Hours before kickoff, Michigan Wolvirine’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy began his pregame grounding and meditation ritual by sitting crossed legged and leaning against the goal post.

Inside his headset plays 963 hertz meditation called ‘God’s Frequency’. Listening to this frequency helps McCarthy get into game mode by clearing his mind to prepare for the upcoming match. Since beginning his ritual at the end of last year, McCarthy has led the Wolverines to a flawless 15-0 record while throwing for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.

Behind this great play, Michigan would go on to win the National Championship game against Washington, winning 34-13. McCarthy’s ritual has brought him success, but is there anything to it? Can simply mediating and clearing your mind bring another element to a player’s game?

Let’s break down his process.

First, McCarthy takes off his shoes and steps on the ground with his bare feet. This is called grounding or earthing, an ancient technique originating in ancient China. By touching the bare ground, your body takes in the electrons that radiate off the earth’s surface. These electrons coat the cells in your body, allowing them to function more productively.

A study done by the University of California has shown that patients who earthed for at least 30 minutes a day saw inflammation reduced, leading to quicker recoveries after a workout. Another benefit is that the electrons help boost the productivity of the body’s nervous system. The electrons absorbed from the earth coat the nerves in our body, giving a slight boost to reaction time, the study found. This benefit has helped McCarthy turn the ball over less – he has only thrown one interception in the past 12 games of the season while posting a career best 167.4 rating.

Next, McCarthy sits in a meditative position by crossing his legs, sitting down and leaning against the goal post. Mediating can be used to clear one’s mind and reduce stress. Needless to say, playing for the National Championship and the intense preparation leading up to the game can bring both excitement and nervousness to a player, not to mention everything that goes along with being a student athlete. Having a clear mind will help a player lock in to the task at hand. The study at the University of California showed that athletes who mediated before matches saw improved focus, endurance, and even recovery time post match.

Lastly, while he mediates, McCarthy plays the “God’s Frequency,” a 963 HZ sound in his headset. This frequency has been used for many spiritual purposes relating to consciousness, but it can also be used to calm the mind and body. The frequency makes the atoms in the body vibrate a way to where it lowers cortisol, the stress hormone found in the body. This means the body can react to stressful situations easier and more effectively.

These lowered stress levels would help McCarthy the week prior against Alabama. Being down seven with the game on the line against Alabama, McCarthy would convert on a fourth-and-two by completing a pass to running back Blake Corum keeping the drive alive and setting up a four yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson to tie the game. By calmly completing this pass, Michigan would go on to beat the Crimson Tide in overtime and set the stage for their championship win, their first national championship since 1997.

Thanks to his ritual and having a more focused mind, McCarthy was able to overcome many stressful situations that could have changed the outcome of the whole playoffs.

As someone who grounds and meditates regularly, I’m happy to see athletes start using these techniques to their game and pregame rituals. I truly believe that this can add another level to an athletes game. Mental strength and a clear mind can help an athlete perform better on the field or court. With the studies showing the benefit, adding these techniques may not only help play, but injury risk or recovery as well.

With today’s athletes looking for every advantage they can get, why not add grounding and meditation to the preparation arsenal?