Halftime Organization
Things that must take place during halftime:
Players must be given time to rest, get fluid and use the bathroom if need be.
All injury and equipment problems are taken care of quickly and quietly.
Staff must analyze the first half and make plans for the second half.
Players must be re-motivated to play the final and most important part of the game.
Halftime divided into four periods:
First period ( four minutes ).
Staff meetings.
Team rest.
Injury and equipment care.
Second period ( four minutes ).
Offense and Defensive position coaches meet with assigned groups.
Third period Offense and defensive Coordinators meet with their entire offense or defensive squads. ( four minutes ).
Fourth period ( four minutes )
Head coach meets with both offense and defense as a team.
Return to the field for warm-up.
In order to stay on schedule we will assign a staff member to keep meeting times on schedule. One coach or manager should be responsible for keeping the time as well as letting the head coach know how much time is left before the start of the second half.
Period One – Half Time Organization
The first period is a critical one for the staff. At this time we will be involved in an analysis of what has taken place during the first half and deciding what our plan of attack will be for the second half. The information that we will consider includes:
Offensively
Fronts by down and distance.
Secondary by down, distance, and formation.
Short yardage and goal line defenses – stunts.
Your play selection by success and failure.
Defensively
Plays by formation.
Plays by down and distance.
Pass routes.
Your defensive calls by down and distance.
Kicking Game
Has there been any assignment breakdown in any phase of the kicking game.
Is the fake punt possible?
How is the kick-off coverage and punt coverage?
Should you punt, block or return, etc.
General
Personnel adjustments because of injuries or other reasons.
Any possible playing conditions such as wind, rain, and so on, affecting the play.
From all points listed above, our staff should arrive at a second-half philosophy. This philosophy will be based on how our opponent is attacking us both offensively and defensively and how we feel they will adjust to us during the second half. All blocking adjustments, route changes and theory of attack is decided offensively. Also, any front adjustments, coverage, or force adjustments are made to stop the opponent defensively.
While our staff is actively involved in second half strategy, our players should be getting ready physically for the second half. All incidental injuries and equipment problems are taken care of in their designated assigned areas of the locker room. Liquids, towels and other needs are brought to the players. This allows them to rest and prevents a lot of moving around. We should try and keep this initial period to approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Period Two – Position Coaches
The second period of our halftime is for each coach to meet with the players of his position. During this period, we will try to do two things. First, quiz your players as to what is happening to them on the field. We will be made to feel that it is extremely important to have open communication with their players. Many times they will find that one of their players will come up with information that turns out to be very helpful in the second half. Also, the coach needs to know, for instance, if a receiver can beat a corner on an out route or a streak, or if an offensive lineman can reach a down defender on outside plays.
Period Three – Coordinators
As soon as each position coach has met with his players, the offense and defense must meet with their coordinators to tie the schemes together. We allow 4 to 5 minutes for this period.
Period Four – Head Coach
* Following 5 minute warning* At this time our coaches with press box responsibilities and your team captains should leave the locker room for the field. The head coach will take control at this point and the offense and defense join together for final instructions. It is the job of the head coach to finalize all strategy and goals and to motivate the squad for the second half. This time period lasts usually not more than 3 to 4 minutes. The team then departs for the second half.
—Coach Greg King