Positional Responsibilities

The positional responsibilities in a particular positional area are the tasks that must be carried out in that positional area by a team’s players in order to help the team to achieve its tactical objectives.

Each positional responsibility can be performed differently depending on the tactical roles of the players who play in or near the relevant positional area.

The main positional responsibilities are:

  • Providing cover
    • Forming a defensive line
    • Providing attacking cover
    • Providing defensive cover
  • Applying defensive pressure
  • Stretching play
  • Playing safe
  • Creating chances
  • Taking chances

Detailed below for each positional responsibility, where relevant, are:

  • Summary – a summary of the positional responsibility.
  • Phases of play – the phases of play that the positional responsibility is performed in.
  • Tactical objectives – the tactical objectives that the positional responsibility relates to.
  • Tactical risk – the tactical risk level that is associated with the positional responsibility.
  • Key tactical dynamics – the tactical dynamics that are most directly related to the positional responsibility.
  • Importance – the importance level of the positional responsibility in each of the main positional areas.
  • Direct role types – the component and composite role types that are related to the performance of the positional responsibility and its key tactical dynamics.
  • Key role types – direct role types that enable a player to perform the positional responsibility to a much greater extent. They directly relate to the positional responsibility’s tactical risk.
  • Supplementary role types – other direct role types that enable a player to perform the positional responsibility to a greater extent. They directly relate to the positional responsibility’s tactical risk.
  • Conflicting role types – direct role types that oppose the key role types and so prevent a player from performing the positional responsibility to any significant extent. They inversely relate to the positional responsibility’s tactical risk.
  • Adverse role types – other direct role types that hinder a player from performing the positional responsibility to some extent. They inversely relate to the positional responsibility’s tactical risk.
  • Indirect role types – other component and composite role types that are related to the performance of the positional responsibility but not its key tactical dynamics.
  • Suitable indirect role types – indirect role types that may enable a player to perform the positional responsibility to a greater extent.
  • Unsuitable indirect role types – indirect role types that may hinder a player from performing the positional responsibility to some extent.

Providing Cover

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases and defensive phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: lower risk.

Build-up play: earlier stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Tactical shape (all phases).
    • Attacking shape.
    • Defensive shape.
  • Player movement (all phases).
    • Off the ball movement.
    • Pressing.
    • Marking.
    • Resistance.

Importance:

  • Central defence – high.
  • Central midfield – high.
  • The flanks – low.
  • Central attack – low.

If regrouping is used to a sufficient extent during the team’s defensive transition then providing cover can be considered to be of lower importance, as regrouping can allow the separate positional responsibilities of providing attacking cover and providing defensive cover (both analysed below) to be considered independently. This is explained in the Tactical Organisation guide.

Responsibility Mentality

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

Supplementary Role Types

Conflicting Role Types

Adverse Role Types

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Disciplined-dribbling player – enables a player to stay nearer to his attacking position when on the ball and quickly recycle possession.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

Forming a Defensive Line

Summary

Phases of play: defensive phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: not applicable.

Build-up play: not applicable (defensive phases).

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Player movement (defensive phases).
    • Offside line movement.

Importance:

  • Central defence – essential (centre back playing positions); irrelevant (sweeper playing position).
  • Other positional areas – irrelevant.

Forming a defensive line is a particular aspect of providing cover that is performed by players in centre back playing positions.

A team’s defensive line is a hypothetical horizontal line formed by at least two centre backs who are horizontally level. As such, it is usually level with, or close to, the offside line and therefore it is directly affected by the team’s offside line movement defensive instructions.

The team’s other outfield players should generally remain in front of the defensive line so that the centre backs can set the offside line and so restrict onside space, with the exception of any player who is assigned the sweeper playing position. If a player is assigned the sweeper playing position then he can provide defensive cover behind the defensive line but he makes it more difficult for the team to restrict onside space.

To ensure that a defensive line can be formed and maintained effectively throughout the defensive phases a team typically uses a line of restraint in the manner explained in the Tactical Organisation guide. In addition, providing attacking cover is generally considered to be of essential importance for players in centre back playing positions to ensure that a defensive line can be formed quickly during the team’s defensive transition.

Providing Attacking Cover

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: lower risk.

Build-up play: earlier stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Tactical shape (attacking phases).
    • Attacking shape.
  • Player movement (attacking phases).
    • Off the ball movement.

Importance:

  • Central defence – essential (centre back playing positions – for forming a defensive line); low (otherwise).
  • Central midfield – high.
  • The flanks – low.
  • Central attack – low.

Responsibility Mentality

  • Low risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Holding player.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Narrow wide player.
  • Sitting player, if not also a holding player.
  • Between-the-lines player.
  • Deep-dropping player.
  • Disciplined-running player, if not also a holding player.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Offensive player.
  • Roaming player.

Adverse Role Types

  • Line-hugging wide player.
  • Drifting player.
  • Channel-running player.
  • Darting player.

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Restricted-dribbling player.
  • Disciplined-dribbling player.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

  • Dribbling player.
  • Lateral-dribbling player.

Providing Defensive Cover

Summary

Phases of play: defensive phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: lower risk.

Build-up play: not applicable (defensive phases).

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Tactical shape (defensive phases).
    • Defensive shape.
  • Player movement (defensive phases).
    • Pressing.
    • Marking.
    • Resistance.

Importance:

  • Central defence – medium (centre back playing positions – relative to the defensive line); low (otherwise).
  • Central midfield – medium.
  • The flanks
    • Deep wing halves – medium.
    • Advanced wing halves – low.
  • Central attack – low.

Responsibility Mentality

  • Low risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Cautious player.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Narrow wide player.
  • Zonal-marking player.
  • Loose-marking player.
  • Easy-tackling player.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Aggressor.

Adverse Role Types

  • Man-marking player.
  • Tight-marking player.
  • Hard-tackling player.

Applying Defensive Pressure

Summary

Phases of play: defensive phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: higher risk.

Build-up play: not applicable (defensive phases).

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Tactical shape (defensive phases).
    • Defensive shape.
  • Player movement (defensive phases).
    • Pressing.
    • Marking.
    • Resistance.

Importance:

  • Central defence – medium (centre back playing positions – relative to the defensive line); low (otherwise).
  • Central midfield – medium.
  • The flanks
    • Deep wing halves – low.
    • Advanced wing halves – medium.
  • Central attack – medium.

Responsibility Mentality

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Aggressor.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Man-marking player.
  • Tight-marking player.
  • Hard-tackling player.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Cautious player.

Adverse Role Types

  • Zonal-marking player.
  • Loose-marking player.
  • Easy-tackling player.

Stretching Play

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: higher risk.

Build-up play: later stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Tactical shape (attacking phases).
    • Attacking shape.
  • Player movement (attacking phases).
    • Off the ball movement.

Importance:

  • Central defence – low.
  • Central midfield – medium.
  • The flanks – high.
  • Central attack – high.

Responsibility Mentality

  • High risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Offensive player.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Line-hugging wide player.
  • Drifting player.
  • Channel-running player.
  • Roaming player.
  • Darting player.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Holding player.

Adverse Role Types

  • Narrow wide player.
  • Sitting player, if not also a holding player.
  • Between-the-lines player.
  • Deep-dropping player.
  • Disciplined-running player, if not also a holding player.

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Lateral-dribbling player – enables a player to move into more threatening areas and draw players out of position.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

  • Restricted-dribbling player.
  • Disciplined-dribbling player.

Playing Safe

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: lower risk.

Build-up play: earlier stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Ball movement (attacking phases).
    • On the ball movement.
    • Passing.
    • Shooting.
    • Creativity.

Importance:

  • Central defence – fairly high.
  • Central midfield – medium.
  • The flanks – low.
  • Central attack – low.

Responsibility Mentality

  • Low risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Safe-passing player.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Restricted-dribbling player.
  • Disciplined-dribbling player.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Ball-playing player.

Adverse Role Types

  • Dribbling player.
  • Lateral-dribbling player.
  • Passer, if not also a safe-passing player (relative to the passing range that is appropriate for the team’s passing range system).
  • Restricted-passing ball-playing player.

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Narrow wide player – enables a player to receive passes from, and make passes to, teammates in central areas more easily.
  • Sitting player – enables a player to stay in a relatively deep position, which helps the team to recycle possession.
  • Between-the-lines player.
  • Deep-dropping player – enables a player to receive passes more easily and the team to cycle possession more easily in the deeper area that the player moves into.
  • Disciplined-running player – enables a player to stay in a relatively fixed position, which can make it easier for teammates to aim passes to him.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

  • Line-hugging wide player.
  • Offensive player.
  • Drifting player.
  • Channel-running player.
  • Roaming player.
  • Darting player.

Creating Chances

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: higher risk.

Build-up play: later stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Ball movement (attacking phases).
    • On the ball movement.
    • Passing.
    • Creativity.

Importance:

  • Central defence – low.
  • Central midfield – medium.
  • The flanks – medium.
  • Central attack – high.

Responsibility Mentality

  • High risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Ball-playing central player, if not also an offensive player – offensive and ball-playing central player is not considered to be a key role type since it would prevent a player from staying in relatively deep central areas in order to receive the ball more easily and make passes into space to teammates making forward runs ahead of him.
  • Wide crosser.

Supplementary Role Types

  • Offensive and ball-playing central player.
  • Dribbling player.
  • Lateral-dribbling player.
  • Hold-up player (other than hold-up centre forward).1, 2
  • Restricted-dribbling creative player – although refraining from dribbles is a lower risk attacking method it enables a creative player to focus more on distributing higher risk and lower risk passes from a relatively fixed position, as appropriate for the situation.
  • Passer, if not also a safe-passing player (relative to the passing range that is appropriate for the team’s passing range system).
  • Restricted-passing ball-playing player.
  • Ball-playing wide player.
  • Creative player.1

1 Hold-up players and creative players, if used, are often used as focal players so that the team can create goal-scoring chances more effectively. A focal player is a player to whom a team focuses play to a greater extent. A hold-up player can create chances using physical power. A creative player can use his intelligence to decide when and how to either create chances or play safe, as appropriate for the situation. Particular types of focal players are discussed in the Role Categories guide.

2 Although hold-up play is a balanced risk attacking method it is included in the creating chances positional responsibility because the use of physical power can cause it to act like a higher risk attacking method, as explained in the Playing Methods guide.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Safe-passing central player, if not also an offensive player.
  • Restricted-crossing wide player.

Adverse Role Types

  • Offensive and safe-passing central player.
  • Restricted-dribbling player, if not also a hold-up player or creative player.
  • Disciplined-dribbling player.
  • Restricted-passing player, if not also a ball-playing player (relative to the passing range that is appropriate for the team’s passing range system).
  • Safe-passing passer.
  • Safe-passing wide player.
  • Disciplined player.

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Line-hugging wide player – enables a player to stay in a relatively wide position, which helps him to make crosses.
  • Restricted-shooting central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to ignore a good quality goal-scoring chance and use his intelligence to attempt to exploit an even higher quality penetrative opportunity.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

  • Narrow wide player.
  • Shot-taking central midfielder or central attacker.

Taking Chances

Summary

Phases of play: attacking phases.

Tactical objectives:

Tactical risk: higher risk.

Build-up play: later stages.

Key tactical dynamics:

  • Ball movement (attacking phases).
    • Shooting.

Importance:

  • Central defence – irrelevant.
  • Central midfield – low.
  • The flanks – irrelevant.
  • Central attack – medium.

Responsibility Mentality

  • High risk mentality.

Direct Role Types

Key Role Types

  • Shot-taking central midfielder or central attacker.

Conflicting Role Types

  • Restricted-shooting central midfielder or central attacker.

Indirect Role Types

Suitable Indirect Role Types

  • Offensive central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to move into more threatening areas when off the ball, where he is more likely to have higher quality goal-scoring chances.
  • Drifting central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to receive the ball in available space when off the ball, where he is more likely to have higher quality goal-scoring chances.
  • Channel-running central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to receive the ball in available space when off the ball, where he is more likely to have higher quality goal-scoring chances.
  • Roaming central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to receive the ball in available space when off the ball, where he is more likely to have higher quality goal-scoring chances.
  • Darting central midfielder or central attacker – enables a player to receive the ball in available space when off the ball, where he is more likely to have higher quality goal-scoring chances.

Unsuitable Indirect Role Types

  • Sitting central midfielder or central attacker.
  • Between-the-lines central midfielder or central attacker.
  • Deep-dropping central midfielder or central attacker – would hinder a player from moving into more threatening areas when off the ball.
  • Disciplined-running central midfielder or central attacker.