How do your young players feel about talking to the media?
They may not have given it much thought yet.
But as their career develops, speaking to journalists comes with the territory.
Under Premier League rules, when leaving the stadium, every player on the team sheet must walk through the mixed zone (the place where players meet with the media after the game). And anyone could be called to give an interview – even unused substitutes.
Even those who don’t go on to enjoy careers as professional footballers are likely to speak to the media in other roles.
But there is a problem – many of us have fears about talking to journalists. We worry we won’t know what to say, that we might say the wrong thing or that we could be misquoted.
We’ve been helping spokespeople from all walks of life overcome these fears for the past 40 years and deliver confident and impactful media interviews.
Here are 7 tips our squad of experienced media experts provide during the media training we offer through the Premier League’s Lifeskills programme.
Why not share these with your players now?
Feeling apprehensive about giving a media interview is natural. But journalists are not out to get you. Instead, they are looking for good content for their audience. Content that encourages that audience to stay on their TV or radio channel or keep reading their newspaper or website.
Just like before you go on the pitch for a big game, preparation is vital. That means having an interview game plan. Know what you want and don’t want to say. An interview is an opportunity to talk directly to your fans. Do you want them to see that you share their joy about the team’s recent form? Maybe you are keen to reassure them results will get better. Perhaps you want to give them a little insight into what has been happening behind the scenes.
If you only offer short, dull, predictable answers, the journalist will ask more questions to try and get the content they need. Tell journalists something they don’t already know. Share an anecdote or short story that helps show your character.
Your body language on the pitch can say a lot about you. And it impacts how you come across in media interviews. Always aim to maintain eye contact with the journalist and plant your feet to avoid swaying. Aim to create the impression you are happy to be there and willing to share your thoughts.
The fans want to see your character and personality. So, share your insights, opinions and stories. Talk your way. Be natural.
A smile goes a long way in a media interview. If you’ve just had a great result, share that with the audience. If you’ve made a mistake, a smile will show you remain positive and want to overcome obstacles.
Just like your skills on the pitch, you need to keep your media interview abilities sharp. Keep practicing. We’ve all got smartphones. Use it to record yourself in different scenarios. Get your sister, your girlfriend, your brother, your mate, even your teammate to put some questions to you and practice getting your message across to supporters.
This is just a taste of the media training we offer through the Premier League’s Lifeskills programme that help young players talk to the media with clarity and confidence.
Speak to us about the Premier League Lifeskills courses and other training options for your academy players.