possession
puh-ZESH-un
/pəˈzeʃən/
The state of having control of the ball or puck in a game.
While it can mean simply holding the ball, in modern sports analysis, it often refers to the percentage of time a team controls the ball during a match.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'possidere,' which literally meant 'to sit upon' or 'to occupy.' It suggests a physical dominance over the object being held.
Word relationships
- control: Control is the act of handling the ball; possession is the state of the team having it.
- turnover: A turnover is the specific event where possession is lost to the other team.
Commonly confused with
- ownership: Ownership is legal and permanent; possession in sports is temporary and contested.
Word family
- possess (verb): To have or hold as property.
- possessive (adjective): Showing a desire to own or dominate.
Collocations
- maintain possession
- concede possession
- possession football
- regain possession
Example sentences
- "Possession is nine-tenths of the law." Sports proverb (English Proverb (often applied to sports control))
- "The team lost possession after a sloppy pass was intercepted by the defender." Basketball
Memory hook
If you 'possess' the ball, you are the 'boss' of the play. Holding the power.
When not to use
Avoid using it to describe a player's skill; use 'ball control' instead.
Fun facts
- In soccer, teams like Barcelona became famous for 'tiki-taka,' a style based on maintaining extremely high possession percentages.
Related words
Explore more words
possessive, retention, retain, championship, tenancy, execution
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