| Role of the Four Defenders as a Unit |
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| The back four defenders must play as one unit around the entire defensive half of the field. Most often teams will use one central defender (stopper) as a man for man marker and the second as a sweeper or covering defender. Some teams opt for a ‘"flat back four" with both central defenders sharing the responsibility of marking. This system is often preferred with the "offside trap" tactics. |
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| Role of the Two Wide Defenders |
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 Must play as one unit around the entire defensive half of the field.- Maintain compactness to support each other and avoid being spread out.
- Must play as one unit up and down the wide channel with the midfield and wide forward.
- Provide instant width when building possession from the back.
- Deepest defender acts as the leader for providing information to the other three defenders.
- Disciplined in maintaining defensive responsibility, even when their team is attacking.
- Ability to defend on a 1 v 1 basis. Knowing when to delay and when to challenge an oncoming opponent.
- Support both the middle and wide midfield players by providing an option of an overlap or a supporting
position behind the ball.
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| Role of the Two Central Defenders |
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- Must play as one unit around the entire defensive half of the field.
- Maintain compactness to support each other and avoid being spread out.
- Must play as one unit up and down the center channel with the midfield and forwards.
- Communicate well with co-center back, knowing when to mark tight and when to drop deeper into a supporting position.
- Deepest defender acts as the leader for providing information to the other three defenders.
- Disciplined in maintaining defensive responsibility, even when their team is attacking.
- Ability to defend on a 1 v 1 basis. Knowing when to delay and when to challenge an oncoming opponent.
- Support both the middle and wide midfield players by providing a passing option behind the ball.
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| Role of the Five Midfielders as a Unit |
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| The five midfielders are the link between offense and defense and must operate from penalty area to penalty area. The wide midfielder must act as a fifth defender when the opponents are attacking on the opposite side of the field. They should occupy the space in the fullback position and add cover whenever possible.
The three central midfielders should look to keep their position in the middle of the field. If both wide midfielders attack and are in advanced positions, one of the midfield players may have to remain in a deep position to stop
any swift counter attack if possession is lost.
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| Role of the Two Wide Midfielders |
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- Must play as one unit across the middle of the field with the three central midfielders.
- Must play as one unit up and down the field with the wide defender.
- Create width in attack.
- Must act as a fifth defender when the opponents are attacking on the opposite side of the field, occupying the space in the fullback position and add cover whenever possible.
- Get into advanced positions of the ball whenever their team can play forward. Insurance of having three central defenders should provide encouragement to attack at any and every opportunity.
- Look for blind-sided runs behind the defender when their team is attacking on the opposite side of the field.
- Carry the ball forward and deliver crosses to forwards and midfielders.
- Deliver a variety of crosses into the far and near post.
- Use a variety of crossing techniques such as the bent cross, driven cross and lofted cross.
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| Role of the Three Central Midfielders |
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- Must play as one unit across the middle of the field with the two wide midfielders.
- Must play as one unit up and down the field with the defenders and forwards.
- Maintain shape in the middle of the field and not become too isolated from each other.
- Team organizers and pace setters. Increase and lower the team tempo when needed.
- Use of cross over runs to create space for open passes when defenders are looking to play from the back.
- Getting possession of the ball from defense and carrying it forward.
- Use of deep probing runs into the attacking third to lose markers while attacking.
- Provide defensive cover if both wide midfielders attack and are in advanced positions. One midfielder may have to remain in a deep defensive position to stop any swift counter attack if the ball is lost.
- Track opponents' attacking midfield runs deep into their own penalty area.
- Short quality passes to forwards feet and long well paced passes expose area behind the opponents' defenders.
- Frequent use of "give and go" passes to link up with each other.
- Frequent use of "give and go" passes to link up with forwards'.
- Constantly playing with the head up to scan the field and instantly assess the best forward passing option.
- Interchange of players between the midfield and forwards needs to be highly developed.
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| Role of the Forward |
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| The forward must play as target player. It is important to ensure not to congest the five midfielders by dropping into deep forward positions. The forward should be continually searching for space to receive a pass, create shooting opportunities and score goals. Runs can be somewhat isolated to the center channel due to the automatic width provided by the two wide midfielders. The forward must be a player who is competent at holding the ball under pressure to provide enough time for support play. |
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- Must continually be presentable as a moving target in the attacking third of the field.
- Must interchange with wide midfielders in flank positions.
- Constantly looking to exploit space.
- Constantly looking to create space for midfield players to exploit.
- Press deep onto opponent's defense to create space for midfield play.
- Ability to make intelligent runs and decisions on where and when to receive passes into feet and into space.
- Ability to make intelligent runs and judgments on where and when to receive passes in front of the opposing defense and behind the opposing defense.
- Holding up the ball under pressure.
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