Half Time, Resets, and the Art of the Smash-and-Grab.

Football locker room pep talk, but make it life.

I don’t know about you, but almost everything I’d hoped and imagined would be a reality in my life at this time of the year is, well, not exactly that at the moment. Phew. Six months into 2025, crazy right?

Here’s what’s also crazy to me, though: it’s the fact that so many things that weren’t in my goals for the year, the things I couldn’t have anticipated or hoped for, I have also done. So for every unmet expectation, there’s the reality of a dream I never dreamed. I didn’t expect to host a show this year, but I did, and it was great. And I’m sure if you looked closely enough, if you took a moment to pause and reflect, it’s the same for you as well.

Now, I don’t know much about football (or soccer, as some call it). I don’t know enough about the game to identify a foul or an offside, but I absolutely love the thrill it brings to the lovers of the sport. I love how sometimes all it takes is one substitution, one unexpected run, one last-gasp goal, one game changer to flip the scoreline. I also know that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are cute, and I don’t mind watching them sweat. Sue me.

Here’s something I’ve also noticed, and I’d say it’s at the core of my message to you today. It’s how the energy after the first half of the match is always different and more intense. If one team was dominating in the first half, they come back with a stronger defense. The team that was losing comes off really strong on the offense, so much so that they may forget their defense strategy, and it becomes a full-on comeback. I see this play out in almost every game I’ve watched. When the second half starts, there are many turning points where the momentum shifts completely. The players step up under pressure to deliver, and in the dying seconds of the game, right before full time, the losing team snatches a win like a robbery. What an adrenaline rush! It’s in moments like that that I understand football fans and their passion for the game.

The month of June has just come to an end, and the whistle has just blown on the first half of the year. We’re catching our breath, wiping the sweat, and taking stock.

Maybe things went to plan, maybe they didn’t. Maybe you’re trailing, coasting, or drawing 0 to 0. I want you to think of this as a locker room moment after the first half of a game, and think of me as your coach. I’d tell you to reset and recover.

Catch your breath, my MVP.

Hydrate. Treat your bruises, if any. Sit silently for a minute. Then I’d tell you to make tactical adjustments. Review what’s working and what’s not. Change your formation if it’s necessary.

Hear me when I say this. It is not over. There’s still extra time. Still a chance for a comeback. Still space for a goal of the season moment. So rest. Rewire. Confront mistakes. Refocus on the mission. Then step back onto the field with renewed clarity. That’s what these next six months can be for you. Not just a second chance, but a stronger one.

Again, all it takes is one substitution. One unexpected run. One last-gasp goal. One game changer to flip the scoreline. The scoreboard doesn’t scare you. You know how to rise. Now get back out there and play to win.

You’ve got this, champ.

With love and encouragement,

Coach Fola.