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RE: Aggression in junior players

Emgee — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:24:28 GMT

You don't really have to keep an eye on it - you just have make them believe that you are. They will let you know soon enough if they have hit the target!

RE: Aggression in junior players

Ferret — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:07:34 GMT

That's a thought ... maybe some sort of "bonus system" for key tackles made, successful rucks, loose balls recovered, etc... it might work. I will give that some thought.

Although I haven't the foggiest how I will be able to keep track of it in a game! One player, maybe, but several...

Ferret

RE: Aggression in junior players

Emgee — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:51:44 GMT

I coach a ladies team and most of them have the same problem. I ended up giving one player (a flanker) a specific target to achieve for a match 2 weeks ago. Her target was to tackle the opposition 9, 10 and 12 at least twice in each half. It was a difficult target for her to reach (and deliberately so) but she did it with only 2 of the tackles being late! She won forward of the match. I plan to do something similar with some of the other players in the coming weeks. By making the targets known amongst the team, they tend to encourage these core defensive plays when they see them happen and it encourages the rest to try and beat them to catch the coaches eye.

Good luck. :)

RE: Aggression in junior players

Doc Brown — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:13:17 GMT

I've just taken over an U13's side and we played our first game on Sunday. Some good points some not so good but we were too nice and were almost saying after you.

I hope to change that by working on tackling and rucking technique for all players.

This was some of my email to fellow coaches after the game

More bag work.

Work in 3’s, 1 holding the bag 1m away from the others, 1 waiting, 1 picking up, driving up and driving the bag back. Bag man tries to force him down. All in a 5m channel. Rotate.

As above, 2^nd player supports the first, not just driving him on (as the bag man is forcing him downwards) but supporting him to prevent him being pushed to the ground.

Work with 2 bags and 2 teams, a 9 & 10. Run forward, hit the gab, go down, ruck over in 4’s, 9 passes to 10, to the next group. We will progress across the pitch. Rotate the bag men or use adults to hold the bags. Looking at ball from 10 being pops, long passes, switches.

Hopefully with more contact in training they will get used to it and develop 'aggression'. However I don't think I will ever stop them being nice boys (and wouldn't want to) and I agree some of them just have it naturally.

Was also reading the small wingers post tonight, our smallest player is scrum half and attacks anyone, a bit like a lion bringing down a larger beast.

Steve

RE: Aggression in junior players

Tobbe — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:45:59 GMT

I see the same thing in several of my U15-players so I look forward to the replies....

Aggression in junior players

Ferret — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:10 GMT

I help coach a junior team which is skilled, fit, and committed but sadly some of them are just too ... nice!

There's nothing to be ashamed of in being gentlemen of course, but this is an aggressive game, and some of them just lack the aggression needed for the tackle, the ruck, the loose ball. They aren't afraid - just too, well, respectful of the other side. No amount of pre-match talk seems to do the trick.

I've seen tips on controlling and managing aggression ... but none on how to create it. Starvation perhaps? or raw meat?:)

Can aggression be taught? Or is it something you either have or you don't?

Cheers - Ferret