Responsibilities  of the Three Defenders

    The back three must be out and out defensive players. There is little freedom to go forward from the back due to the minimum number of defenders. Most often teams will use two of the defenders as man for man markers with the third defender acting as a sweeper or covering player.

• Must play as one unit across the back.

• Use two markers and one sweeping or covering player.

• Maintain compactness to support each other and avoid being spread out.

• Deepest defender acts as the leader for providing information to the other two.

• Disciplined in maintaining defensive responsibility, even when their team is attacking.

   

Responsibilities  of the Four Midfielders as a Unit

The four midfielders are the link between offense and defense and must operate from penalty area to penalty area. The wide midfielder must act as a fourth defender when the opponents are attacking on the opposite side of the field. He should occupy the space in the fullback position and add cover whenever possible. The two central midfielders should look to keep their position in the middle of the field.

   

Responsibilities  of the Two Wide Midfielders

• Must play as one unit across the middle of the field with the two central midfielders.

• Must play as one unit up and down the field with the wide defender and wide forward.

• Must act as a fourth defender when the opponents are attacking on the opposite side of the field, occupy the space in the fullback position and add cover whenever possible.

• Get into advance positions of the ball whenever their team can play forward.

• Look for blind-sided runs behind the defender when their team is attacking on the opposite side of the field.

• Deliver early crosses to forwards.

• 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

   

Responsibilities  of the Two Central Midfielders

• 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.

• Use of deep probing runs into the attacking third to lose markers while attacking.

• Provide defensive cover for wide midfielders.

• 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 opponent’s 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.