When fans watch a match, they usually track the player with the ball. But coaches, scouts, and top-level analysts focus on something far more important: the movement happening away from it.
Off-the-ball movement is the hidden engine of modern soccer. It creates space, disrupts defenders, accelerates attacks, and reveals a player’s true football intelligence. At ProEdge Soccer, we believe developing this skill set separates good players from great ones.
Why Off-the-Ball Movement Matters More Than Ever
In a game where players average less than two minutes actually touching the ball, what a player does in the remaining 88+ minutes becomes the deciding factor.
The best players:
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Don’t wait for the ball - they create passing lanes
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Constantly scan before moving
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Manipulate defenders with subtle changes of speed
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Support teammates in multiple phases of play
Whether you're pressing, attacking, or looping around to recycle possession, movement dictates the rhythm and efficiency of your team.
The Three Types of Movement Every Player Needs
A. Movement to Receive
This includes checking in, checking out, and finding pockets between lines.
Great receivers stay unpredictable - never standing still and never hiding behind defenders.
B. Movement to Create Space for Others
Probably the most underrated skill in youth soccer.
A simple “drag run” can pull a defender away, opening a channel for a teammate to exploit.
C. Movement to Disrupt Defensive Structure
Diagonal runs, third-man runs, overlapping runs - these force defenders to make decisions, and defenders under stress make mistakes.
The Role of Scanning: The Foundation of Smart Movement
Before movement comes awareness.
Elite players scan constantly - 6 to 8 times every 10 seconds in high-level play.
They’re checking:
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Where teammates are
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The defenders’ positioning
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Space opening or closing
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The direction of the next play
If movement is the “action,” scanning is the “information” that guides it.
Training Players to Move With Purpose
Here are a few effective training tools:
Rondos With Dynamic Entry and Exit
Instead of standing in place, require players to rotate into new zones. This builds instinctive movement after releasing the ball.
Shadow Play With Timed Runs
Great for pattern recognition - players learn where and when to move in relation to the ball.
Conditioned Games (Two-Touch, Limited Zones, Bonus Points for Runs in Behind)
These constraints force creative movement and reward proactive play.
Pro-Level Examples
Elite players who thrive off the ball include:
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Erling Haaland – world-class timing of runs in behind
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Sophia Smith – deceptive movement to free herself for 1v1s
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Kevin De Bruyne – unmatched sense of space before receiving
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Lionel Messi – proves that even minimal running can be maximized with perfect timing and positioning
Studying these players helps young athletes understand that movement is more than sprinting - it’s intentional, clever, and purposeful.
Final Thoughts
If you want to level up your game, don’t just train what happens on the ball. Train what happens before it touches your feet.
Movement is the skill that connects tactics, technique, and team play. And mastering it will make any player- at any age - more influential.