In-Season Coaching Conversations (Coach’s Guide)
#TXHSFBCHAT September 10, 2025
This #TXHSFBCHAT topic focused on the conversations we have as coaches throughout our season. Clarity in communication can solve many problems before they become problems. Below you will find questions centered around different situations to address, some prompts to consider, and talking points to focus on in your response. Please reply with how you handle each one.
Q1. How do you set the tone for communication with your staff during the season? Daily meetings? Text groups? Other tools?
Prompts: Morning vs. evening meetings? Short huddles vs. in-depth?
Talking points: Importance of consistency, respecting coaches’ family time, balancing planning with efficiency.
Q2. What strategies do you use to keep conversations with players positive while still holding them accountable?
Prompts: Do you use 1-on-1 conversations? Position groups? Team-wide discussions?
Talking points: Praise publicly, correct privately; using “teach, not tear down”; making sure the message doesn’t get lost in frustration.
Q3. How do you balance honest feedback with encouragement when addressing a player’s performance after a tough game?
Prompts: Do you use a “compliment sandwich” approach? What role does tone of voice play?
Talking points: Separating mistakes from the player’s identity, teaching resilience, making feedback constructive.
Q4. What are effective ways to handle mid-season conflicts or disagreements among staff members?
Prompts: Have you established rules of engagement for disagreements? Do you address them privately or as a staff?
Talking points: Respectful disagreement leads to growth; importance of unity in front of players; “behind closed doors” rule.
Q5. How do you approach conversations with parents during the season to build trust and avoid misunderstandings?
Prompts: Do you set boundaries upfront? How do you handle “playing time” conversations?
Talking points: Transparency without over-sharing, setting clear expectations, focusing on the player’s growth not just outcomes.
Q6. What role does film study play in your in-season conversations with players and staff?
Prompts: Do you use film more for corrections or celebrations? How much do you share with players vs. keep within staff?
Talking points: Film as a teaching tool, developing football IQ, creating accountability without blame.
Q7. How do you adjust your communication style as the season progresses (early season vs. playoff push)?
Prompts: Do you “coach harder” in the beginning and taper off later? Or ramp up intensity late in the season?
Talking points: Recognizing team fatigue (mental & physical), shifting from teacher mode to motivator mode, keeping energy fresh.
I love #5 with parents because that could be a job breaker if not handled correctly. They share blood with their child, so the child is hardly ever wrong except in the dealings with parents. I believe that the mother is the most important parent to have a relationship with. One thing I did that was different was at Woodlands College Park ( i didn't have anything to do with football but you know a little about that situation in our conversation) where I was Head Boys soccer coach for a team that made it to state 2 years before- so high expectations.
1. I announced at the parent meeting held outside because of covid--i am in my cowboy hat, boots jeans etc.. and explained my background since I was a August hire because the previous successful coach left late. Took a principal job in Willis so they had to let him go because of promotion. I said ALL freshman in the soccer period and those that tryout have made the team because I have coached sports for over 30 years and cuts in sports are terrible for 9th graders cause some haven't hit puberty yet. We would practice during the week and have a game the day before between an equal division of teams. Winner gets to dress out the next night, real game. If a team wins twice in a row then the losing team dresses the 3rd week. Made sense for building a state championship program. Applicable in football--maybe. I had a 9th grade team, JV and Varsity.
2) I had 4 varsity players and myself do a facebook live before the season,, probably the beginning of October. We did it at 7 pm on a Wednesday, no volleyball conflict of parents with multiple sport kids. I spoke to them (a very large turnout of moms and dads, but emphasis for the moms because they run the show at home. } at first about the expectations of the program. Then I went through a fake bell ring. My four player actors came in to the lockerroom through the correct door with reasons why (covid remember). We entered the locker room and then to their locked lockers showing moms the inside of the dressing room and MY expectations of changing for practice period or practice.Then to the locker room explaining everything-understand some or most of moms have never been inside a boys locker room. THey just hear half truths from athletic sons. We then went to the weight room and spoke safety, lifting techniques of everything--they why and how.then we acted like we went outside to the fields and I showed the way and expectations for going outside for practice. Then entering --the entire time I am taking NO questions just my information being given to Moms many taking notes. We came back in and talked about game day procedures, where, how , why. This took one hour and i realized the unbelievable amount of positive affirmations and understanding from this. I should have done this the past 38 years. Dads will be know it alls because they have watched a football game so they are experts and ACT like it to their wives. But moms want to learn and the trust that is gained is like gold.
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Joe Berezoski
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