What is halftime like for players/coaches?

[Dartigan]

If I had the size/work ethic/aggressiveness when I was a kid that I do now, I'd have played football, but I was a timid little squirt. As much as I love it, I've never played a down of football. Cameras are oft banned from the locker room during halftime/pregame, so I was wondering if some of you vets could give some insight as to what actually happens during halftime.

From a manager's standpoint, I'm very interested in how coaches motivate their players. I did a YouTube search and I found a few speeches, but they are about 3 minutes long. Is that the norm? What else goes on behind closed doors?

 

[p'colabamaman]

From my (long ago) experience, it's about correcting first half mistakes and some motivational speeches as well, and getting butts chewed out if you're not playing hard.

 

[NYBamaFan]

From my experience, mostly butt chewing. I was in the Bucs locker room at halftime a few years ago and the Bucs were up by like 20 points and you would never have known it. Had I not been watching the game, I would have sworn that they were losing by that score...

:biggrin:

 

[Bama1970]

20+ years ago when I played HS ball, we'd watch coach on the chalk board draw up what we were supposed to do on plays that didn't work or adjustments to the plays. Players would get re-taped, drink plenty of fluids, restroom breaks, butt chewings whether winning or losing, etc. I would imagine that most levels of football did similar those days.

In todays game, probably all levels also, its mostly the same thing, but instead of chalkboards they now probably use computer video footage, still photos, and other high tech "tools" that weren't around before the "computer age" to point out mistakes they made and/or weaknesses of the opposing teams.

 

[Alasippi]

I played for Larry Blakeney at Walker High School in the early seventies.

It was one of two things...

Either "O.K....keep doing what we're doing and don't let up up"

or

"%&$$#^^**(((*)($$$^^&*&*&*&&*&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..and I mean NOW!!!

Very few game plan adjustments. Mostly emotional.

But that was high school. I imagine the coaches in college are more interested in correcting mismatches, making adjustments to particular formations etc.

I don't know. I'd love to be in the Bama locker room for a half time and find out though.

sip

 

[CrimsonJag]

Butt chewing at the half does nothing if you don't correct the mistakes and adjust your gameplan if need be.

At this level, you will primarily see adjustments and correction made the first 80% of the break, with the last 20% being verbal reinforcement (positive and negative) along with getting warm for the second half.

 

[Tidewater]

One of my students last year was an equipment manager. He told me that, "At halftime, Coach Saban screamed at the players."
Then he looked down for a second.
He looked back up at me and added, "A lot."
This was at the Georgia game last year.
Yes, after the first half of the Georgia game.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Butt chewing at the half does nothing if you don't correct the mistakes and adjust your gameplan if need be.

At this level, you will primarily see adjustments and correction made the first 80% of the break, with the last 20% being verbal reinforcement (positive and negative) along with getting warm for the second half.

Yeah, the corrections come from the position coaches - the screaming comes from the head coach... :rofl:

 

[NATidefan]

I read an article by a reporter that was allowed in the locker room at halftime for the A-day game. He mentioned players eating Bananas and Powerbars. That was something I had never really envisioned.

 

[bman76]

ahhhhh!!! This post brings back memories of all the halftime butt chewings I received in high school. I tell you whats worse is the bus ride home when you couldnt talk. And the next week in practice wow! Try getting beat 56-0 at half time and having to sit through that. But those were the good ole days!

 

[rolltidewin]

maybe Saban yells at them in the locker room and thats how Alabama does best after the second half :cool2:

 

[nardobama5]

Well since I jus left high school last year It was like you go in and the coach tells you wat u need to he cusses yells spit all over the place winning or losing but anyway he might do something on tha marker board but most of the time he didn't he jus shows us by example but you never really kno wat to expect goin into halftime depends on the situation
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[mparker2997]

maybe Saban yells at them in the locker room and thats how Alabama does best after the second half :cool2:

Whatever CNS is doing.....it's working. We are definitely a better second half team this year. It would be interesting to be in the locker room at half time. I remember some posts a few years ago saying Major Applewhite was sprinting down to the locker room. He may have been on the receiving end of one of those *&% chewings.

 

[Tideski]

It is a type of organized chaos. The first few minutes coaches usually meet and discussion changes that need to be made. While they do that, players make quick adjustments to equipment and uniforms. Trainers also run around helping with any medical or re-tape jobs that need attention. After the coaching staff talks, players and coaches come together. Sometimes the paint is peeled, sometimes constructive criticism is given, sometimes pat on backs, sometimes a combination of all three are given. Usually the end of the speech is positive---the kickers leave to warm up first, and then the rest of the team departs.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

Let me preface by saying I had limited experience in the locker room and our coach was a control freak and we actually practiced our halftime routine. We went into the locker room and sat in units by position. We grabbed fluids on the way in and had bananas passed out to us. Anyone with an injury or that needed major tape job reported to the trainers to have that done. By the time we got settled down the coaches had completed some quick discussions. If anyone needed a quick individual adjustment like lining up a little wrong, or getting beat constantly the position coaches talked to the group or the individual then. Coach then addressed some things on the black board such as adjustments to a scheme, cheating to one side or the other, keying off something they were doing, etc... We then either got the "get your butts in gear" chewing or the "keep doing what you're doing for the next 30 mins" speech. As warm ups started straps were adjusted, final tape was done and then it was time to hit the field again.