Reader,
Game day is not a time to overload players with information.
If you’re lucky enough to train twice (or more) per week, training is the opportunity to support players with ideas, scenarios or strategies that they may need on game day.
In the age of analysis, with platforms like HUDL and VEO at our disposal, understanding your own performance and that of your opposition has never been easier.
However, no matter how much video, preparation or talking a coach does, ultimately it comes down to effective, clear communication, which ensures players are clear on the challenge ahead and the role they may play within it.
We get a couple of opportunities to get our messages across on game day, pre-match and half time, so ensuring we know how to effectively utilise them is important. Game day also brings a degree of excitement, tension or nerves for our players.
My own process on game day involves several simple steps throughout the week if I am preparing to support a team in a competitive match. Some of those include:
Four Things to Consider
- Pre-plan my key points. I will always make notes on my key points for my pre-match messaging, link them to our style, our opposition and keep this short. No more than a few minutes with the team, and potentially using time well in advance of kick-off to connect with individuals. Don’t be afraid to have some fun with your pre-game and bring joy to the changing room. It doesn’t always have to be serious. The same goes at halftime. Racing into the dressing room and speaking on emotion is (in my view) less impactful than being clear (along with fellow coaching staff) on what the key messages are in order to positively impact performance.
- Reinforce our style throughout the week. Different opponents will always present different tactical challenges, and we should prepare for these, but I believe that a focus on our playing style is critical. This encourages confidence and composure in the players that we are a threat to our opponent. Our playing style takes priority at training.
- Engage in purposeful 1 to 1 conversations before, during or after training sessions. Ask players if they’re clear on their role, support them with position-specific feedback or reinforce their strengths. Let players know where they stand regarding game day selections and bring them in on the plans you have for them. This creates a connection and level of trust, even if the conversation is a challenging one.
- Keep game day as consistent, simple and relaxed as possible. I haven’t met a player who needed to be told to go and win. Kids are inherently competitive, and I am a big believer in reminding players of their attributes or strengths if we speak before the game. Ensuring the players know the pre-match timings, plan for the warm-up, and their roles is important in creating consistency, certainty and clarity.
One thing to try this week
If you don’t already, make time to pre-plan your pre-match messaging. I often create a few headline reminders in and out of possession, transition or key reminders around mentality.
Don’t be afraid to use notes if you have to, this is not a weakness. If anything, it demonstrates to the players that you’ve really put thought into your messaging.
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Check out our PDP Coaching Guide on the keys to giving an effective team talk.
