Possession Theory(see below) | Quick-Start Rules
Bread and Butter Thoughtscrims | Advanced Thoughtscrims

The Possession Part

Because the Possession Part is the most important part, it has the four different sections listed above. This page is about Possession Theory, which consists of six secrets. For quick ways to get new players to spread out and pass, go to "Quick Start Rules." For three scrimmages to include in every practice, go to "Bread and Butter Thoughtscrims." The final section, "Advanced Thoughtscrims," is just what it says.

For newer teams, the Possession Part is the main part to worry about. That's why it should be included in every practice. Until your players have a Possession Part, they'll just be playing Bunch Ball.

Why is the Possession Part so important? It permeates and influences all the other parts. If your team can't keep possession, it won't have many chances to break through or finish. And it will be more susceptible to being broken through and finished by the other team!

Possession Theory

If your team hopes to keep possession, how should this be done? Here are six secrets to keeping possession. They could just as easily be called principles, keys, or anything you like, just so your players use them.

Watch any professional match carefully. You'll see all these secrets over and over.

Secret #1: Use All Four Directions

Understand this secret well. Without it, soccer is a chaotic scramble with no room for thought. If your team always moves the ball north, toward the other team’s goal, possession is impossible. North is usually the most heavily guarded direction. Within fifteen seconds, either a goal will be scored or the ball will be lost—usually the latter. And your players to the south, east, and west can only watch.

To keep possession, your players must be aware of all four directions and choose the one that’s best. If north is crowded, the ball can move south, east, and west—in other words, back and to the side. When your players use all four directions, opponents don’t know which direction to guard.

Secret #2: Use Different Numbers of Touches

As you watch a match, notice how many touches each player uses. Did a player dribble, using many touches? Was the ball passed quickly, after only a few touches? Or was the ball sent on its way with only one touch?

New players use either too few or too many touches. The too few players use only one touch every time, a long boot forward. The too many players use three or four touches before looking up. In either case, the ball is usually lost.

To keep possession, players must look things over as the ball is arriving, and decide quickly how many touches to use. If a teammate is open, the first touch should usually be a pass. By the second touch, the teammate might be covered. If a one-touch pass isn’t possible, an open teammate can usually be found after two or three touches. But if no teammates are open, or the path forward is clear, more than three touches might be called for. In other words, the player may dribble.

Secret #3: Find the Open Space

This secret is closely related to the previous one. When new players have the ball in open space, they tend to dawdle. Since no opponents are near, why not get in a few extra touches? But the open space quickly vanishes, and teammates are soon covered as well. Possession requires a preventive approach. The ball moves to open space before opponents come near. In the diagram, the player with the ball has a little open space. Rather than dawdling, he passes quickly to a player with more space, who then does the same. By the time opponents arrive, the ball has moved on.

Secret #4: Pass Long As Well As Short

Short passes on the ground are wonderful for keeping possession. They tend to be accurate and easy to receive. But possession suffers if players can only pass short. In the diagram below, the player with the ball is being pressured. Teammates close to the ball are covered, and the ball is about to be lost. A long chip to the distant teammate saves the day.

Secret #5: Pass to Space, Not Just Teammates

New players usually pass directly to teammates. If those teammates are closely covered, the passes are stolen. Possession is easier when players can also pass to space. In the diagram below, a pass directly to the teammate would be stolen. A pass to either space, as the teammate runs there, would have a great chance. Suddenly, the defender has three targets to worry about instead of one.

Secret #6: If the Attack Stalls, Retreat

Once they reach the goal area, new players refuse to retreat. Moving the ball that far was difficult, by golly, and they’re going to shoot. The backward direction no longer exists. These forced scoring attempts almost always lose the ball.

For possession, your players must know when to retreat. If the attack stalls, and the ball is about to be lost, pass back to a Fullback. Pass back to the other half of the field. Pass back to the Keeper if necessary, but don’t lose the ball ! Such maneuvers, called resets, allow very long possessions. The entire field becomes available. Opponents tire. And a better scoring chance arises later anyway.