In recent years a particular type of soccer writing has boomed in popularity: the tactical analysis. These pieces aim to tell a story about how a game unfolded using subtle, easy to miss details that, according to the author, hold the key to interpreting the result. Inspired by soccer tactics books from authors like Michael Cox […]
Team Tactics
What is Possession with a Purpose in Soccer?
We’ve written about keeping possession and how to do it for a team’s success in soccer, but it’s important to understand that this doesn’t mean that all passes are equal. Instead, you hear that teams not only need to know how to keep the ball, but that they need to achieve “possession with a purpose.” […]
Soccer Possession Drills: Best Exercises to Learn to Keep the Ball
Passing is a fundamental individual skill in soccer, but when the whole team gets in on the act, it becomes something much greater than the sum of its individual parts. Possession is a key metric for team success, a requirement for scoring goals, and something that you need to be able to do well as […]
What is a Late Run into the Box and Why is it Good?
Recently we’ve been looking at some tactical terms you may hear from your coach or from others who analyze the game of soccer. These have ranged from patterns and positions of play to recycling possession. Today we’ll look at another term that can be a little tricky to nail down: making a “late” run into […]
What Is Recycling Possession in Soccer?
At its core, possession is a pretty simple concept in soccer. Many, but not all, of the top professional teams value keeping possession for its benefits of helping create space, stretch out your opponent, and ultimately create scoring chances. But there’s more to possession than just passing the ball around. In particular, there are some […]
Tactical Terms: Positional Play vs. Principles of Play vs. Patterns of Play
The world of soccer tactics can be a tough nut to crack: there are a dizzying array of formations that often change during the game as well as plenty of advanced concepts that can be difficult to identify, let alone analyze and apply to your own situation. In many cases, however, the core tactical concepts […]
Best Soccer Books for Learning Tactics and Advanced Strategy
By Andrew Walsh In recent years there’s been an explosion of interest in the tactical side of soccer. The tactics of the world’s top managers are regularly broken down at a level rarely seen in generations past. Countless blogs have sprung up on the internet breaking down the formations and tactics for all of each […]
What Would Happen if the Offside Rule Was Abolished?
American sports fans sometimes suggest that soccer should do away with the offside rule. The thought is usually that this change would lead to more scoring, and therefore more entertaining games. But in order to understand the impact this would have on the game of soccer, it’s necessary to understand some key tactical principles that […]
Premier League Tactics to Watch for in 2018-19
It’s an exciting time of the year for soccer: the start of the new English Premier League season. Cheering for your favorite team or simply marveling at all the talent present in the league is undoubtedly an enjoyable experience, but you can also significantly improve your own game by watching games a bit more analytically. […]
Get the Most Out of Practices to Become a Better Player
Soccer practices can be lackluster and inefficient. Sometimes your coach’s practice plans or drills do not turn out the way they are supposed to, even though they are all made with good intentions. But on the other hand, a practice plan or drill might be absolutely perfect but if the players don’t go out and […]
