Off the Field – How Confident English Builds Stronger Relationships

In the last edition of The Huddle, we talked about how clear communication strengthens team bonds during competitions. But off-field conversations are just as important! 

These are the moments—at meals, during race registration, walking to venues—when you truly connect with teammates, coaches, and other athletes.

After practice or games, you have a great opportunity to connect with your teammates or other athletes.

Why? Because it’s real life.

You're not just giving instructions for a play or focusing on fast, efficient communication. 

You’re sharing experiences, learning about each other, and most importantly, building trust, which helps you when it’s time to compete.

🤔 But why are social conversations so challenging in English?

Casual conversations move fast. There’s background noise, different accents, slang, and inside jokes. If you’re not fully confident in English, it’s easy to feel disconnected.

Here are some situations my clients tell me they struggle with, and perhaps you do, too:

• Locker room talk: Quick conversations with lots of slang or casual words (not to mention the echo and bad acoustics!)

• Meals or Social Outings: Loud background noise makes it harder to follow along.

• Big group settings: It’s intimidating to speak up, even in your native language!

The good news? 

You don’t need perfect English to build stronger connections in these situations. A lot of times, just being present is enough to start building trust. 

Think about those micro-moments when you naturally connect with someone:

• Handing a teammate a snack or water

• A high-five after a tough practice or game

• Laughing at the same joke, even if you don’t understand it completely

• Reacting to a story, even if you don’t have the perfect words

• Just standing together during downtime or in the registration line

These small, everyday moments create trust and friendship, and language skills are just one part of that. 

⁉️So, how can you speak English better in social situations to build deeper relationships?

You don’t need long, deep conversations to feel connected. Here are a few simple ways to strengthen your relationships, with just a basic level of English:

💬 Ask open questions – “What did you like most about practice today?”

😊 Use body language and facial expressions to show you’re engaged.

👍 React naturally to stories – “No way!” “That’s crazy!” “Really?” “Oh no!” “Wow!”

📖 Share small personal stories so conversations feel balanced.

😂 Connect over shared experiences – “That last drill was brutal!” or “Did you see the ref’s face after that play?”

Your Turn!

Which of these feels hardest for you in social conversations?

(A) Asking questions

(B) Finding the right words to react

(C) Following fast conversations

👉 Comment below and let me know! I’ll cover the top challenge in a future edition of The Huddle!

Connection isn’t about speaking perfectly—it’s about being present. Even with basic English, you can build strong relationships with your teammates on AND off the field through small gestures, natural reactions, and simply showing up in conversations.

In the next edition of The Huddle, we’ll talk about how to rejoin a conversation when you get lost. Don’t miss it!