Summer of Stats: Average Possession Percentage

Yesterday, I wrote about NPxG; today, I'll talk about a stat that almost everyone who’s ever watched a soccer match will know: Possession Percentage. Possession percentage is defined as the percentage of the match during which a certain team has or possesses the ball. 

Some clubs value possession more than others, with some even styling their game around it. Jake Seau from Duke University defines possession style play as, “emphasizing ball control and many short passes that requires a great deal of skill and precision. Passes will be made in all directions on the pitch, creating a rhythm with possession. As the ball is moved across the pitch, players send probing passes forward and along the pitch waiting for the right opportunity to advance forward. Until this opportunity is seen, or an advantage is gained, possession will remain with the team.”

Possession cannot be measured as an individual stat, contrary to my previous articles, I’ll consider this statistic in the context of a team. The Columbus Crew leads Major League Soccer in Average Possession Percentage with 59.8.

On the Other hand, the team with the lowest Average Possession Percentage in MLS is Minnesota United with a shockingly low 37.8% Average Possession. 

To all the St. Louis City fans reading this, St. Louis City SC ranks 27th in Average Possession Percentage with 45.5%. Tomorrow, I’ll cover another Percentage stat, Passing Percentage. Stay Tuned!