How To Make Changes In The Game when losing

Uncertainty

“The game as we all know is very unpredictable. You never know what is going to happen,” Tottenham Hotspurs Manager, Jose Mourinho shared this during his interview at the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Convention.

You can discuss many of the different situations that may occur – down a goal, up a goal, lose your best player to injury, lose your goalkeeper, a player gets red-carded. That said, the game still has a level of uncertainty.

Managing this unpredictability is crucial to achieving a positive result from your game.

Agony Of Defeat

I believe the year was 2014 when I was coaching varsity soccer for The Ursuline School. We were playing an away game against one of our fierce rivals, Mamaroneck High School (MHS). We had one of our worst first half of play, down 3 – 0 at the break. Worst we were all over the field. When players got to the bench the blame game started.

We discussed some ideas and agreed on a new game plan. It was more to stop the ‘bleeding’ than how to win the game. We pulled one back mid-way the half, clawed back into contention with 2 late goals. It was 3-3 at the end of normal time. During the extra time, the game went back and forth.

It was late in the 2nd period of extra time when we got a corner. I saw it as an opportunity to snatch the winner. I signaled players to push up – get in the box. MHS defended well, cleared the ball upfield, and countered speedily. It was a lethal attack as they went up 4 – 3. Game over.

That defeat still stings many years later.

Who’s Fault?

Conceding first always hurts, whether it’s the first minute or the last. What are your immediate reaction and thoughts? Do you start barking instructions, yelling at players, changing your team’s playing style and formation? Whatever your decision you would like it to have an effect on your players.

Oftentimes, when losing the referee starts to get stick. Clearly, that goal was someone’s fault, and they should be held responsible. You never look to blame yourself.

Midas Touch

Given the unpredictable nature of games, reviewing possible moments and how to handle them during practice and before the kick-off should be imperative. Although that does not guarantee your team will achieve a favorable outcome, it does make them more aware.

The outcome often comes down to your ability to read the game and make in-game adjustments. It will not only be tactical adjustments, sometimes it might demand motivating or giving a history lesson.

How To Turn The Game At Half Time

1. Key Moments
   When your team concedes a goal, try to capture what happened in that moment.
   – 5 W’s
   Who involved?; What did they do or not do?; Where did the mistake start? When during the game? Why did this happen?
   
2. Real-Time Match Analysis
   You can capture real-time images that can be shared at halftime (use of a cell phone)
   Some possible moments.
   – What is happening away from the ball?
   – Where is the goalkeeper if the ball is up the field?
   – Team shape on opponents’ goal kick
   
3. Motivation
   Dive into the history of your team. If you have defeated an opponent before this is a great time to remind that they have done it before. They can do it again.
   
4. Ask Questions
   Feedback from your players can be priceless in turning a game around. Find out what’s giving them problems. Ask how they could fix the problem. You might be surprised they have insights you did not.
   
5. Tactics
   – Change the team formation (1-4-4-2 to 1-3-4-3).
   – Substitutions (fresh legs)
   – Change player positions
   
6. Light A Fire
   Which of your players needs a hug, a stern warning in the face, or a cold steer down. Players accept criticism in different ways.
   
7. Trust & Belief
   Despite they are losing talk only about what they did well. Give high fives, fist bumps. Let them know you believe in their ability, you are confident they will perform better.
   
8. Coaching
   Make your coaching points to be specific and to the point. Narrow your comments to 2, at most 3 corrections. For example, we are going to drop off on goal kicks, then press when they play short.
   

Pocket Solutions

Despite the game being unpredictable, the level of uncertainty can be reduced by having thought through solutions in your ‘pocket’. Making your team aware of ‘if this happens, we will do this’ at practices and before the game makes you players more ready to adjust to the unexpected.