Anger & Aggression

I tend to get mad very easily when I play soccer, and that leads to me becoming more aggressive. In Dan Abrahams' Soccer Tough he talks about how to use anger positively.

When I get angry in a game I like to think that it helps me play better, faster, and stronger. Abrahams asked a room full of players: "Who here plays their best soccer when angry?" And about 80% of the room raised their hand (118). I am one of those people, but sometimes if I get too mad and aggressive then things start to get out of hand. "It's only helpful if the intensity of anger is directed toward being more competitive. It is when they direct their anger intensity toward aggressiveness that things can go wrong" (Abrahams 119). Sometimes in games I will get so mad that I will not even care about getting the ball as much as hurting the other player.

This level of aggression and anger never results in good things for me, I end up getting fouls or losing the ball. Abrahams explained a great way to use anger when playing. "Far better to exact revenge on a fouling opponent by placing energy and resources into executing your skills than onto the opponent" (119). After reading this, I have really changed the way I play when angry. I still play very aggressive and fast when mad, but I direct it towards things that help my team and not just to hurt the other team.

How are you using your anger?

Abrahams, Dan. Soccer Tough: Simple Football Psychology Techniques to Improve 

     Your Game. Birmingham: Bennion Kearny Limited, 2012. Print.