Chest Out. Hearts Open. Twelve Minutes.

Yesterday’s TeamsOfMen session with our guys didn’t require a guest speaker, a slide deck, or a 90-minute workshop.

It started with coaches wearing the same T-shirt.

We asked a simple question:

“Raise your hand if you’ve heard ‘Say it with your chest’ or seen someone puff up.”

Every hand went up.

When we unpacked it, the pattern was clear. That phrase almost always lives in moments of conflict—drama, tension, proving you’re “about that life.” Volume goes up. Bodies get bigger. Armor comes on.

Then we flipped it.

Chest Out. Hearts Open.

What if expanding your chest wasn’t about intimidation or protection—but about making room?

Room for honesty.

Room for emotion.

Room for connection.

Room for a pause button before things escalate.

We didn’t ask for oversharing. We didn’t force vulnerability.

We just created twelve intentional minutes for small-group conversation and let the meaning do the work.

That’s the point I want other coaches to hear:

You can drive real change without overhauling your program.

A meaningful T-shirt.

A shared language.

A short, protected space on the calendar.

When coaches model it—literally wear it—and then invite players to talk about it, you start loosening the old script that says masculinity only shows up loud, hard, and closed off.

Same gym. Same practice plan.

Different posture.

Chest out.

Hearts open.