By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
There is an enormous difference between watching two teams with a clearly defined style of play and a shared vision of the game, and watching a match where 22 players all seem to be playing from different scripts.
The contrast is as stark as driving along an open coastal road watching a beautiful sunset versus sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 95 staring at industrial smokestacks. Or, in soccer terms, it is the difference between watching a tennis match where the ball is simply returned back and forth and watching Spain at their best, combining, creating, and controlling the game through intelligent possession.
I fully appreciate that soccer is a game of opinions. Some coaches become excited watching players launch long balls toward the opposition’s goal and are horrified at the thought of a player taking more than one touch or embarking on a dribble. I simply do not see the game that way.
More importantly, I believe deeply in player development. I believe the following equation holds true:
More touches of the ball = Better learning
Possession-based soccer = More touches and more decisions
More touches = Faster player development.
Teams that value possession, combine with short passes, and penetrate intelligently create significantly more meaningful learning opportunities for every player.
I would also add another equation for coaches who genuinely prioritize development:
Attack space when it is available.
Create numerical advantages whenever possible.
If those moments do not exist, keep the ball until they do.
In other words, be patient enough to be surgical.
Small-Sided Games with Constraints
Play an enormous number of 3v3 and 4v4 games, introducing purposeful constraints that reward the behaviors you want to see.
- Every player must touch the ball during a possession before the team can score.
- Teams can score either by completing seven consecutive passes or by scoring in the goal.
- A goal only counts if it follows a two-player combination.
Full-Field Shadow Play
Shadow play can be one of the most effective methods for imprinting a style of play when delivered with clarity and energy.
- Have a clear vision for how the team should build and progress through each third of the field.
- Communicate that vision clearly and efficiently.
- Coach with enthusiasm and conviction.
- Stay true to the principles of attacking play: support, width, penetration, mobility, and creativity.
Phase Play
Phase play allows the coach to focus on the interaction between specific units of the team. One favorite example is four midfielders and two forwards attacking against a goalkeeper, back four and four midfielders. The attacking team works towards the full-sized goal while the defending team counter-attacks to mini-goals after regaining possession. Coach in the flow whenever possible, ask questions of players away from the ball, and resist the temptation to stop play too often.
Final Thoughts
Developing a style of play is not about choreographing every movement. It is about creating a shared understanding of the game. The best teams appear connected because every player recognizes similar pictures, solves problems together, and understands the principles that guide their decisions. Experiment with these coaching methods, adapt them to your players, and help your team develop a clear identity in possession and without the ball.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/