Stop Talking So Much: A Coach’s Guide to Not Losing the Room
It starts out innocent enough.
You’ve got a drill. A good one. Maybe it’s something you saw in a college film breakdown or borrowed from a clinic a few months back. You gather the kids at midfield, excited, ready to explain. And then it happens.
You start talking.
And talking.
And talking.
Three minutes in, half the kids are picking up grass. One kid’s stretching for no reason. Another’s already wandered to the water bottle pile like it’s an oasis. And just like that, you’ve lost them. The drill hasn’t even started, and the session’s already behind schedule.
I’ve been there. Hell, I still end up there more than I’d like to admit.
The Real Problem
It’s easy—dangerously easy—to lose track of time when you care. When you love teaching. When you’ve got something in your head that you’re convinced will unlock the next level for your team.
But here’s the hard truth: long explanations rarely lead to better execution.
In fact, they often do the opposite.
The Rule: 30 Seconds or Less
So what’s the fix?
Here’s a simple method I try to live by now:
No explanation should take more than 30 seconds.
That’s it. If you can’t explain the drill, the purpose, and what you want them to do in 30 seconds, you’re doing too much. You’re not simplifying—you’re sermonizing.
30 seconds forces you to:
Be clear.
Be direct.
Focus on what matters right now.
Save the rest for after the rep—not before.
If it takes longer than that? Either the drill is too complicated, or the timing isn’t right.
The Two-Rep Rule
Here’s the second trick:
Let them screw it up twice before you say anything again.
Let them try it. See what they do. Then stop and give one correction—one. Not five. Not a TED Talk. Just one adjustment.
It’s like building with Legos. Stack one block at a time. If the base isn’t solid, no point in adding more.
Why We Talk Too Much
Let’s be real—it’s not just about them.
We talk too much because:
It feels like coaching.
It fills the silence.
It makes us feel like we’re helping.
But coaching isn’t about what you say—it’s about what they understand.
A perfect explanation that doesn’t land is wasted breath. A simple cue at the right moment? That’s gold.
Sometimes we talk too much because we’re afraid. Afraid they’ll mess up. But that’s where the learning lives.
The Mirror Test
Next time you explain a drill, do this:
Ask one of your players, “What are we doing?”
If they can’t answer in one sentence, you talked too long or too vaguely.
It’s not on them. It’s on us.
Keep a Clock in Your Head
I once timed myself explaining a simple line drill.
Two minutes and sixteen seconds. I wanted to crawl into my own whistle.
Now, I keep a mental timer.
“30 seconds. Be clear. Move on.”
If I start telling a story or getting into philosophy, I shut it down.
“Let’s just try it. We’ll fix it after a couple reps.”
Almost always works better than the speech I was about to give.
Teaching vs. Talking
There’s a difference between teaching and talking:
Teaching is clear, simple, and purposeful.
Talking is noise—for our benefit more than theirs.
Save the deep dive for halftime. Or post-practice. Or film sessions.
In the moment, they don’t need a lecture. They need direction.
One sentence. Maybe two. Then let them play.
Final Thought
If you’re like me—and you love the game, the nuance, the mental side of coaching—don’t stop.
That’s what makes you good.
But remember: the best coaching doesn’t always come from saying more.
It comes from saying the right thing at the right time.
So next practice, try it.
Time yourself.
Say less.
Let them figure some of it out.
And when you do speak, make it count.
Because their attention is short, your words are tools, and every moment you get with them is a gift. Don’t waste it.
