Job descriptions - Midfielder
Our midfield is the engine room of our team. In my view they can fall into one of three different types of midfield player:

Outside midfielder
When his team is defending, the left or right midfielder marks the opposition winger on his side of the field. If he has no-one to mark when his team is defending he should concentrate on keeping the team shape compact by moving in towards the middle of the field.

In attack, the outside midfielder stays wide and makes supporting runs up the line. Even if he doesn't have the ball, his presence on the flank will stretch the opposition defence and thus provide space in the centre for his team's attackers to exploit.

So the outside midfielder has to be fit, have excellent ball skills and be confident in taking on the opposition 1v1.

Defensive midfielder
The defensive midfielder holds the team together. He operates between the attackers and the central defender or sweeper. His job is to put pressure on the opposition ball carrier and provide cover for any of his team mates who lose the ball in his 'patch' - the midfield.

When your team is attacking, the defensive midfielder stays behind the attackers, ready to pressurise the opposition and grab any loose balls. He should be in position to provide the attackers with the option to pass back.

Offensive midfielder
Offensive midfielders are the playmakers of the team and are often the fittest as they are involved in every attack.

Their job is to move the ball quickly from defence and join the attackers to create a numbers up position.

All midfielders need to have sufficient ball skills so that they don't have to think about the mechanics of controlling the ball but can concentrate on how best to distribute it instead. They also need to be able to anticipate what us about to happen next.

Job descriptions - Defenders

1. Your main job is to stop attackers shooting - you don't have to win the ball.

2. If you're not the closest defender to the ball, make sure you back up the defender who is closest.

3. Stay alert, try to guess what is going to happen next.

4. Direct attackers towards places where they can't shoot - the sideline is your friend.

5. When you are closing down an attacker, keep your eyes on the ball. Wait for him or her to lose control before you tackle.

6. Be brave! If you have to put your body in the way of a shot, do it.

7. When you have the ball get your head up and look for a quick pass to a midfield player or forward.

8. Stay on your feet - sliding tackles are a last resort.

9. Don't hoof the ball upfield all the time hoping that one of your players will get on the end of it. That's another last resort!

10. When passing back to your goalkeeper, pass the ball to his stronger foot and to the side of the goal.

You know I like to use different training methods to help us, and how I like to make words out of what we are learning this month, well here is another!!!!!!!

COAST

C - CONCENTRATION

O - OBSERVATION, BALL, OUR PLAYERS THEIR PLAYERS

A - ANTICIPATION - WHAT, HOW, WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT, OF THE PASS.

S - SPACE, CLOSE IT, USE IT, MOVE INTO IT.

T - TIME, ON THE BALL, USING IT UP IF WE ARE WINNING.


THE 4 Ks

1. KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON THE PITCH.

2. KNOW WHERE YOUR TEAMATES ARE ON THE PITCH.

3. KNOW WHERE THE OPPOSITION ARE ON THE PITCH.

4. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE BALL BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU.


THE 4 Rs

1. RECIEVE THE PASS

2. REACT TO THE PASS - CONTOL, GIVE AND GO, DRIBBLE, SHOOT.

3. RECYCLE THE PASS - SHOOT, PASS, HOLD, MOVE TO RECIEVE THE NEXT PASS.

4. RECIEVE THE NEXT PASS.