, it was 14–0?

That’s not just good coaching or talent. That’s momentum—the kind you can feel before the game even starts.

How to Spot Momentum Shifts on Game Day

From my years making hype videos and tracking player behavior, here are a few pregame “tells” I look for:

• Skill players in rhythm. Smooth warmup reps. Sharp cuts. Loose shoulders.

• Vocal leaders. Watch who’s talking, and who’s listening.

• Eye contact and body language. Confident teams are loud, physical, and connected.

• Sideline temperature. If the energy is high before kickoff, it usually stays that way.

And during the game, momentum can swing fast. Big plays, turnovers, a sideline blow-up—they all affect emotional chemistry, not just scoreboard math.

For Coaches, Analysts, and Content Creators

If you’re a coach, you might consider tracking this. If your skill players are flat before kickoff, you might already be behind.

If you’re a sports bettor, this gives you another edge. Body language, emotional engagement, sideline behavior—all of it can help you anticipate game flow.

And if you’re a content creator like me, this is huge. Hype videos aren’t just hype—they’re fuel. That locker room highlight montage, that perfectly timed beat drop, that final scene of a teammate lifting another off the turf—those things matter. Not just for fans, but for players walking into a fight.

Final Thought

We talk a lot about stats in sports—yards per attempt, pressure rates, win probabilities. But don’t forget the most powerful data point of all: the mood of the room.

Sometimes, the team that wins the game is the one that already believed they would.

👋 Thanks for reading. I post weekly thoughts on the science, emotion, and storytelling behind sports at Clubhouse-Guy.com. If you're into data, film, and sports—you're in the right place.