An association football pitch is in tactical terms often divided into thirds of 35 metres each, given standard size of🍇 pitch, so as to reference the three different stages of play.[1]

Team tactics as well as individual skills are integral for🍇 playing association football. In theory, association football is a very simple game, as illustrated by Kevin Keegan's namely assertion that🍇 his tactics for winning a match were to "score more goals than the opposition". Tactical prowess within the sport is🍇 nonetheless a craftsmanship of its own, and one of the reasons why managers are paid well on the elite level.🍇 Well-organised and ready teams are often seen beating teams with more skillful players on paper. Manuals and books generally cover🍇 not only individual skills but tactics as well.[2][3]

Association football teams consist of ten outfield players and one goalkeeper, which makes🍇 passing an integral part of game strategy, and is taught to players from a young age. Other skills taught to🍇 players on an individual level are dribbling, heading the ball and ball control for receiving the ball. Other skills that🍇 are taught individually are jockeying for defenders, and shot stopping for goalkeepers. In terms of complexity, lower levels of the🍇 game such as youth leagues, amateur leagues and semi-professional leagues primarily focus on the fundamentals of the game, whereas higher🍇 levels of the game – as it regards to professional football teams – will increase complexity and level of detail🍇 in strategy of the game.[4][5]

General principles [ edit ]

Width and depth are principles of both offence and defence:[2][6][7][8]