What Is Your Body Language Saying?

Hey There, Friend!

Would you believe someone who said, “I’m confident” in a quiet voice, with her shoulders slumped forward and her eyes looking down?

How about someone who said, “I’m scared” in a big voice, with her shoulders back, head up, and eyes locked on yours?

Probably not, right?

What our eyes SEE is more powerful than what our ears HEAR.

So much of what we believe to be true is based on what we see with our own eyes. Our body language—our energy—introduces us before we even say a word.

The wild thing is, we can’t see or hear our own body language—but everyone around us can. That’s why we often need others to help us know if we’re sending the right message to teammates, coaches, opponents, and fans.

Body Language in Action

When I train pitchers, I create situations that push them outside of their comfort zones—on purpose. Most of my lessons are in small groups or clinics so I can foster a competitive environment during training. I want to see how pitchers respond when things don’t go their way.

And here’s the thing: I can usually predict how a pitcher will respond to in-game adversity based on how she reacts during practice.

One target game we like to play during pre-season is “PIG,” just like the basketball version. If you’re unfamiliar, here’s how it works:

• Two pitchers play.

• Rock-paper-scissors decides who goes first.

• The first pitcher calls a location and tries to hit it.

  • If she hits it, her opponent has to hit the same location.

  • If her opponent misses, the opponent gets a letter (“P”).

  • If the original pitcher misses, she doesn’t get a letter, but she loses control.

• First to spell “P-I-G” loses.

There’s strategy involved: knowing your strengths, reading your opponent’s weaknesses—just like in a real game. But even more interesting are the things I see happen over and over, no matter how much I explain this:

4 Common Things I See Playing “PIG”

1. Tipping weakness

The pitcher in control calls a “low fastball.” Before she even steps up, her opponent blurts out, “Oh no, I’m terrible at low pitches,” wearing a nervous expression.

What does that do to her opponent’s confidence?

You guessed it—it gives it a HUGE boost.
Even if you’re not confident in a pitch, you’ve got to act like you are!

2. Defeated before the pitch

One pitcher has “PI,” and her opponent calls a location they’ve both hit well all game. The “PI” pitcher sighs, says, “Here’s my G,” and slumps her shoulders.

That self-talk and body language? It’s a setup for failure.
She’s already decided she’s going to lose.

3. Carrying failure into the next moment

When we run two games at once, winners face winners, and losers face losers in round two. Too often, a pitcher walks into the second game still hanging her head from the first.

That’s like carrying a bad inning into the next one.
Pitchers need short memories. The ability to reset and stay present is everything.

4. The fierce competitor

My favorite: the pitcher who looks the same whether she has no letters or she’s one pitch away from losing. Same focus. Same body language. Same fire!

That’s the competitor I’m training.

Games like this are designed to teach pitchers how their body language communicates—often louder than words.

What Others See (Even When You Don’t)

Sometimes I’ll point out a shift in energy or expression to a pitcher mid-lesson. Some get defensive. They swear they still feel confident. But here’s what I tell them:

“You might feel the same—but you don’t look the same.”

And if I can see it, so can your teammates. Your coaches. Your opponents. The fans.

As a pitcher, you’re a leader. And people are always watching how you show up—especially during adversity.

Think About It:

When your team has a big inning:

• How did the opposing pitcher look?

• Could you see a change?

• Did her posture shift?

• What changed in her?

Remember: YOU get to choose how you look to others.

Even if you’re not feeling strong, you can look strong—head up, shoulders back, same energy you’d have on your best day.

When you do this, your team keeps fighting for you. Your coaches trust you. And your opponents don’t gain an advantage.

PRACTICE Body Language - It's a SKILL that CAN Be Developed

Being a consistent leader on the field has nothing to do with your personal performance that day. Your job is to help your team create outs—period.

Practice good body language during:

• At-home workouts

• Team bullpens

• Challenging drills or reps

Your posture and energy can tell your brain you’re confident. Just like mechanics or spin, this is a skill you’ve got to build until it becomes automatic.

Mindset Assignment

Here’s an exercise I give my pitchers. Use it for yourself—or share it with your athletes!

Step 1: Identify Triggers
What changes your body language or self-talk? Common examples:

• Walking hitters

• Giving up big hits

• Umpires with tight/inconsistent zones

• Teammates making errors

• Coaches yelling

• Hearing parents in the stands

• Not throwing to your favorite catcher

• Arguing with your parents before practice

If you know your triggers, you can catch yourself and choose to stay composed.

Step 2: Get Honest Feedback
Ask two VIP's (people that care about you the most - parents/family, teammates, teachers, coaches) for honest insight. When does your body language change? What does it look like?

Choose a coach as one of them if you want insight from someone who affects your playing time! : )

Important: Don’t get defensive. Your VIPs want the best for you—and honest feedback is a gift.

Doing the hard work of acknowledging weaknesses and working on them is what allows you to grow into a confident leader.

Final Thought:

It’s easy to be a good teammate when things are going well. But to be a fierce competitor, you’ve got to lead consistently—especially when things aren’t going your way.

Some of my favorite words I get to hear about my pitchers are:

Confident. Strong. Resilient. Gritty. Team-first. Leader.

How do you want to be remembered?

Make sure your body language matches the reputation you want to build.

Practice it. Work on it. Make it a habit.

You’ve got this!

All my BEST,
Myndie