"...the difference between making it and not making it
is so small... it's about vision and other things."2
Johan Cruyff

Current thinking in soccer divides the game into four main moments

1.       Own team in possession, 2. Losing possession, 3. Opponents in possession, 4, Regaining possession.

This should not be confused with attack, defense and transition. It is larger than that. Thinking in the latter leads to isolated responsibilities and positions. Players become attackers or defenders in mind and action. This results in back players that do not support effectively when their midfield is in possession and top players that don't contribute when the opponents have the ball.

Most youth coaches will be concerned with own team in possession and opponents in possession while training. This offers a very clear picture for both teams and the coach to start from.

For the player, they need to understand what their primary task is in each moment. Understanding their task leads to better positioning which helps technique. But possession in youth soccer changes so rapidly that many young players cannot keep up with the game either physically or mentally. They either can't get to the correct position or have no idea where it is. This creates a stressful situation for the player and is a major reason why team play breaks down.

After settling on the main moment comes the smaller moments. Example,own team in possession, our goalkeeper has the ball. Where should the outside backs be? How deep should the center forward be? Or, the opponents have possession and their central midfielder has the ball. When does our central defender have to step up and assume responsibility? At what point can he stop conceding space and must commit to the ball? Seeing "moments" can aid in a better understanding of soccer situations and problems. A soccer game is an event, it is not aa thing. Opportunities and situations in soccer appear and vanish in a fraction of a second. Coaches need to consider this when reading the game and setting up their practices.