GOALKEEPER
- play ball wide and high or on the ground to a teammate to start the attack
- quick restarts when possible to surprise the opponent
- punt the ball out of trouble – if your team is “stuck” in their own end, put ball high and down the middle or out to a midfielder at the touchline
- direct your players – tell them what to do – how many in a wall, where to place the wall, who to mark, etc.
- call for the ball -“KEEPER” – every ball that comes into the box is yours – don’t wait in goal for a ball to come across to you on corners, go out and get it first!
SWEEPER (or CENTRAL DEFENDER)
- direct the other defenders
- stay central and behind the others – cover for the wing defenders
- clear ball to the feet of midfielders or “d” to start a counter attack OR clear ball high and wide toward the touchline.
- Push team forward on the attack and quickly get your defense up to the mid line. “PULL UP” to get the line to move up to catch the other team offside.
- TALK, TALK, TALK
WING DEFENDERS
- zonal defending – don’t get pulled across the field by an attacker by following your mark – pass your mark off to the next defender in the next zone. Turn and move toward goal a little before they try to sprint past you on the wings. NO LUNGING AT BALLS. remember: pressure/cover/support
- if you get beaten, the sweeper should be in a “cover” position to pick up that player. You must loop around behind the sweeper and become the new cover defender in case she gets beaten
- keep the attack wide – don’t let the attacker cut to the net on you – force them to the sidelines
- watch out for players making runs on the “blind” side – that is, players that may be trying to sneak in behind you without the ball while all the players are facing or watching the ball in another area
CENTER MIDS
- you are the quarterbacks – direct the attack, tell players where to run, what to do, who to mark
- look for quick passes from the defense to restart the attack
- make combinations with OTHER MID and Forwards
- continue your motion forward on the attack after you make a pass and call for or look for the ball to come back to you. If making a pass to OTHER mid or forward near line, continue run down the line expecting the ball back
- hold the ball for play to develop around you when necessary – wait for numbers to move forward
- fill the space in the middle of the field and play in coordination with the other mid to be inline with the posts
- setup at the top of the box for shots and rebounds – on corners start outside the ½ circle and run toward the penalty spot
- pick up the other team’s Central Mid on defense- don't let them run free to goal
- if you overlap the forward, make crosses into the box or to the opposite flag – try to kick to the top of the box, the penalty spot, or to the far post – don’t kick the ball where the keeper can make an easy play
FORWARD
- work as a unit – coordinate your runs to draw defenders out of an area (decoy) – criss cross, switch, overlap, etc.
- make combinations with CMs
- make runs to the 6 yard line, near and far post
- if ball is played directly, look to hold for help when outnumbered – that is, don’t expect to run to goal every time you get the ball . Change it up depending on the circumstances ( how many defenders will you need to beat?) and sometimes drop the ball back to the mids. Don’t make the attack predictable and easy to defend.
- Shoot to the far post – choose accuracy over power – look for rebounds when you are not the shooter – HEAD THE BALL- cover the other team’s DEFENSE IMMEDIATELY when they get the ball - don't let them come out of their own end.
- Challenge the defense by attacking the ball and stay toward midfield in case of counterattack.
- Work together – if one attacks, the other supports, the third stays wide etc.
