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. Team may also opt to play a zonal system where each player is responsible for an area and marks any player within that area. Another possibility is to use the midfield sweeper who sits in front of the defense and cuts out threats early.

• Must play as one unit across the back.

• Use two markers and one sweeping or covering player.

• The sweeper covers the full back and picks up loose balls or attacks opponents who have broken through.

• The sweeper must be able to read the game well, distribute the ball well, play confidently and calmly under pressure and come out of defense with the ball on the break.

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

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

   

   Responsibilities  of the Five Midfielders as a Unit

    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 fourth 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.

   

  Responsibilities  of the Two Wide Midfielders

• 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 fourth 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 advance positions of the ball whenever they 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.

   

  Responsibilities  of the Three 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. 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.