Many don’t talk about the mental aspect of football. The fact is that having the right mindset and attitude towards a game can make or break your performance out on that field. Has someone already told you this? or have you found out the hard way? Personally, my biggest challenge when I play a game of football is getting into the right mind set, so that when I get out onto that field I can confront anything that comes my way without second guessing myself, and the sheer nature of the league I play in doesn’t let me do this. That is why I do my best to walk out onto that field relaxed and ready to play my game.

You Talked About Being Relaxed?

You can’t start playing football when your mind is going a hundred miles an hour, it just doesn’t work out in the end for you. When you receive that ball from a team mate, are you going to know what you are to do with it? Or has your mind been distracted from an event that has taken place before the game. This can be something as small as seeing a beautiful girl on the sideline. When you come to play your game, all your focus needs to be on the game and you need to be relaxed towards what you need to be doing. Now don’t think I’m saying be physically relaxed because that will encourage laziness on the field, but be relaxed in the mind so that you can take each situation the ball comes to you as different and that way you can respond well to each occasion.

Be Confident In Your Abilities

If you are in a team, then you aren’t there by chance. The manager has seen you play and has put you into the team, so don’t ever question your abilities as a football player. If you’re like me and you train, trying to better your ball control or your left foot, you still need to be confident in what you do, because if that ball comes down onto your left foot, you gotta be able to cross that ball in or switch it to the other side. Confidence is one of those things that tend to multiply your feelings and emotions, because when you pull something off because you were confident enough to try it, you will be encouraged to do well and keep going. So next time you are about to play any game of football, keep these things in mind and you will most probably come out having a great game.

FC Barcelona have now resumed their training as they look forward to some great pre-season games overseas. As you know, Barca will be taking on Dundee United in Scotland very soon and so Frank Rijkaard and his men have begun their preparations with confidence in winning the titles they desire. Most notably, Victor Valdez, the Barca keeper who was quoted saying:

We have the best attack that any team can have

And why shouldn’t he think that when they have the likes of Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Henry and Lionel Messi attacking the opposition goal.

Injuries Force Some To Stay In Barca 

For this trip to Scotland, Barca will have the following players out due to injury or extended holiday, in this case due to the Copa America:

• Gudjohsen (left knee injury picked up from last season)
• Puyol ( right knee ligament damage picked up from last season)
• Messi (Copa America holiday rest)
• Marquez (Copa America holiday rest)
• Milito (Copa America holiday rest)

Images from Barca Training Camp

Ronaldinho and Henry enjoy training which seems to help their friendship even more, but…

It can help their competitive spirit even more, and that translates on the field (Note Ronaldinho’s newer 10R boots)

Finishing off the training session, the team indulge in some head juggling. Fun but effective during matches.

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.