Macto, try not to listen too much to Stongle, the dude wears pink ...seriously!!
PS 'saterday' .....you're kiddin me right????
it was also the "uppon", "are selves" and "gose" that got me....
i don't think a game can be won with everyone being either aggressive or defensive. each player needs to be sure he has a belief that what he is doing is right and that he is capable of doing that job.
i think a team needs the confidence to know that the aggressive front players believe in what they can achieve, and that those front players are confident that the back players have the belief that they can hold a defensive play at the same time and keep the field locked down to let the front men forward. but the need for those aggressive front players is essential - a timid player who won't make the jump and move up is going to hold back the game.
on saying that the team needs to find the right balance for front and back players, but should also be able to adapt their game plan on field to counter the oppositions playing style. that adaption takes confidence.
without the confidence the team players will not be 100% committed to any play move they make. that can lead to errors, hesitancy, nerves and thus leave the team weaker on field.
these general assertions are true for any team sport - or indeed any group activity. i see it a lot in teaching, where the group doesn't have the self confidence in either themselves individually or as a whole, and the impact on the activity is huge.
what i see with these groups (in teaching) is that it can often take just one individual with the confidence to make decisions to rub off on the rest of the group, and there is an improvement all round. on the opposite end, if their is one kid who is a complete wet blanket they can pull the whole group down around them. and i've seen this on the paintball field too.