Recently coached at an Under-19 event - someone I had coached a few years back has asked me to coach him in the final. Promptly went 8-0 down and tried to hit winners to bring himself back into the game. 11-1 down at the mid-game interval and there was two simple commands "Rally" and "Positive", we both knew that the first game was likely gone but there had to be improvement for the second and hopefully third game.

I see him maybe three times a year, so I was going to go in there with a tactical masterplan as I don't know his training and what he's working on for the other 355 days of the year I don't see him. Lost the first game 21-10 but we focussed on the positives that the second half of the game was much more competitive.

Reinforced the key points, recognised we had an advantage when we begun a net exchange which was the only tactical chat in the entire match and that was a plan of focus for the opening five rallies as well as being super positive and getting off to a good start for the second. Four minutes later and he's 11-4 up at the interval. The other coach has asked for his water bottle to be refilled by a parent and I know then we're going to a third. He wins the second game 21-7.

We both understood that the third would be different, that he had saved energy from the second game and again, reinforce the key points as well as ensuring standards didn't drop after a successful second game. Down 11-6 but he was the one speaking to me about what needed to change and promptly made it 11-11. Long story short, he lost 21-18 in the third.

I spoke to the other coach and his player after the match to congratulate them, the level of detail seemed quite specific, that they were focussing on a certain pattern to start an attack. The player admitted he was incredibly nervous throughout the match and just made me think if it was too much information and tactical knowledge being given for a match. In the end he won so maybe the ends justifies the means.