10 tips when giving a half-time team talk

A half-time team talk is a chance for players to have a brief rest, regroup, reflect on the what’s happened and get ready for the second half.

As coaches, our role is to use this chat to make sure the players continue to have the best possible experience of matchday.  The following tips should help you do so...

01 - Don’t start straight away – give it a minute!

Let the players have a moment as they come off the field before you get going with your talk. They’re likely tired, sweaty and thinking about what’s just gone on in the game. Give them a chance to collect themselves, chat to each other and cool down a bit before you get started.

02 - Get everyone in the same area

Make sure everyone is in the same spot – it will make things a lot easier for you to deliver your messages. Try to ensure they are facing away from distractions, too.

03 - Check how everyone is feeling

Before you get started on anything about the game itself, make sure you check in with everyone. Has anyone picked up any injuries or aggravated any existing ones? How are everyone’s energy levels? Does anyone feel they need a rest? Make sure everyone takes on enough liquids. Setting up a specific space for drinks at the start of a match will make it easier and quicker for players to get to them at half-time.

04 - Keep it positive

Whatever has gone on during the first half, remember to keep perspective – it’s a youth soccer game. Whether winning, drawing or losing, always keep things positive and focus on encouraging your players to enjoy the second half.

05 - Involve the players

Having played in the game, the players will often have lots of insights on it. Don’t be afraid to use them – you can even let them lead, if that feels right. Consider asking them the following questions: What’s going well? What could we do better? What more can I do to support you?

06 - Don’t say too much

The last thing players need at half-time is to be overloaded with information. It doesn’t help anyone. Keep it concise, perhaps linking to the "what’s going well?" and "what could we do better?" questions. Ask players to focus on continuing to do one thing and thinking about how they can do another differently. If you have set targets at the start of the game, definitely refer back to those. If you’ve got any individual feedback for players, again, keep it concise, and deliver it one-to-one, not in the team setting.

07 - Use visual aids

Don’t just talk – think about how you can illustrate your point in different ways. If you are talking about team shape, for example, consider using a tactics board or cones to illustrate your points.

08 - Explain substitutions

If you’re making substitutions, make sure you let the players know at the start of, or midway through, your team talk. The last thing you want is to leave it to the end and have to rush it – this can make it harder for the players to take the information about the changes in.

09 - Keep parents away

Parents may come over to the team at half-time to listen in on your team talk. While often well-meaning, most of the time they will serve as a distraction. Ask them to stay on the other side of the pitch while you do your talk.

10 - Keep it consistent

Over the course of the season, or a series of games, try to keep the way you approach your half-time team talk consistent – from the way you set the space up, to the way you deliver messages and the order you do things in. This just takes a bit of mental load off the players as they will have an idea of what to expect each time.