Resource:

Positional
Responsibilities
@THES_RESOURCE

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: GK PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

KEY ATTRIBUTES HANDLING THROWING

POSITIONING COMMUNICATION FOOTWORK

DISTRIBUTION MOBILITY REFLEXES

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Option to receive
Offer depth to retain possession
Identify and find the spare player
Limited touches
Structure team shape
Command the area
Decision making in protecting or
Quality handling attributes
pressing
Realistic positioning
Anticipation of game scenarios
Confidence to make saves
Mindful of threats

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Break the lines Protect positioning

ATTACKING Secure the first pass
TRANSITION
Play through, around or over Confident in 1v1 situations Counter? Can we play quick?
Range of passing Sweep if necessary Maintain possession if needed to build

DEFENCE
GK ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Switch the Play Protect the goal Communicate defensive set-up

DEFENSIVE
TRANSITION
Break the press Sweep long ball over the defensive line Minimise un-mark players
Long ball into MID, or ATT Confident to deal with 1v1 Command area

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: RB PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

KEY ATTRIBUTES POSITIONING MOVEMENT

DRIBBLING STAMINA PASSING

1-4-2-3-1
MARKING CREATIVITY TACTICALLY

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Movement into a wider position to
receive
Combination play
Look to play into the next unit or ATT
Recovery Runs (2v1) Delay to slow the opposition
Adopt a more compact structure Deny to reorganize
Block crosses (Force backwards) The decision to press or protect
Challenge aerially Get behind the ball

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Awareness of distance to press Defending 1v1
Create space by offering to receive in a
ATTACKING wide position Invite opposition to press to positional
TRANSITION Minimise space increase between units
space to ATT
Switching the play to find the spare player
Limit passing lanes
Dictate tempo of the game
Combination play and movement
- (underlap/overlap) Compact & Collective press
Support ATT (Overlap, underlap/inverted)
DEFENCE
RB ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Crossing
Body position Maintain defensive structure to
DEFENSIVE
Switch the play option minimise the counter-threat
TRANSITION Angle of approach
RWTB, Dribbling, Passing Corner responsibilities i.e. short
Aggressiveness & Interception option, front post area
Movement

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
Switch the Play
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: CB PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

KEY ATTRIBUTES HEADING COMPOSURE

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION PASSING

1-4-2-3-1
DRIBBLING DECISION CREATIVITY
MAKING

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Able to receive under pressure
Maintain possession in tight areas
Confident to break lines (Passing/RWTB)
Continuously support players off the ball
Communicate changes in team shape
Deny, delay or intercept
Confident to challenge aerially
Identifying and communicating threats
(opposition or spaces)
Knowledge of slowing opposition ATT
Maintaining good balance and team
structure
Awarenesses of long passes in-behind
Communication

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Team work and communication to Secure the first pass if possible
Balance and Depth
ATTACKING progress unit with play
If under pressure can we relieve pressure
TRANSITION Always being a passing option
Dominant in 1v1 (Ground & Ariel) by playing long
Finding the spare player
Cautious of height and distances (Units, Build possession progressively
Quick tempo to move opposition behind, team mates)
Use GK if needed
DEFENCE
CB ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Create an overload in MID
Balanced distances between units Challenge in the air
DEFENSIVE Switch the Play
TRANSITION Press & Cover & Sweep Mark, track and intercept
Diagonal Play
Dominate and recover possession Make spaces hard to work from
Long balls in-behind

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: LB PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

KEY ATTRIBUTES POSITIONING MOVEMENT

BALANCE STAMINA PASSING

1-4-2-3-1
VISION CREATIVITY TACTICALLY

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Movement into a wider position to
receive
Combination play
Look to play into the next unit or ATT
Recovery Runs (2v1) Delay to slow the opposition
Adopt a more compact structure Deny to reorganize
Block crosses (Force backwards) The decision to press or protect
Challenge aerially Get behind the ball

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Awareness of distance to press Defending 1v1
Create space by offering to receive in a
ATTACKING wide position Invite opposition to press to positional
TRANSITION Minimise space increase between units
space to ATT
Switching the play to find the spare player
Limit passing lanes
Dictate tempo of the game
Combination play and movement
- (underlap/overlap) Compact & Collective press
Support ATT (Overlap, underlap/inverted)
DEFENCE
LB ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Crossing
Body position Maintain defensive structure to
DEFENSIVE
Switch the play option minimise the counter-threat
TRANSITION Angle of approach
RWTB, Dribbling, Passing Corner responsibilities i.e. short
Aggressiveness & Interception option, front post area
Movement

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: CDM PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

BALL POSITIONAL
KEY ATTRIBUTES CONTROL BALANCE

DICTATE THE SPATIAL INTERCEPTIONS

1-4-2-3-1
GAME AWARENESS

PASSING BODY
ORGANISATION
RANGE POSITION

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Offer support and depth Defensive R&R Offer balance and support to the play

Break line with passing/running w/ ball Press & Cover & Sweep Interceptions

Set up/build the attack i.e. switch of play Dominate and recover possession Minimise any space between units.

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

ATTACKING The movement to create space or receive Deny opposition time and space Defensive Awareness
TRANSITION
Delay counter attack Support the attacking
Ball circulation.
Force opposition to area of strength Recycle possession
Numerical advantage centrally.

DEFENCE
CDM ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Passing range Delay and/or double up Anticipation of counter attack

DEFENSIVE
TRANSITION
Vision to create Set up press triggers Awareness of Positioning

Dictate tempo of the game Protect team shape Prepared for next phase of play

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: CM PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

PASSING
KEY ATTRIBUTES DRIBBLING ABILITY

FIND SPACE
PLAY UNDER PASSING
1-4-2-3-1
PRESSURE ABILITY

SHOOTING SUPPORT
ABILITY SHIELDING

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Influencing possession play
Offer depth and cover
Penetrate opposition lines
Delay and force the opposition to play Slow opposition play in order to recover
backwards the shape
Quality of communication and scanning Being flexible to cover positions/spaces
to minimise threats whilst recovering

Manipulating opposition to create Anticipate long /diagonal passes Safe v Danger Zones

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Operating as units to minimising passes
ATTACKING Rotations in MID in-between Anticipate tactical scenarios
TRANSITION
Find the spare player (through, around Mark, Press, Intercept, Cover Quick penetrative passes to de-structure
or over) opposition
The angle of press (Passing lanes)
Creating overloads Variety of passing to maintain possession.
Dominate duels
DEFENCE
CM ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Switching the play to find openings Understanding distances and angles Mixture of man/zonal marking
DEFENSIVE
TRANSITION Create opportunities through Z.14 Tigger point to press Attack goal-scoring opportunities

Ball circulation. Team Press Create depth to recycle

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: W PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

SHOOTING
KEY ATTRIBUTES ABILITY
PACE

BALL
IMAGINATIVE CROSSING
1-4-2-3-1
MANIPULATION

FORWARD DEFENSIVE
FINISHER DUTIES
RUNS

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Influencing possession play
Confident in RWTB/Dribbling to create
Create space for others by stretching
the opposition unit
Variation of movement
Protect team shape i.e. slide inwards
Work rate to decrease passing lanes for the
opposition
Press opposition to strength zone
Double up on opposition players with RB
Recover into a protected position behind
the ball.
The angle of the press to minimise
options for opposition
Contribute as a unit to manage the
spaces and distances.

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Operating as units to minimising passes
ATTACKING The movement to support CAM or CF in-between Anticipate tactical scenarios
TRANSITION
The movement to create space Mark, Press, Intercept, Cover Create overloads

Find the spare player (through, The angle of the press (Passing lanes) Quick penetrative passes to de-
around or over) structure opposition
Dominate duels
DEFENCE
W ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Varied crossing i.e. deep, byline, Understanding distances and angles Attack goal-scoring opportunities
ground etc.
DEFENSIVE
Tigger point to press Create width to switch
TRANSITION
Creative and skilful play to create
goal-scoring opporuntities Team Press A mixture of man/zonal marking

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: CAM PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

FORWARD
KEY ATTRIBUTES RUNS
SKILFUL

RANGE OF COMBINATION PLAY ON THE

1-4-2-3-1
PASSING PLAY TURN

RUN WITH THE CLOSE

BALL DRIBBLING CONTROL

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Create space to receive or others
Create goal scoring opportunities
Link units together
Manipulating tight spaces to maintain
or create
Understanding defensive R&R
Protect key areas of the field
Combine press with a numerical
advantage
Guard team shape and key spaces
Understanding when to press or protect
Force opposition to play under pressure
Managing spaces between units and
passing lanes
Recovery Runs

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

Delay and deny opposition time and
Continually scanning to create play Involved in combination play (directly or
space
ATTACKING within the ATT phase. indirectly)
TRANSITION
Force opposition to play to a
Receive to create or more opposition Dictate tempo and possession in key
particular area of strength
players. phases
Knowledge of when to press and the
Find the spare player Able to execute penetrative passes
distances to press.
DEFENCE
CAM ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Mark, press and intercept
Teamwork towards the zone of
Creativity to create/assist/penetrate
strength ATT corners/free kicks
DEFENSIVE
Combinations
TRANSITION Double-up on press (if possible) Ability to score
Support Runs
Counter Press or Mid Block The second phase from set-pieces

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C
 Positional Responsibilities
POSITION: CF PREFERRED FOOT: Formation
Pitch RIGHT LEFT

KEY ATTRIBUTES POWERFUL SHIELDING

FINISHER
VARIETY OF TACTICAL
1-4-2-3-1
RUNS EQUIPT

TACTICAL
ANTICIPATION DEFENSIVE R&R
EQUIPT

IN POSSESSION OUT OF POSSESSION ATT > DEF

Able to understand how movement can
create a face in front and in behind
oppositions.
Maintain possession when possible
Clinical finishing
Understand defensive R&R Acknowledging when to press or
recover after losing possession
Counter press to force the opposition to
player quicker Minimise passing line opportunities
Aggressive with the press centrally.
Interceptions
Maintain a high position when possible
Anticipate any mistakes

BUILDING THE ATT DELAY & DENY DEF > ATT

If needed protect possession to allow the
Delay and deny opposition time and space Forward runs in the channels or in-
team to support
ATTACKING behind centrally.
TRANSITION Force opposition to play to a particular
The positive movement to create space in
area of strength Combination play to maintain possession
front
/ Hold up play
Knowledge of when to press and the
Force opposition defensive line back to
distances to press. Stretch opposition defensive line
create space in front.
DEFENCE
CF ATTACK

CREATING MANAGING THE PRESS SET PIECES

Confident in 1v1 Force into strength zones within the Quality in challenging (Ground &
game aerial)
DEFENSIVE Strong in protecting the ball
TRANSITION Angles and distances Confident set-piece taker
A variation of finishing skills
Minimise passing options and space Anticipate 2nd balls' > GK

RICHARD CASHMAN R| C