Home > Understanding > Reading Opponents Body Language

Reading Your Opponents Body Language

Coaches and trainers of different sports have very different definitions of 


What An Opponent's Arrival Body Language Tells You
Prior to a game an opponent's "body language" (how they walk and stand as they arrive at the field) will usually tell you what foot they use to touch the ball and what foot they use for strength and power. The foot they place their weight on when standing is almost always the stronger, more powerful foot used for strength and balance. The knee of the other leg is usually bent slightly with the foot pointing out more. This foot is usually the foot used to manipulate the ball and for shooting.

Other ways to determine which foot is stronger versus which foot is used for ball handling and shooting include:

• A visual comparison of the diameter of the muscles in the lower leg. The leg with the greater diameter is usually the strongest.
• A visual comparison of a players feet. The foot with the higher inner arch is almost always the stronger and more powerful foot. The foot which is flatter with a lower inner arch is usually the manipulative foot used for shooting and ball handling.
• If the field you are playing on has steps or bleachers observe which foot each opponent uses for their first step going up or down the steps. Most players first step up or down is usually with the foot they use for shooting and handling the ball.