If you have ever been a player, you’ve likely experienced half-time (HT) team talks that were overwhelming, filled with too much information, too many emotions, and confusing remarks. In the worst case, all of these elements were combined.

Interestingly, elite players frequently experience ineffective half-time team talks, despite them being seen as a vital opportunity for coaches to deliver motivational and tactical insights [1]. This results in players leaving the moment unoptimised [2]. Research suggests that although well-executed half-time talks can positively influence players’ perceptions of their second-half performance, there is still a lack of focus on how players experience and respond to these interactions [3].