USWNT coach Emma Hayes on Monday highlighted how the World Cup’s hydration breaks “can be used to enhance the viewing experience,” even as the stoppages “appear universally unpopular,” according to Sam Lee of THE ATHLETIC. While working for ITV Sport in the U.K., Hayes “presented a very short, very easily digestible tactical breakdown of the ‘first quarter.’” Her breakdown “lasted just 70 seconds but delivered more value than most punditry during the tournament so far, let alone the commercials that are broadcast in some countries.” If anything, Hayes “offered so much information in such a short amount of time that it was possibly too much to fully comprehend as it was being delivered,” but there is “no doubt there should be far more of this kind of thing in football coverage, and definitely in these situations where these breaks are thrust upon us.” There are some “noble broadcasters,” such as Telemundo as well as ITV and the BBC, who do not use the hydration breaks to “lessen the viewers’ experience further.” On Monday, through Hayes’ tactical breakdown, fans “were given an example of how the hydration breaks can enhance the viewing experience” (THE ATHLETIC, 6/15).
USWNT’s Hayes analysis on ITV shows hydration break potential
