Match Day Team-Talk in Football Soccer.
8th February 2011

Match Day Communication
Communication on the day of the game comes in three parts. The pre-match talk, which should be brief and focuses on motivating the players and not be technical. The half time talk, which should highlight the tactical changes and where needed focus on individual players. The post match debrief should review the match and leave the players in a positive frame of mind.

PRE-MATCH TEAM TALK
This should be conducted as early as possible before the match. If the coach doesn’t have much time before the game, he must make sure the team-talk is the first thing that is done, immediately after all the players have arrived at the ground.  

During this communication it is important to allow and encourage the players to ask questions to understand the role they will be playing in the game and for the team. Each player must fully understand the role they will play, and how their role will affect their team mates.  

The main focus must be positive, emphasizing the strengths of the team. This communication should be about reassuring the team of the game plan and that they will be able to play without fear.  

Never over-do the strengths of the opposition or the threats they pose; doing this may plant a seed of fear in your own team, making them think the opposition are too good to beat. Also never discuss an individual’s or the teams weaknesses before a match.  

The pre-match team talk should be directed towards the team believing they can achieve and should not be focused on the technical aspects of the game. These technical points should have been communicated during the last training session before the game or earlier.  

Keep this talk simple, short and inspirational towards the team’s mindset.    

HALF-TIME TEAM TALK
It is essential that the coach has the attention of the team, and everyone is concentrating on what the coach has to say. There is usually very limited time to get the message across, and so that message must be understood by the players the first time.  

This talk is a combination of both inspiration and tactics, and while delivering the talk the coach must keep his emotions in check, which could cloud the message being told.  

During this talk the coach must review the tactics and advise the team how they should be changed if needed. In general this should be well understood, though some players may need individual attention, and advised how they could improve in the game, though much like the pre-match talk, this  message should not be overly negative, because this could have the opposite effect on the player.  

Of course depending on how well the team and its individual players are doing, will have a big impact on the overall tone of the talk, though despite the score, always try to be positive and ensure the players go back onto the field in the right frame of mind.  

It's important to keep the half time talk brief, there is limited time and the players end up only taking in a tiny proportion of what the coach is telling them. Because of this the half time message must be short and focussed on just one or two issues at the most. It is a very good idea to go over the same points several times, if possible, though use different phrases to emphasize the same points.

You must point out and focus at least half of your talk on the positive things that the team are doing. If you only address the weaknesses the players will re-enter the field of play with negative thoughts on their minds, and you will then be looking at a diminishing performance. Always finish on a high note, giving the players belief and sending them out in a positive frame of mind. You are much more likely to have your players focus on your points if you can take a positive angle on them.

POST-MATCH DEBRIEF
Following a game the dressing could be a volatile place with emotions running high for positive or negative reasons, and therefore it is sensible to leave the debrief until as long as possible after the match.  

Once again always err on the positive and don’t be over critical of the performance, because things said when emotions are high are sometimes taken the wrong way or exaggerated.  

It’s important to remember there will be a next game coming up, and the post-match debrief is when the preparation for it starts. A misplaced word straight after a game may make it harder to motivate the team for the next match.  

The coach may want to strongly share his feelings about a poor performance, though this should be done very sparingly otherwise the required affect maybe diluted with repetition.  

Of course it is much easier to talk to the players after a win, though win, lose or draw the players must leave with a positive attitude however hard that may be at the time.    

 Further Reading:

• FA Young Player Development Recommendations

• FA The Future Game

• FA The Coaching Pathway