Aggressive football is something that I often don’t like seeing on the field, but what many don’t understand is that as you progress your way to different levels of football, one thing will increase with it, being aggressive. It’s like an untold rule that once you hit the more demanding levels of football, you will find that bodies will collide as frequently as watching a game in the NFL. For the creative, flamboyant player like Ronaldinho, yourself and I, it would be something that we are not used to and prefer a non-contact and pretty game of football.

What To Do Then?

Learn to be aggressive. This applies to you defenders as well as attackers. When the level of intensity goes up, so does the need to fuel your aggressive side, the side that is always hungry for the ball. When I say be aggressive, I mean for example, when you and another player come to a 50-50 situation where only the hard work and strength of one will prevail over the other, then you will have possession and you are able to lay off the ball to a stationary player. Sometimes you just wont have a choice, you will need to commit to a challenge for the ball and you will have to use your sheer strength to topple another player using your shoulder. Other times you will need to use your body to block off the ball from the incoming challenger and it is here that you wit and strength will be tested. You would probably need to read my post about going to the gym while playing football, as it addresses the various questions associated with strength.

Please Don’t Go Too Far 

Remember you are playing football, not anything else, so that means you need to be within reason for your physical challenges. You can always be tough but fair when you play football and the referee will never blow that whistle against you if follow this ideal.