We’ve all seen the Hollywood version of a pregame speech. The coach roars, the lockers shake, and the players charge out like they’re bulletproof. That makes for a great movie scene, but it’s not how real football works. A speech can’t create motivation from thin air. At its best, it sharpens the edge the team has been building all week.
Players already walk into that locker room excited, nervous, and ready. The coach’s job is not to light the fire but to focus it. Legendary St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle once said, “If a kid isn’t motivated three minutes before kickoff, something’s wrong. My goal is to get them past their fears—fear of mistakes, fear of the crowd—so they can play free.”
That perspective reframes what a pregame speech should do. It’s not about theatrics. It’s about clarity.
Build the Crescendo Early
Pregame doesn’t start three minutes before kickoff. It starts Monday. Your practice plan, your tone, even your choice of words should build into a crescendo throughout the week. If the first jolt of energy comes only in the locker room, it fades by the second series.
By game day, players should already know the week’s theme. Whether it’s discipline, relentless effort, or finishing strong, that message should echo all week so your final words become reinforcement, not revelation.
Keep It Short and Clear
Coaches sometimes load up their speech with long stories or history lessons. Those belong earlier in the week. Before kickoff, your players don’t need to process new information—they need one final push of focus.
In my first game as a head coach, my predecessor had built a tradition of using Braveheart speeches. The new coach decided to carry that thread forward. He clipped a single line from the movie—“You’ve bled with Coach Frank, now bleed with me.” The players erupted. That clarity, tied to a familiar theme, was all they needed to hit the field with passion.
Separate Emotion From Instruction
Give reminders first—assignments, adjustments, special teams notes. Then, when you shift into the emotional close, stay there. Don’t break the moment by slipping in a detail about kickoff coverage. End with conviction.
Create a Routine
Not every talk has to send players charging out the door. Sometimes a steadying routine works better. One coach finished every speech the same way: “Helmets on. Snap ’em up. Go get ’em.” Players turned to each other, tapped helmets, and locked in. That routine signaled both focus and finality.
Test Your Props
Some coaches like to use props. They can work—if they don’t backfire. One coach planned to smash a VHS scouting tape against the wall. To make sure it worked, an assistant loosened the screws. When it hit, it exploded into pieces. Perfect.
Another coach, though, tried smashing a helmet with a sledgehammer. He didn’t test it. The hammer bounced back, hit him in the head, and knocked him out of the game. Lesson: If you’re going to use a prop, test it first.
Always End Positive
The final rule: never let your words carry negativity. Don’t reference past failures or talk about revenge. Keep it forward-facing. A simple, positive call to action works: “Now go get the giant.”
Players remember those moments for life—not because the speech won the game, but because it helped them walk onto the field free of fear, full of belief, and focused on the next snap.
Final Thought
Pregame speeches won’t win the game on their own. But done with purpose, they can clear your players’ heads, lock in their focus, and remind them why they prepared all week. The great ones don’t send players out hyped—they send them out ready.