I have no detailed statistics on goals scored per match or shots on frame per shot taken. I can only go on my personal observations of matches I've seen. But I've seen a lot of matches this past year.

With the aid of a satelite dish, I've been able to see hundreds of international, top flight, soccer games on TV. Certainly it would be unfair to compare first division professional soccer players with the kids around here. But after watching a number of top level games, the differences between those games and ours, beyond player skills, become very clear. Most obvious of those differences show in transition from defense to offense. Why do our players have such a blatant disregard for hanging on to the ball?

Every weekend in spring and fall, go to any youth soccer game and you'll hear proud Moms and Dads shout "Good Kick Susie" when the defender smacks the ball out of the defensive half of the field. Little matter that the ball goes right to the opposition. In the eyes of the soccer ignorant, the quality of the play is reflected only in the height and distance of the kick.

For years we coaches have drilled this simple formula into the heads of youthful defenders: "When in doubt, up and out." There will be times when this motto will serve a player well of course. A scramble directly in front of the goal mouth warrants this type clearing action. But when possession is gained well away from danger or pressure, the "up and out" mentality will quickly stiffle an offense and make for a very boring match to watch.

Picture for a moment, a basketball player with a similar philosophy. With every rebound or stolen pass, the player would immediately fling the ball toward his basket with a long, hopeful lob down the length of the floor. Johny's Mom would yell "Good throw Johny," and the ball would be stolen right back. This would never happen on the hardcourts at even the most youthful levels of Y-league hoops. In basketball, that player would quickly be scolded by both coach and teammates and would soon learn to place great value on maintaining possession. Why, we even track performance statistically. How many soccer coaches do you know keep track of team TURNOVERS?

So what can be done to improve things? Here are a few things I intend to stress with my team this spring:

1. Get back to fundamentals. Work on improving player skills in trapping and passing under pressure situations. Confidence with the ball and quick decision making are vital player qualities.

2. Track player turnovers. Sharing this information with the team will help establish an intollerance of give-aways.

3. Emphasize support. In transition, every player should ask themselves "What can I do to support possession?" Always give the player on the ball as many passing options as possible. Players off the ball should move to positions which open passing lanes free of opposing pressure.

4. Don't pass into pressure. Discourage players from sending a ball in to someone already marked tightly. This would be difficult to avoid in the attacking third of the field. But in midfield, a pass back to a defender or goalkeeper is much more preferable to forcing the ball into a crowd.

5. Train your team's parents. If you can get them to praise possession play over "big kicks" you're taking a big step forward.