A local high school coach shared something with me that really stuck: "My players don't even realize what they look like when things go wrong." They slump their shoulders. They look at the ground. They roll their eyes. They lose speed or pull up instead of attacking on the next play or drill. It's not rebellion — it's habit. But it's a habit that sends a message: I'm done. I can't. I won't. Avery Johnson — former NBA coach and player — put it perfectly: |
|
“Scouts look for one thing: body language. Not what you say, but how you sit on the bench, how you react when coached, whether you make eye contact or slump. Body language that exudes energy—that’s what separates players.” |
|
The truth is, your body speaks before your mouth ever does. When failure hits, every movement either shows belief or surrender. Great athletes make a habit of having good body language, the same way they make a habit of building skills. Head up. Eyes locked in. Chest open. A quick nod that says, “Got it, coach.” That’s how you tell the world — and yourself — I'm ready, let's go! |
|
This week, we are introducing a brand new element to Season Zero called the Huddle Deck. You'll find it under the coaches section of the site. We talked to an athletic director this week who told us time is the biggest hurdle, so we distilled the six principles into a deck (physical, at the printers, and digital, use now!) to give coaches a frictionless tool to Find Five (spending at least five minutes a day on the mental side of the game). Pick a principle, choose a card, and Think -> Do -> Go Here is a quick Huddle to try this week: |
|
HUDDLE — BODY LANGUAGE (Season One) |
|
THINK Your body speaks before you do. Every shrug, eye roll, and dropped head tells the story of your mindset. The best athletes use body language to communicate belief, focus, and energy — even when things go wrong. DO Ask your team to show you what bad body language looks like — slumped shoulders, turned backs, frustration. Then have them show you great body language — heads up, eyes forward, confident posture, presence. Talk about how each one feels and how it changes the energy in the room. Throughout the week, notice it in real time. Stop practice and reset when you see it slip. GO Your body speaks first. Let it say I am here, focused, and capable. |
|
And As always, remember: Little by little, greatness grows. |
|
316 Mid Valley Ctr 210
Carmel, CA 93923, USA |
|
|
|
