The half-time talk: A mixed-method examination of youth-elite football coaches’ behaviours and team-management strategies

Football, unlike some other team sports, includes limited game interruptions for coaches to easily communicate with players and affect their performance. However, a reduced number of studies have explored how attempt influence during half-time. This study examined football coaches’ behaviours half-time perceptions underpinning talks’ delivery. Five Spanish ( M age = 32.2, SD 8.8) working La Liga academy were systematically observed talks n 20) participated in semi-structured interview each. Half-time coded using modified version the Coach Analysis Intervention System, interviews analysed following thematic analysis procedures. Instruction feedback most employed four coaches, younger age-group employing greater divergent questioning in-talk player participation. Furthermore, data suggested that conferred staff, before entering changing room rapidly progressed from convergent questions instruction. The team's ‘level play’ was perceived relevant factor affecting verbal vocal strategies messages, albeit score gained importance older age-groups. is pioneering, examining competitive youth football.