Same here.
It would be an interesting study though I think to investigate the mental effects on a person, during a stressful event, of a sign of the cross and or a quick prayer to a relevant saint. This simple act might work to help dispel any mental blocks.
St Luigi Scrosoppiwas decreed the patron saint of football by the Vatican, quite recently.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Scrosoppi
and see these excerpts from catholicsports.net
https://catholicsports.net/our-patron-saint
about St Luigi and also including the other patron saints of sports in general.
^Luigi Scrosoppi is also the patron saint of soccer/football players, fans, and stadium attendees. His significance extends beyond social engagement and reaches into the realm of sports. Many football clubs and fans show him respect and seek his assistance for fair games, team spirit, and the protection of all involved parties.
But appoarently St Sebastian and some others are the patron Saints of sports in general.^
St Sebastian
Saint Sebastian is considered the patron saint of athletes due to his depiction as a young, strong, and enduring individual, often shown with a physique reflecting physical fitness, and because his story emphasizes resilience and perseverance. While not an athlete in the modern sense, his depiction and the symbolism associated with his martyrdom resonated with the qualities valued in sports, leading to his patronage.
Saint Rita of Cascia (Baseball): Italian widow and Augustinian nun who lived in the 14th century known for her faithfulness and devotion to God. How she is associated with baseball is a wild tale of Texas oil and a small miracle. During the 1920s, a group of Catholic nuns invested in an oil rig project in Texas that faced challenges with slow progress and insufficient funds, leaving the hired workers with little to do. In their downtime, they decided to set up a baseball field near the derrick and indulge in America's beloved pastime. The nuns sought guidance from a priest on their investment in an unproductive oil well. The priest suggested they pray to Saint Rita, the Patron of Impossible Causes, and blessed a rose in her name. The rose petals were scattered from the top of the derrick and they named the well Santa Rita No. 1. On May 27, 1923, while drilling had ceased, a remarkable event occurred just five days after Saint Rita's Feast Day. Oil gushed into the sky. The prayers of the nuns had been answered, as Santa Rita No. 1 had struck oil. The oil sprayed over the field, prompting the baseball players to drop their gloves and shift their focus to the newfound success. This little-known tale marks the beginning of Saint Rita's association with the boys of summer.
St John Paul 11
SJPII was also an avid sports fan and athlete; He loved soccer, skiing, and hiking. He launched “World Youth Days” out of love for sports and young adults being active in the church. Saint JPII as our patron, keeps us rooted in service to young adults, through sports, but deeply and passionately Catholic.