BATTLE READY

Last summer, we started a philosophy that everything begins and ends with positive body language.  Much like you feel good when you look good, you feel strong when you look strong.  This is not to be a paradox of the inner game is outer game philosophy, which I take as fact.  It is more like having a clean office, car, or house. 

BATTLE READY body language does NOT involve: slumping shoulders, leaning on your stick, kneeling on two knees, sitting, putting chin down, leaning forward with hands resting on knees. 

BATTLE READY body language DOES involve: chin up (prime mover), shoulders back, chest up, stick in ready position off ground, smiling.

The first reasons are physiological, and even goes for when an athlete is fatigued after coming off the field from a shift.  When you are up tall with shoulders back you breathe easier (and not shallow) and allow the body to expire CO2 to maintain a 1:1 Respiratory Exchange Ratio (CO2:O2) to prevent any hyperventilation.  Poor posture also causes an athlete to be bio-mechanically inefficient and will only increase fatigue as movement lacking in economy expends a premium of energy to control.  This is not even counting the fact that your mother AND grandmother will both be scolding your poor posture!

The implications of BATTLE READY extend far beyond that player.  They speak volumes to teammates.  When a goalie is BATTLE READY immediately after yielding a goal, their teammates feel strong and able to strike back as the nucleus of their player personnel shows resilience.  When players are BATTLE READY they show they have a "Next Play" mentality and are focused on the task at hand. 

BATTLE READY has great implications on a player's opponents.  When the other team scores a goal, yet their opponents show the resolve of BATTLE READY body language, they question the momentum they should have just created by scoring.  When you are on the field during a stoppage or standing on the sideline in between shifts your focus may be on what just happened, but newsflash: your opponents' focus is on you to see if you are ready for the Next Play.  Showing an opponent that you took their best punch but are still standing is as intimidating as it gets.  They begin to wonder if they have what it takes to put you to the mat.  Now their inner game suffers and you have the opportunity to seize the Next Play.

Any doubt we had in this philosophy (we didn't have any!) was put to rest in August when watching ESPN's "Training Days: Rolling with the Alabama Crimson Tide".  Legendary head coach Nick Saban is talking to one of his lineman in the 108 degree training camp heat and tells him that he should get his hands off his knees even when he's fatigued in severe heat because his opponent will see that and it will make him stronger.  A guy with two NCAA championships is worth listening to.