It is a well-known fact that competitive and high-level athletes will experience a tremendous amount of adrenaline and emotion when they are playing a game and even more so when they are playing a high-level competitive game. It is probably part of the desire to continue to play and improve, and from experience, there is not a lot of other games in life that give you the same gamut of emotions.
So if emotion is part of the game, how can it negatively affect your chances of moving on to the next level, whichever level that is for you? The answer is simple; emotion is energy and your energy drives your actions and your team's actions. So if your energy is negative like; anger, fear, anxiety, and self-criticism that is what you are giving to your team. And I think it is pretty self-explanatory to say that those emotions are not going to help your team play at their best and beat an opponent who is comparable or even slightly more skilled in some aspect.
What does "bad" body language look like? Head down when I miss a shot or turn the ball over, getting angry at a teammate who makes a mistake, not sprinting after you miss a shot or make a mistake, sitting at the end of the bench looking sad, throwing your hands in the air, yelling at an official because you think they missed a call or simply a small look of defeat in your face. To an experienced and good recruiter, these are very easy to spot and are an immediate deterrent to recruit you.
College coaches must win to keep their jobs, that is no secret. So beyond your skill level what seems to be more important is your character as an individual. You are in complete control of your emotions and your body language. Be that player who stays positive, who makes a mistake and emotionally ignores it and learns from it. Be that player who is constantly lifting up their teammates. Be that teammate who enjoys and shows they enjoy the game and competition. Be that GROWN WOMEN on the court!
