Open Practice: Possession for Penetration

Bobby Muuss,
Wake Forest University Head Men's Soccer Coach;
2019 NCAA College Cup Final Four;
2016 NCAA College Cup Runner-Up;
3x ACC Regular Season Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
3x ACC Tournament Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
4x ACC Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018);
5x ACC Atlantic Division Titles;
6x NCAA Elite Eight appearances;
University of Denver Head Coach from 2007 to 2014;
2013 Summit League Coach of the Year;
2x MPSF Coach of the Year;
Wake Forest University Assistant Coach from 2001 to 2006;
University of Connecticut Assistant Coach from 1997 to 2000;
2000 NCAA National Champions;
3x Big East Champions;
played college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University

Wake Forest University is one of the top men's soccer programs in the country. In this video, head coach Bobby Muuss gives a rare behind the scenes look into what has helped the Wake Forest soccer program achieve tremendous success.

Coach Muuss demonstrates how he teaches his players the importance of possession to penetrate and the art of counter pressing the "Wake Forest Way." You'll see numerous progressions that will help your team be dangerous keeping the ball and allow them to quickly win it back. Muuss provides in-depth illustrations both on a white board and on the field to show different key elements for your players, including:

• The movement and supporting angles needed from supporting players.
• Reactions needed to win the ball back.
• How to read the play and make the right decisions based on positioning.
• The small details needed to be a technical attacking team.
• The importance of scanning and checking your shoulder for better vision.

Small Sided Games

Coach Muuss begins by addressing the key technical elements needed for quick ball circulation, body position, and the ability to turn in a dynamic setting. You'll see three unopposed passing patterns that lay the foundation for his team's ability to play forward. The emphasis in these particular passing patterns is that the players develop a good sense of rhythm when passing while making sure the angles of support are correct. He progresses this by showing additional patterns to be able to attack and go forward.

The second small sided game that Muuss shows is a 5v2 reaction game. It's here that he is able to cover the two main topics of the session, which are possession to penetrate using a third man and counter pressing. He trains his players to play using the correct shape and decision making to be able to play through pressure and tight spaces to find a central player. He also lays the foundation of getting into good habits of reaction when losing the ball.

In the third game, which is 4v4+3, Muuss builds from his previous game into a more complex one with the same emphasis. He creates and shows a dynamic way of teaching the use of quick ball circulation and the ability to counter press when the right moment occurs. Throughout the small sided game, he continues to stress how important off the ball movement can be and how important it is to have good reactions in a competitive environment.

The fourth small sided game is 7v0 to 7v5 Game. It's here that Coach Muuss builds his players in an unopposed environment while teaching them the playing style/philosophy he wants. These include three main objectives: ball circulation, wingers in, and positioning of the outside backs. Once the players are able to grasp the idea, he adds seven more players to the game.

The fifth and final small sided game is a 7v7+1 game with touch restrictions. Muuss uses this game to reinforce what was taught during the session and adds the touch restriction to continue to force his players to play at a high tempo.

Coach Muuss uses this video to show how he trains his teams to possess to penetrate and how to apply the counter press. Every coach must teach their team how to possess and play through the field, and this is one of the most in-depth resources to learn possession that you'll find!

87 minutes + 28 bonus minutes. 2018.