How to talk to AI

For now, just use these tips:

Talk to AI like it’s a human, not like it’s a search engine! So use full sentences. And yes, I mean more than one…
Give AI context! It doesn’t know you. It doesn’t know your team. Ask a generic question, get a generic answer.
It’s a conversation. So ask AI follow up questions to dive deep into specific parts of its answers. Just like you would with a human. Again, it’s not Google or any other search engine.

What is a better way to talk to AI for a field hockey coach?

When a coach asks an AI “how to use the full press”, it’s considered a vague, rushed, or disconnected question that will likely yield a generic or less helpful answer. To get a more effective and relevant response, you should apply the principles of Mastering Prompts by structuring your query using the WHO, WHAT, HOW, OUTPUT framework. Additionally, leveraging Role Prompting can significantly enhance the quality of the AI’s advice. Here’s a better way to ask AI about using a full press, incorporating these best practices:

WHO (Define the AI’s role and your context):

Instead of a generic AI, assign it a specific expert persona. For example, you could instruct: “You are a World-Cup winning defensive field hockey coach known for high-pressing strategies, working with a semi-pro women’s team“.

Also, provide context about your team: “Our team struggles with maintaining defensive intensity for full periods and converting turnovers into attacking opportunities quickly.”

WHAT (Specify the challenge, goal, or question):

Clearly state your objective. Rather than just “how to use,” specify what you want to achieve with the full press. For instance: “Propose strategies and drills to implement an effective, high-intensity full press that forces turnovers in the opponent’s half and quickly transitions into goal-scoring chances.”

HOW (Instruct the AI on the desired format, tone, or level of detail):

Tell the AI how you want the information presented. Do you need drills? Tactical principles? Coaching cues? “Include three innovative drills that focus on coordinated pressing and immediate counter-attacking. Outline the key player responsibilities for each position during the press. Suggest specific coaching cues for live intervention during practice.”

You can also specify tone: “Maintain a concise and actionable tone.”

OUTPUT (Clearly state what you want to receive):

Ensure the AI understands the final deliverable. “Provide a structured plan with drill descriptions, tactical principles, and coaching points, all designed to be coach-ready for our next training block.”

Example of a great prompt:

“You are a World-Cup winning defensive field hockey coach known for high-pressing strategies, working with a semi-pro women’s team. Our team struggles with maintaining defensive intensity for full periods and converting turnovers into attacking opportunities quickly.

Propose strategies and drills to implement an effective, high-intensity full press that forces turnovers in the opponent’s half and quickly transitions into goal-scoring chances. Include three innovative drills that focus on coordinated pressing and immediate counter-attacking. Outline the key player responsibilities for each position during the press. Suggest specific coaching cues for live intervention during practice. Maintain a concise and actionable tone.

Provide a structured plan with drill descriptions, tactical principles, and coaching points, all designed to be coach-ready for our next training block.”

This detailed prompt transforms the AI from a simple search engine into a “personalized coaching assistant” that understands your team’s identity, struggles, and desired behaviors, leading to “clarity, ownership, and consistency” in your AI-supported workflow. It’s like asking a specific expert for a tailored solution, rather than asking a general question to anyone.