The importance and effect pre-match and post-match team talks.

Pre match:

During the pre-match team talk it is important that the coach gets their message across in a manner that is easy for the players to emulate on the pitch. It is certainly a case of ‘it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it’. As a coach, you should have already identified your player’s style of learning: auditory, visual or kinesthetic.

Do they learn better by listening to your instructions, visually seeing your instructions or actually physically acting out your instructions? This is for coach to identify and there are numerous ‘learning style questionnaires’ online that you can print off the internet and give to your players to fill in. Obviously not every player will have the same result, but it is your role as a coach to cater to all of the needs of your players. So, if we have different results, what do we do? Do all of them, do not be lazy. A lazy team talk gets a lazy response from the players- FACT. Tell your players what you want them to do (auditory), show them visually (visual) and get them to act it out (kinesthetic). Visually, a magnetic tactics board is fine, but I understand we all don’t have access to that, but a pen and paper is fine- if possible use different colours and make it big enough for players to see. Kinesthetically, get the players to stand in the positions you want them in, get them literally making the runs you want them to do. Make it active, make it engaging.   

Some things to consider:

• Be engaging- if the players see that you’re not passionate, then they won’t believe what you are saying
• Body language- use arm movements and don’t just stand in one place: if you stand in one place, the players at the end will lose focus
• Tone- vary your tone of voice so they don’t get bored, raise the volume of your voice to stress important phrases or words

Post-match:

After the match, no matter if it is a win, a loss or a draw, the most common form of communicating to your players is by using the ‘feedback sandwich’. Praise your players firstly for something they done well in the game, followed by NOT a criticism, but something they could IMPROVE on, followed by another form of appraisal.

E.G. “Congratulations on the game, I felt that we were really strong in the middle of the pitch with some nice one-touch and two-touch play, but next time, I feel that we can improve upon the communication in the team, especially when there’s an opponent closing you down, but overall I think we can be positive about the game and the defensive heading was another positive thing”. This way, you can get your ‘improvement points’ across whilst praising the team at the same time.

Another good thing to do which I have previously mentioned is to gather the team in a circle after the game and for them to say things that each other can improve on. This is not a criticism session, but one that can strengthen the unity of team. Players should speak one at a time and they should be considerate when speaking so they don’t hurt each other’s feelings.  Additionally, this gives the players to have their voice heard in the team and it gives the quieter players a chance to speak up and show their thoughts and methods of improvement for the team.

Lastly, just a quick reminder and this is for when you have made a substitution or after the game. The first thing you should ask the player/players is “Did you enjoy it?” Remember, this is the reason they play football, they play to enjoy it and that is the most important thing.

I hope this was helpful for you guys,

Remember we can all learn from each other no matter how good or bad you are,

The English One,

Jonny

Email: j_lee114@hotmail.co.uk