The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Sports
The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Sports
Tyler J. Segerstrom
University of Oklahoma
Nonverbal communication is all around us in the sports world today. Many people don’t realize the importance of communicating without speaking in sports games. “We can define nonverbal communication as those behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words” (Floyd, 2013, p. 104). Nonverbal communication is not just commonplace in team sports; it is sometimes essential to the success or failure of a team. Communicating nonverbally through gesticulation and dynamic body language is necessary in sports. All different types of sports use gestures and body movements to their advantage. These sports range from baseball coaches using signs to tell the runner when to steal, all the way over to Romania where they compete in “hammer throwing” competitions. Communicating nonverbally in sports is just as important as communicating verbally by using gestures and body movement instead of speaking and using words. Nonverbal communication between athletes and coaches is important for team success in all different sports. The game of baseball is a great example of a sport that uses nonverbal communication every single play. The game of baseball is almost ruled by the signs and signals it uses. “People routinely communicate more information through nonverbal behaviors than they do through spoken language” (Floyd, 2013, p. 104). One of the most common nonverbal communication usages in sports is between the pitcher and catcher on what pitch to throw. Before the pitch is thrown every play, the catcher will use finger gestures and call specific pitches to the pitcher by putting down a certain number of fingers in a certain order. The pitcher then decodes the message on what pitch he needs to throw and confirms the call from the catcher with a nod or declines the pitch with a “headshake” and the catcher calls a new pitch. It is extremely important
Tyler J. Segerstrom
University of Oklahoma
Nonverbal communication is all around us in the sports world today. Many people don’t realize the importance of communicating without speaking in sports games. “We can define nonverbal communication as those behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words” (Floyd, 2013, p. 104). Nonverbal communication is not just commonplace in team sports; it is sometimes essential to the success or failure of a team. Communicating nonverbally through gesticulation and dynamic body language is necessary in sports. All different types of sports use gestures and body movements to their advantage. These sports range from baseball coaches using signs to tell the runner when to steal, all the way over to Romania where they compete in “hammer throwing” competitions. Communicating nonverbally in sports is just as important as communicating verbally by using gestures and body movement instead of speaking and using words. Nonverbal communication between athletes and coaches is important for team success in all different sports. The game of baseball is a great example of a sport that uses nonverbal communication every single play. The game of baseball is almost ruled by the signs and signals it uses. “People routinely communicate more information through nonverbal behaviors than they do through spoken language” (Floyd, 2013, p. 104). One of the most common nonverbal communication usages in sports is between the pitcher and catcher on what pitch to throw. Before the pitch is thrown every play, the catcher will use finger gestures and call specific pitches to the pitcher by putting down a certain number of fingers in a certain order. The pitcher then decodes the message on what pitch he needs to throw and confirms the call from the catcher with a nod or declines the pitch with a “headshake” and the catcher calls a new pitch. It is extremely important
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