Why High Percentage Soccer?

Why We Play (Direct) High Percentage Soccer...Are 35 Reasons Enough?

Because high-school soccer is high pressure
Because high-school soccer presents age & skill mismatches all over the field
Because we have so many different skill levels on the team
Because possession skills & decision making are soccer’s most difficult task
Because high school grass fields are difficult to play skillful on
Because at SHHS we play to win with 3 forwards=one less possession player
Because direct play wins more set plays that win the game
Because possession takes at least 3-4 great playmakers
Because loss of possession leads to frustration and blame
Because one bad pass can cost you the game and the season
Because possession leads to counters & counters get you beat
Because we always want to protect our defense and goal-keeper
Because some teams value the ball, but we value goals and shutouts
Because every game is a championship game
Because winning is pretty & losing is ugly
Because winning ugly is better than losing pretty
Because possession gives us too many mind-reading options
Because possession places too much responsibility on the individual player
Because direct play places all the pressure on the other team’s back four & GK
Because direct play makes fitness a game-breaking weapon
Because direct play gives us the most chances to score goals
Because other teams will pack it in against us with 8 defenders
Because an 80 minute game is harder to score against
Because the timing, flow & teamwork of possession are most difficult to learn
Because we want zero set plays against
Because direct play is low risk, high reward
Because possession is high risk, low reward
Because direct play dictates that the game will be played on our terms
Because everyone else plays direct (under pressure) anyway but won’t admit it
Because possession play is the consolation prize of losing programs
Because most championship high school programs use direct play!
Because our championship tradition & game plan are built around it
Because it is high-school soccer, not club soccer, two completely different games
Because winning programs decide what the best way to play is (UNC)
Because there is no right way of playing, only a winning way of playing