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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 22/02/2010 15:54:44
Posts: 2,
Visits: 14
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Hi Guys
First post, so hello to all.
I'm coaching an U14 side and we have had a couple of really good seasons, but so far this season I have noticed that our lot are seriously lacking the controlled aggression I see in the other teams we play. Our lot are a thoroughly nice bunch of kids, but we keep getting taken apart especially in the loose play by teams that seem much more up for it.
They are a young side and not very physically large. Only one of our guys has had his testosterone burst, low voice etc. but is this our main problem? Some of the other sides definitely seem more mature but is there anything you guys could recommend doing, either mentally of physically, to help me fire them up?
Thanks
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:19:03
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just some random thoughts...
If the players aren;t motivated to "damage" the opposition (I mean that in the fairest, decent and most legal way possible!) then waht does motivate them? maybe using another motivational area can create the same ... passion? ... focus? as out and out aggression.
e.g. in a game
* keep the ball for X minutes; there is kudos is securing possession and then retaining it for a required time frame.
* recycle minimum of Y times: really a variation on a theme. Following primary possession (scrum, lineout, restart) brownie points for recycling the ball so many times before scoring/territorial gain/turn over (preferably not the last one though ;-)
* when oppo have the ball, to create a turnover within Z phases.
*maybe the oppo could be "pictured" not as players playing against you, but things that are just preventing your team from achieving some smaller goal
*how are they in training? Are they "too nice" in practise? Or is it only on match days against "not mates" that they become timid? If the former, then create very VERY intense practices that force the players to be strong and dynamic. Do you use inanimate objects for contact training (tackle bags, shields etc/). If so make larger parts of the training flesh on flesh or at least flesh on contact SUIT - so it becomes a PERSON they are "hitting" not some soft inanimate object that doesn;t feel the same.
cheers
didds
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:19:03
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one more thought... probably not very feasible (?) related to the soft-on-the-oppo-not -on-themselves scenario...
Find some shirts that are NOT your club colours, preferably two sets. In practices get the players to wear THOSE shirts ie not club shirts, not a mishmash of Bath, Wasps, Bristol, school etc etc.Then they start to identify with being aggressive against shirts they are not "sure" about/unused to. use the "spare" shirts sparingly though ptherwsie they'll just get as used to those as they do their current shirts... maybe for game practices at the end of a session?
didds
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 22/02/2010 15:54:44
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Hi Didds
Thanks for that. Lots of good things to try.
One of the problems we always have is that we can only train on astro under lights. Any suggestions for dynamic physical things to practice on the hard surface?
I think you're right about the training sessions affecting the way we play, just need to find practical ways to make the sessions more intense.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:19:03
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hmmm... cold be the impact of training on astro is the root cause? If its troo hard to play fuller contact because of the landing etc then the lad are probably not practising to knock perople over OR play on the edge where they themselves might end up of the floor.
Is this a school or a club side? If the former then is there any chance of lunchtime sessions ie in the light - 40 minutes can achieve quite a lot if you are focussed on your plans
e.g. warm up 10 mins, 5 mins on ONE technical aspect, 20 mins intense match related activity (narrow corridor of contact type games?, 5 min c/down). If its a club side is there any reason why a weekend morning practice is unfeasible?
cheers
didds
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 17/02/2010 12:32:47
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| Hi Bogo,and welcome! Didds is right, its probably not helping about the training on astro. I'd also invite you to look at martial arts, where controlled aggression comes from - within - and then investigate 1v1 stuff purely in the strength/contact area. It needn't involve running or bodies hitting the astro surface, but stuff like wrestling (without or for the ball/keep ball), close contact drills from 3-point position with rucking as the rugby focus. If the players pair up in positional (or physique) contexts then its likely to be an even playing field. If you apply at least one area of core technique in with your drills/games then their expertise will go up unconsciously and for some exponentially! There's loads of variations available to see/read about which will spark off your own creativity - starting right here!
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