Body Language for Athletes

Body Language: What Your Coach Is Really Watching

By Bevo

Here’s something most players don’t realise — your coach is watching you all the time. Not just when you have the ball. Not just during games. All the time.

How you sit on the bench. How you react after a mistake. How you respond when you get subbed off. Whether you walk to your position or run. Your coach sees all of it — and it tells them more about you than your stats ever will.

It Speaks Louder Than You Think

In over 35 years of coaching, I’ve seen incredibly talented players lose their spot because of poor body language. I’ve also seen players with average skills earn more court time because of the way they carried themselves. Head up, eyes on the coach, hustling every single time — that gets noticed.

The truth is, coaches choose players they can trust. And your body language is the quickest way to show your coach whether they can trust you or not.

The Good and the Bad

There are body language habits that coaches love to see — things like making eye contact, standing tall, cheering for your teammates, and staying calm under pressure. And there are habits that will hurt you — dropping your head, rolling your eyes, blaming teammates, or walking when you should be running.

I’ve put together a full guide that breaks it all down — the nine things coaches want to see, the ten things that will cost you, and exactly what to do in specific game situations like coming off the bench, handling a mistake, or receiving feedback from your coach.

Want the Full Guide?

Whether you’re a player wanting to earn more court time, or a coach wanting to teach your athletes about the importance of body language, the complete guide is available in the Centre of Excellence. It’s simple, practical, and written so that any player at any level can understand it.

Remember — your body language is just as important as your basketball skills. Your coach is always watching. Make sure you’re showing them the right things.

— Bevo