As the tipoff of a boys Junior Varsity 2 (JV2) game nears, the team waits on one thing before anything else: Head Coach Rocco Gutierrez’s electric pre-game ritual. Known for his energy and lively presence, Gutierrez’s pre-game ritual unites his team, and motivates them to play their best, setting the tone of the game early.
The ritual is simple but powerful as Gutierrez roars, slaps lockers, claps and fills the locker room with energy. This electrifying ritual ensures that every player is locked in before the game even begins.
Gutierrez’s routine happens before every game, with Gutierrez raising the team’s energy reminding them that they are capable of winning against every team and easing their nerves before they step on the court.
“The biggest thing for my team is to go out there and play hard, to be dogs,” Gutierrez said. “You can’t always control if shots fall, but you can always control your energy and effort,” he continued.
Gutierrez’s ritual is rooted in his own playing career. When he played Division 2 basketball at SUNY Sullivan he recounted how nervous he would feel before games. That would change when his coach came to the locker room lighting up the team’s energy.
“Automatically, all the nerves went away,” Gutierrez said. Now inspired by his old coach, he brings this same approach to JV2.
The purpose of the ritual isn’t just to hype up players pointlessly, it’s to help them lock in and not be afraid of making mistakes, Gutierrez said.
“A lot of guys get caught up in not wanting to mess up, they forget the real reason why we’re on the court, to have fun and come together as a team,” Gutierrez said.
Players have felt the impact of this ritual. Sophomore shooting guard Farid Fuseni said “His energy before the game gets us really excited. It gets us pumped up to play and makes us ready to go against our opponents.”
“He gets us in the right mindset,” said sophomore Robert Mercedes, a power forward for the team. “He makes us focus and play the game the right way.”
That focus and energy has paid off so far this season with the JV2 team currently holding a 3-2 record which has been the second year in the row under Gutierrez that the team has had a winning season.
Gutierrez mentioned how energy before tip-off affects everything. “Even if we’re having a bad game, we’re always going to fight because we’re together,” he said. “Effort keeps you alive in games.”
Beyond wins, Gutierrez hopes his players will take important life skills from his ritual. He wants them to understand the importance of staying connected, bringing energy, and not giving up even if things are not going the way they want. As the JV2 season winds down, Gutierrez’s ritual has helped his players be energized, united and ready to compete before the first points are scored.
