| In this article are 9 tips that will make it easier for | | | | everyone knows what to expect and your midfielders |
| soccer coaches to teach soccer positions to young | | | | and forwards are in position to win the cleared balls |
| players. This mainly applies to recreational soccer | | | | that are kicked straight ahead. |
| teams. Make adjustments as appropriate based on | | | | 5 positioning rules to teach midfielders and forwards: |
| your player's abilities, speed, aggressiveness, your style | | | | 1. Stay about a pass apart. |
| of play (whether you push up and how much of a | | | | 2. When a teammate dribbles toward you, move |
| controlled passing game you play), and the length and | | | | away into open space so you are ready for a pass. |
| width of the field (for example, is it long, wide, short or | | | | 3. If you don't have the ball, don't move closer than a |
| narrow?). | | | | pass to a teammate who has the ball. If you do, you |
| 4 positioning rules you can teach your fullbacks to | | | | will pull your defender toward the dribbler. |
| ensure your goal front is covered so you don't give up | | | | 4. When our goal is under attack, midfielders should |
| goals on breakaways (make the opponent earn goals | | | | stay a pass out from the ball and forwards should |
| and don't give up any easy goals): | | | | stay a long kick or pushed up as far as possible |
| 1. The left fullback and right fullback should never go | | | | (coach decides). That way players will be in position to |
| past the center of the goal except in an emergency. | | | | win balls that the fullbacks and stopper clear. |
| 2. Your fullbacks should not go into the goal box | | | | Midfielders and forwards should shift from side-to-side |
| except for an emergency (that way they won't get in | | | | with the ball. The fullbacks and stopper should clear the |
| the goalie's way). | | | | ball by kicking it straight ahead -- that way everyone |
| 3. Your fullbacks should not go more than 3 steps past | | | | knows what to expect and are in position to win the |
| the near post (that will keep them from pulled too far | | | | cleared balls. |
| out to the side) -- perhaps even tell them not to go | | | | 5. If you are a left midfielder or right midfielder, do not |
| more than one or 2 steps past the post if 3 steps is | | | | go past the center of the field except in an |
| too far. Remember: you must defend your goal front. | | | | emergency, but when the ball is on the far side (the |
| 4. Your fullbacks and stopper should clear the ball by | | | | side the other midfielder is on), shift to the center so |
| kicking it straight ahead. When the ball is in your | | | | you are closer to the ball and in position to stop an |
| defensive third, your midfielders and forwards should | | | | attack down the center (the center is an imaginary line |
| shift from side-to-side with the ball. That way | | | | between the 2 goals -- it is not the middle third). |