08: Grow Coach Newsletter

Soccer Coaching: Teaching Players to Be More Aggressive

Feb 15, 2024

A warm welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board. We are looking forward to providing you with helpful content.

Here is what to expect:

Teaching your players to be more aggressive.
Coaching tips and action steps to help players become more aggressive.
Session Share: 2v2 duels.
Problem/Fix: A common error young players make.
Spotlight: Using Stop Starts to unbalance the defender.
Coach Project: Take some action to help your players become more aggressive.

‘‘If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you will be hard to beat’’

Aggressiveness in soccer is something every coach wants their players to show. Aggressive players often gain the edge because they are willing to impose themselves on their immediate opponents to win their battles. Some players are natural at being aggressive whereas others need to be coached.

How can we teach players to be more aggressive?

Use physical primer drills to get players used to contact
Practice shielding and protecting skills
Incorporate player duel activities into every training session.
Place some emphasis on blocking, screening, and interception skills.
Figure out the best way for your players to show aggression.

This article will help coaches deliver practices to players around the skills needed to be more aggressive on the field of play. Each pointer will encourage players to demonstrate different aspects of on-field aggression. Coaches can mix and match these tips to help their players.

‘‘ Being brave doesn’t mean you will never get afraid, It just means you don’t let fear stop you’’

How do you coach aggressiveness?

To teach aggressiveness the following three attributes must be a part of the player’s game. Anticipation, determination, and desire. The players must be willing to work and practice demonstrating these qualities in whatever form they look like.

Aggressiveness does not always have to be foul play or intimidation of the opposition, it’s more of a duel between the player and their immediate opponent.

Who will come out on top? How can they come out on top? It is a sustained effort across the periods of a game not to lose out to the player you are up against. Coaches must work on developing this mentality amongst their players.

Anticipation

Anticipation is about predicting the actions of the opponent based on visual cues such as a body position, the location of the ball, or the movements players make. The defender would take these things into account and then act accordingly.

Coaches should encourage players to observe the game as things build up and scan the surroundings for potential dangers. Players who anticipate well often arrive in the right space at the right time to delay the attackers.

Players can use anticipation and aggression to block runs, block space, block passes, mark a player, intercept a pass before it arrives, or even press a player at high speed in anticipation of the ball’s arrival.

Determination

Determination is about doing things with a purpose. Players are trying to do everything they can to influence or control the outcome of a situation. Coaches should encourage their players to practice with fixed intentions.

Focus on the topics being coached and show determination to find a way to be successful. When teaching players aggression it is important to encourage them to keep trying to find a way to be successful. They should not give up if something does not quite work for them.

A determined player does not get intimidated by mistakes or setbacks. They are inquisitive about how they can learn and turn their mistakes into success.

Desire

A desire is the feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. Desire is tough to measure, but players with high levels of desire demonstrate this trait by showing intent.

Players can show a desire to be aggressive through their actions such as a tackle, or a sprint. They could be marking a player closely and not losing them. It might be winning a shoulder-to-shoulder battle, and not being pushed off the ball when under pressure.

Coaches should help each individual to show a desire to win the battle against each opponent but also use anticipation, and determination to be successful.

Players come in all different shapes and sizes. Trying to coach everyone to be aggressive in the same way will not work very well.

As coaches, it is important to look at each individual in the team and try to help them be aggressive in their way, for example, some players love to tackle and they are really brave in doing so, while other players are not so brave, being aggressive to them could simply be through the use of pressure on the ball.

Some players read the game better than others so interceptions of the ball or blocking passes or runs could be a way for them to be aggressive. Small agile players who change direction quickly might use close marking or screening to be aggressive. Coaches should be mindful of this and relate it to their players.

Effort and Tempo

Sustained effort and tempo are not necessarily something you would coach but more something you should constantly encourage when players are practicing. When a player executes an act of aggressiveness in a firm but fair way the coach should praise the player for their effort ‘Well done Dave that was great closing down, you forced a mistake there, can you do that again?’.

At times players will come up against teams or players who are stronger than them and again the coach should encourage players to look for ways to be effective. Encourage them to keep trying to win the duel regardless of the outcome. This way players are learning how to compete and be competitive.

Competition

Competition is an important part of developing sustained effort and a high tempo, if players are regularly exposed to competitive situations they begin to bring this type of mindset with them to training and games. For coaches, I would suggest adding competitive elements to practices such as keeping scores, winner stays on, knockout activities, and playing out of balance (6 v 4) for periods to see if they can hang on in there.

That way practices naturally challenge the players to be competitive and create an environment where everyone in the team has to contribute something to be successful.

Competition evokes many different emotions for players and coaches can begin to teach players to be resourceful during competitive moments as opposed to dwelling on negative things that have occurred.

How to teach your players to be more aggressive?

01 Physical Primer Drill to Teach Aggressiveness

The physical primer is about players working in pairs to develop sports-specific strength. Pair up the players and start alongside each other in a shoulder-to-shoulder fashion (see image below). Players work for 3 sets of 15/20 seconds.

The aim is to unbalance your opponent using your shoulders, arms, and legs to push your opponent away. The key message to the players is that the pushing should be within the laws of the game. Players should work on both sides of the body.

02 Shielding and Protecting Squares

Set up a 20 by 20 square and pair up your players within it. The aim of this game is for one player to shield the ball away from another. Try to get through 4 sets of 20/30 seconds of shielding. The shielder is trying to limit the touches of the defender. They are trying to hide the ball from the defender.

The defenders have to try and get a touch on the ball. Each time they do this they get a point. Once 20/30 seconds have elapsed the defenders change partners. The practice continues until the shielders have completed 4 sets of shielding. Roles then reverse with the attackers becoming the defenders.

The key in this drill is to reinforce the message of players using their bodies. The aim is to deny the opponent a touch of the ball. They should use their bodies to hide the ball. Use their arms to keep the defender at a distance. They should have a wide staggered stance to remain strong but balanced.

03 Incoporate Player Duels into Weekly Sessions

Incorporating duel-based activities like 1v1 and 2v2 into soccer coaching sessions offers numerous benefits for players’ development. Firstly, duel-based activities offer competitiveness and motivation among players, pushing them to give their best effort.

These drills also encourage players to hone their defensive techniques, get used to regular physical contact, and improve skills such as positioning, tackling, and intercepting passes.

2v2 exercises promote communication and teamwork as players must coordinate with their partners to get pressure on the ball while supporting and covering each other. Furthermore, these activities simulate real-game scenarios, helping players better understand their roles and responsibilities within different tactical formations.

Incorporating duels into coaching sessions also increases players’ confidence and resilience as they learn to cope with both success and failure in a supportive environment.

04 Empahaise Blocking, Screening, and Interception Skills

Blocking, screening, and interception skills should be practiced. They are vital to a player’s overall development and team success. Mastering these defensive techniques enhances players’ ability to disrupt opponents’ attacks effectively.

Blocking involves contact with the ball or the opponent. Blocking involves making yourself big, getting down the line of the ball and finally contact. If blocking the ball think about stopping, shots, passes, and crosses. This helps the team to deny scoring opportunities and maintain defensive solidity.

Blocking the opponents requires the defender to step into the body of the opponent and make themselves a big barrier to go around. Players can block using a combination of their bodies, legs, and arms. This must be done within the rules of the game.

Screening techniques enable players to shield their teammates from dangerous plays, create counter-attacking opportunities if the ball is intercepted, and don’t require too much physical exertion to execute.

Interception skills are crucial as they allow players to read the game and anticipate opponents’ actions, enabling them to intercept passes and regain possession swiftly. Players can become proactive defenders, by disrupting opposition play before it becomes a threat. The timing of interceptions is crucial to their success.

05 How to Show Aggression?

Soccer players can demonstrate aggression through various defensive skills, leveraging their physical attributes to disrupt opponents effectively.

For players with strength and physicality, aggressive defending involves using their body to win challenges, shield the ball, and overpower opponents in tackles. This may include shoulder-to-shoulder challenges, strategic use of body positioning to block opponents’ path, and assertive tackles to regain possession.

Players with speed and agility can exhibit aggression by applying intense pressure on opponents, closing down space quickly, and intercepting passes with well-timed blocks or sliding tackles. Their ability to cover ground rapidly allows them to press high up the pitch, disrupt passing lanes, and force turnovers through relentless pursuit of the ball.

Technically gifted players can display aggression through intelligent anticipation, reading the game, and executing precise interceptions or blocks. Their tactical awareness enables them to position themselves effectively to intercept passes, anticipate opponents’ movements, and disrupt attacking play with well-timed challenges or deflections.

Furthermore, players with exceptional timing and aerial ability can demonstrate aggression in defending set pieces by dominating aerial duels, challenging opponents in the air, and clearing crosses with authority. Their aerial prowess allows them to assert dominance in the box, and deny scoring opportunities.

In summary, soccer players can exhibit aggression in defense through a variety of skills tailored to their physical assets, including strength, speed, agility, technical proficiency, and aerial ability. By leveraging these attributes effectively, players can assert their presence on the field, disrupt opponents’ attacks, and contribute to their team’s defensive resilience and success.

Session Share: 2v2 Dominating Duels Practice

Aim:

Winning back the ball and scoring.

Set-Up:

30 by 20 space, split into three sections, a pair of mini goals at each end of the field. The final third at each end (dashed lines) is a scoring zone.
2 Teams of 4 players: Each team gets the chance to attack and defend.

How to Play:

The ball always starts between the black coned gates. 2 x attackers (Black) pass to the coach (C) between the mini goals. 2 x Reds enter the pitch to play against the Blacks. The Blacks must receive the ball back, get turned, and escape into the scoring zone, then finish into one of the mini goals.
Once ball number one is complete. All players stay on the field. This time the Reds receive the ball and the Blacks defend against them. The Reds are now trying to escape into the scoring zone and score in the mini-goals behind the Blacks.
If the defending team wins the ball at any point the score in the mini-goals opposite the opponent.

Problem: 1v1 Defending!!!

Do your players get beaten easily?

They are pressuring an opponent, then just dangle a foot out as the attacker ghosts by them as if they were not there?

This often results in the opponent getting into favorable positions, which often leads to scoring chances. These moments could have been avoided. The defender needs to master the 1v1 defensive moment.

This common mistake can be a problem, especially if your team concedes a lot of goals.

Fix: Close Down - Slow Down - Showdown !!

Look out for this next time you are coaching. If this is a mistake that you see, the solution is encouraging the player to close down the opponent quickly and then adjust their footwork to slow down. This is so one touch does not beat them. Finally showdown with the attacker. Remember to have the player use their assets to win back the ball. (strength, technical ability, speed and agility, timing)

Players might need to be reminded what their assets are. Get the players to practice 1v1 defending and get used to physical contact. The body is an important tool to help improve 1v1 defending and encourage players to find a way to get their body between the opponent and the ball.

Topic: Stop Starts!!

Why is it important:

Unbalance Opponents: Makes it hard for defenders to win the ball when the attacker stops and then starts again.
Creates Space: Players can use stop-starts to create space for exit passes, crosses, or shots at goal.
Distance between Attacker and Defender: If the attacker can go from slow to fast quickly, then the defender can be eliminated easily.
Deceive the Defender: Stop-starts are a great way to deceive the defender making them think you have nowhere to go then all of a sudden you explode in a different direction.

How to Coach It:

Set Up: Encourage the attacker to be dribbling at a fast pace alongside the defender.
Stop: As the defender is sprinting fast, the attacker stops the ball dead which should also plant the defender’s feet to the floor as they try to stop to defend the 1v1 moment.
Speed: The attacker then starts dribbling again, dragging the ball from a static position to a moving one. They should try to be explosive and go from slow to fast.

Coach Project

Objective: Explore the variety of ways for your players to demonstrate aggression and win back the ball.

Task: Categorise them and decide which methods you will encourage the players to use:

Identify the best method of winning back the ball for each player.
Create duel-based activities that allow the players to practice winning back the ball.
Act on the information and develop some intervention steps to help your players or team cope.

Extension Task:

Practice Design: Apply knowledge about aggression to plan a coaching activity to aid player development.

Coach Task :

Design a practice activity for 6 – 12 players to work on winning duels against opponents:

•Keep it SIMPLE

•Ensure it is REPETITIVE

•Include a COMPETITION

Note Down:

•The rules and organization

•Progressions and regressions

Please feel free to get in touch or share your ideas, actions, and interventions. We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, post them here; we will do our best to answer them.