Clearing the Ball

Clearing is making sure that the ball remains "clear" of enemy intervention at a crucial moment in the game. For example, kicking the ball out of bounds can provide precious seconds to an outnumbered defense. Remember that a clearance, as well as any strategy is not bound to a particular technique but rather to a specific function. A defender may shield the ball so that it goes out of play without even touching it. In that case, he is ensuring a clearance without actually kicking the ball.

General principles
The first principle of clearing is ensuring that your opponent can't gain possession of the ball. It should be used in defense where no other safe options are available. We don't want to make risky passes in our defensive third. For example, when a defender is pressured and has no support at the time it's probably best for him to clear the ball. Goalkeepers often clear crosses when they are not certain about catching the ball. Clearing is a last resort option for players who don't feel confident in defense. Typically, the direction in which the ball should be cleared is wide, away from the center of the field.

Another common situations where we might want to clear the ball is when our opponents are attacking with a lot of momentum. This will not only stop the attack, but diminish our opponents' drive. It is hard to resume the attack with as much fervor after a defender has kicked the ball over the stadium's grandstands.

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