Listed below are various team talk examples that you can use at each stage of a match. They are categorised into the following types: critical, demanding, encouraging, inspirational, sympathetic, relaxing, praising, continue performing, expect improvement and calming.
The Team Talks guide provides advice on how to decide which of these types of team talk is appropriate in any particular scenario.
Pre-Match Overall Team Talk
Demanding
I expect a win / I expect victory / I expect a result
I’m expecting you to win today boys.
I expect nothing but a win from this match.
A team such as ours should be winning this match without any problem at all.
Encouraging
Impress me
Come on lads, show me what you can do!
Go out there and impress me.
We are the favourites here, so get out there and impress me.
We’ve been on a bad run lately so go out there and impress me.
We’ve been on a bad run lately so go out there and impress me.
Inspirational
For the fans! / Take revenge
Let’s give the fans something to cheer today.
Let’s give the fans a performance they are expecting of us here.
Go out there and give these fans their money’s worth.
We are the favourites here, so go on out there and give the fans a performance to cheer for!
Let’s give the fans a good performance despite the odds being against us here.
Go out there and get revenge!
I know a lot of you will be keen to avenge what happened when we last played this team, go out there and express yourselves.
Sympathetic
Wish luck
Good luck lads!
Good luck out there today.
Good luck lads, go out there and pull off an upset.
Good luck out there, we’re going to need it.
Relaxing
No pressure / The result will come
Go and have some fun today.
Enjoy the match today.
There’s no pressure on you to get a result today, go and play with confidence and have some fun, and see what happens.
We’re not expected to get a result today, so have some fun out on the pitch.
We’re huge underdogs, so there’s no pressure on you to succeed. Go out there and show everyone what you’ve got.
If we play our game, we’ll win. You’re all very capable of that.
Just go out there, relax and play your natural game. The result will come.
The performance today is much more important than the result.
Go out and enjoy the match, I’m not concerned about the result.
The result is not important at all tonight, just go out there and enjoy yourselves.
Continue Performing
Pick up where you left off!
Go out there and carry straight on from where you finished last match.
If we carry on today where we finished last time out, we’ve got a great chance.
This is a massive match and if you can pick up where you left off in the last time out then we’ve got a great chance today.
Expect Improvement
Expect to see improvement
I’m expecting to see much better performances today.
You’ve got to pick up your games today, especially in a match of this magnitude.
Pre-Match Individual Talks
Demanding
Expect a performance!
Show me what you’ve got today, I want to see a good display.
I want to see a good performance from you today.
I’m expecting to see solid defensive work out there.
I’m expecting you to take control of the midfield out there.
I’m expecting to see quality finishing out there.
Encouraging
You have faith
I think there’s a lot more to come from you and I completely believe you’ve got what it takes.
I have faith in you, get out there and make a difference.
Relaxing
No pressure!
There is no pressure on you today.
Pressure’s off today, I want you to go out there and play your natural game.
Continue Performing
Pick up where you left off!
I want to see more of the same from you today.
Expect Improvement
Expect better!
I want to see a better performance from you out there today.