Youth Soccer
"Aggressiveness Is Very Difficult
To Teach"

Being aggressive is usually a player having a lot of confidence to get the ball or keep it and progress with it. Pushing seems to be frustation or a last attempt of trying and then hoping that the player loses the ball. If a team has aggressiveness, I encourage it because it's very difficult to teach. I want players to go to the ball or give pressure on the ball quickly. If a team doesn't have aggressiveness, I find drills that make the players be more aggressive, especially if they are athletic or have good abilities. I focus on that theme for a week or 4 to 6 practices, drills about being aggressive or how to handle aggressive play or players.

Two Drills and a Game:

• The first drill that comes to mind is the drill I learned from Anson Dorrance, "The Combat Drill" (push, pull or grab with one hand against your partner). This drill teaches them about being physical but it also teaches you how to be strong on the ball using strategy. It also teaches you how to get the ball when you're behind or next to a player.
• Another drill is when I'm teaching defense, I teach the player how to go into a tackle and come out with the ball. 1) How to make good contact on a tackle from a standing position first, then a two step approach. 2) How to push the ball over or around opponent foot or push between the opponents legs.
• A game I use is steal the bacon. Two teams on opposite sides from each other (endlines). Coach on sideline in the middle. The coach calls out a number (or more) and put the ball into play and only that number(s) come out for the ball and trys to score to the opposite side where the small goal is (no goalie). If it's a 50/50 ball, who willing to take the risk and go for it, but then again how should they go in for the ball and are they thinking ahead? The coach may assign numbers to have good match ups and or later have the players assign the numbers to their team.