I coach an under-8 boys team.

They're not the best behaved. I have a few players that like football but not sure they love it yet and as a result, mess about and don't always do what the coaches ask.

One player, who has great potential, insists on only playing in defence. He has the ability to dribble and use his physical size to dominate other teams but he either plays long passes or has a long shot on the occassions he gets a bit closer to goal (but still a long way out).

It's a peculiar problem to have at this age when usually they are all hog the ball.

It's definitely a confidence thing and when I ask him to play in midfield or striker he becomes quite assertive for someone so timid and point-blank refuses. I obviously want him to have fun so we let him continue in defence. Every week we ask him to play higher up the field, take risks, not to be worried if he loses the ball etc but it's a 'no' everytime so far. His parents try to encourage him, to be fair, but to no positive effect.

We praise the occasions he does have a dribble but it's seldom that he does. It's a shame because while he's not dribbling it means he's not developing that side of his game.

Have any of you come across a similar type of player and what did you do to remedy the situation?