Understanding ones role within the organization of the team is very important. Here are some general guidelines to follow, regardless of the system of play.

First Read the GAME by thinking of the 3 main moments

1. Be alert - follow the play even if it is in the opposition half
2. Act as a sweeper when your team is pushed up
3. Get off your line quickly and decisively when long balls are played forward
4. Deny goals
5. Give direction to your defenders

1. Prevent crosses, shots
2. Squeeze the play away from goal
3. Do not dive in on tackles, do not foul, keep your man in front of you
4. Closer to goal, the tighter the marking/be aggressive but not reckless Mark on the inside line
5. Close down the ball between the ball and the goal
6. Cover when central defenders are challenging
7. Do not fall behind the Center backs. Hold the line
8. When right side defender is challenging, tuck inside and cover the line
9. Understand your recovery lines if beaten

1. Prevent shots on goal
2. Tight marking close to goal
3. Keep the defensive line compact
4. Do not allow the player with the ball to turn. Keep your man in front of you
5. Anticipate the pass and intercept. Be aggressive but not reckless
6. Do not foul
7. Challenge in the air and head up and out
8. Cover
9. Mark on the inside, line on the same side of the ball
10. Stay between ball and goal
11. Understand your recovery lines

1. Play your position; do not play too far forward
2. Pick up opponents that push forward
3. Track players that are unmarked and making runs into dangerous space
4. Cover on the side of your team when the full back goes forward
5. Anticipate forward pass
6. Get goal side of the ball as quickly as possible.

1. Prevent forward passes by closing down the ball and/or space
2. Play in your zone; mark tight around the ball; cover space furthest away from ball. When teammates are pressuring in the opposition's half, pick up tight; deny any room for escape; do not drop off
3. Track immediate opponents running behind your back
4. Do not spread your line and leave gaps
5. Get goal side of the ball as quickly as possible

1. Responsible for fullbacks and space in midfield. Track overlapping full back
2. Tuck inside when the play is on the opposite side or midfield
3. Deny forward passes in the build up of opposition
4. Deny crosses
5. Recognize the most dangerous situation, i.e. your direct mark or space behind pressuring defenders
6. Get goal side of the ball as quickly as possible

1. Pressure the build up
2. Choose the correct moment to challenge; you can take more risk in your challenge
3. Do not chase if the team is in complete control or you have no support
4. Keep the play and opponent in front of you. DELAY the build up.

1. Remain alert and involved
2. Start the attack with good distribution
3. Throw out, kick, goal kick, pass
4. Good communication with all teammates

1. Look to play forward
2. Switch the play
3. Push yourself and the line up where possible
4. Support in depth
5. Recognize when to join the attack from deep
6. Be demanding

1. Left / Right create width in the build up (this will force pressuring players to make a decision)
2. Central move away
3. Recognize the moment to go forward and join the attack
4. If left side is on the attack, right side must tuck inside
5. Support behind the side midfielder

1. Long range shooting from layoffs
2. Try to get into scoring positions of attack through combining with strikers
3. Play your position in the build up phase
4. Link defenders to midfield (stand sideways on) I link midfield to attack
5. Support central strikers
6. Don’t move forward to early or without caution. Remember the space behind you
7. Look to be available to switch the point of attack

1. When attack is on the other side (flank) look to arrive into the penalty area late
2. Avoid crowding the winger, by drawing defenders into his space, especially when the winger is in a 1 v 1 situation (support in depth at the correct distance)
3. Maintain good positioning and distance in relation to defenders, wingers, etc. .
4. When the winger is outnumbered; i.e. 1 v 2 destroy the cover with runs off the ball
5. Recognize when the ball needs to be switched (avoid square passes)
6. Weigh the risk of running with the ball in midfield
7. When you cut inside look to combine with strikers

1. Come inside when the play is on the opposite flank (wing)
2. Quality of the cross is important. Cross away from keeper, behind the defenders, below head height. Strike the cross with pace.
3. Beat your man (1 v 1) Learn to go both sides
4. When you receive the ball, where possible, attempt to square yourself off with the defender; ie. Position your body towards the goal or opposite comer flag, rather than down the line
5. Score goals

1. Read the build up play; do not move into space too early to receive long balls
2. Recognize when to hold the ball up or lay it off.
3. Move away from the vision of the marker, before you make your runs
4. Know when to run deep versus when to come to the ball (look to get behind your marker)
5. Make a dummy run to move defenders into poor defending positions, before you show for the pass
6. Get into the penalty area; anticipate where the ball will arrive
7. Take risk do not lose the ball through hesitation. Run at the defense 1v11ook to enter the box, shoot asap.
8. Score goals

1. Look to play forward (look to attack)
2. Attack with speed while the opposition is off balance
3. Look to attack behind the defense
4. Look to run behind the defense
5. Go 1 v1 or even 1 v2
6. The moment the ball is lost
7. Look to win it back
8. Nearest player to the ball put pressure on the ball.
9. Deny forward play
10. Do not push (to pressure) until you get the signal from behind you
11. Recover goal side of the ball as quickly as possible