Two years ago, my team hit a stretch where our 3rd quarters were terrible.

We would come out flat and give away leads we’d worked hard to get in the first half.

Sometimes, our opponent made an adjustment that gave us issues. However, most of the time, it was our lethargy that led to our struggles.

It was clear I needed to do something. After talking with some coaching friends and mentors, I implemented a series of changes to address our halftime problem.

Guess what? They worked for my team - and they can work for your team as well! Read on to learn the tips that led to our second half turnaround.

Second Half Surge - 5 Strategies To Get Your Team Playing Their Best

The first 3-4 minutes of the second half are crucial.

If you can win that segment, you put yourself in pole position to win the game. Here’s how to do it:

1. Practice Halftime

   This may sound odd. Why practice halftime? Because halftime is unique. It’s the only time you take a 10-minute break in the middle of a competition. A 30-60 second timeout during a game is similar to the transition period between drills. Players are used to ramping back up after a short break.

   It takes practice to get used to a longer break. Work halftime into your practices. At the midpoint of practice, take your team to the locker room. Use those 10 minutes to watch film, go over scouting reports, or do a quick team activity. Then come out and resume practice.

   With repetition, your players will learn how to maintain their intensity after an extended break.

2. Let Players Go First

   Coaches always talk about the importance of a player-led team. That said, many coaches don’t let their players lead. Do you?

   One thing I did was give my captains a dry erase marker at the start of halftime. They would then lead a players-only discussion (while coaches met on their own) on what went well and what didn’t in the first half.

   Allowing them to have that conversation did 2 things. First, it engaged them and created an avenue for participation. Second, it enabled me to see how they perceived the game to be going.

3. Narrow Your Feedback To 1-2 Main Things

   There may be a lot to address at halftime. It’s tempting to talk to your team about everything. I’d advise against that. Players’ working memory is limited.

   Pick the 1-2 main things you want your team to focus on in the 2nd half (perhaps 1 for offense & 1 for defense). By focusing your feedback, you make it easier for your players to lock in on those elements.

4. Strategy First, Motivation Second, Strategy Third

   Most halftimes involve a mix of strategy and motivation. That’s good, but the order matters. Cover strategy first. Do this when players' minds are calm and better able to focus.

   Then end your locker room portion of halftime with motivation. Get your team ready to play.

   Finally, use your team huddle right before resuming play to go over strategy 1 one more time and make sure everyone is aligned.

5. Warmup With Intentionality

   Have you watched most teams' warm-up for the 2nd half? It’s not very inspiring. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a layup line. More likely, you’ll see a couple kids shooting around, a couple kids sitting on the bench, and a couple of kids seeking out their parents in the stands. No wonder teams come out flat.

   Use your warmup time purposefully. You might do a team shooting drill that gets players moving and demands focus. Another idea is to use that time to practice any adjustments you made or to emphasize new points. If we are making an offensive tweak, run through it on the floor. I doubt your opponent will have time to watch it, understand it, and teach their team how to defend it in those few minutes.

   Whatever you choose to do, do it thoughtfully and with the thought of being ready to play at the start of the 3rd quarter.

The Art & Science Of Halftime

It’s been said that coaching is an art and a science. That’s true, and halftime is no different.

Implementing the strategies above gave me a way to be intentional about what I did during that 10-minute break.

By doing so, I created an environment in which my players were prepared to play to their potential in the 2nd half. Use them to do the same for your squad!

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