Superstitions: Perception is Reality

Last night I was at a hockey game and every stoppage of play I watched the goaltender go over and touch the same pane of glass. Never failed, regardless of where the puck was, this young guy skated over and did so for 3 periods. So obviosly this was a superstition of his that touching this glass every whistle would allow him to play alittle bit better in order to make the next stop.

Now I ask you, does it really? Obviosly their is no direct link between touching the glass and stopping the puck, however somewhere psycologically their is one. If by touching this glass, the goalie boosts himself with alittle extra confidence and actually believes it will help him. Maybe he would of made the save anyways, but lets say once he doesn't go over and touch it, is the next shot more likely to go in? Psycologically I bet you that he thinks so. And that could directly drop his level of play and let that next shot in.

Would that not be a direct link between the two, touching the glass after each stoppage helps him stop the puck?

George Gmelch had an essay published years ago named "Baseball Magic that looked at this phenomenom and was probably the first to take a look at it from the sports side of view. My discussion here is not directly linked to simply sports, but the fact that maybe their is a direct link to superstitions and success.

On a board where so many people have an open mind to alot of different subjects I thought this would be a good topic to have a discussion over. Do any members here have a strict superstition they stick too?

My main question of this thread is this, using a sports analogy...

If a player follows a strict set of superstitions, does the confidence that is now installed in him, give him the additional effort required to play at the level he hopes. I believe so, Is this not a direct link for the two to equate a formula of success?