Soccer Basics - Positioning and Movement 

1. Move into open space 2. Look around constantly 3. Stay between defenders 4. MOVE to create space 5. Change direction to create space 6. Change your speed to create space 7. Run at angles to confuse defenders

I’m literally 14, i’ve never had a coach that has taught me how to position myself and i’m determined to make my family happy and i’m determined to make myself happy with improvements. 1. Try going between defenders and if offside or about to be make a diagonal run. 2.When making a straight run don’t try going towards the defender as they just have to run straight and can slide, so drift a little to your other side and take a shot once away. 3. Find open space and look at your surroundings. If there is an open space attack at it and try to confuse the defense so they don’t know who to mark. This will leave you open or if double marked it’ll leave a teammate open. I’m keeping notes and analyzing the game :) just played another match and after practicing a lot more, i’ve gotten a lot more conditioning and learned to find the ball. my hunger for the ball is more than ever and i’m always screaming for it if i’m open. but i have to work on my dribbling a little bit more, i panic a little when i have two defenders on my and i have to practice being more agile. Update: I’ve gotten a lot more understanding of the game and especially making runs as a forward. That was one of significant let downs considering I never played as a true 9 until this season in high school and winger. I need working on my instincts to shoot for goal and top speed, i’ve gotten better at dribbling and agility wise is better. I hope that until my next season as a junior I can hold up for a complete 90 minutes and be a nightmare to play against, it’ll take time but it’s all part of the progress and I’m glad with the progress i’ve made. Diet has to be better, have to push myself even more when conditioning by myself and just play more games to get my instincts right…if anyone has tips lmk

My boyfriend used to play soccer in High School and I’m really trying to understand the game so I can understand the pro games he watches. Thank you for this video!

I'm trying to teach my little brother positioning while he's still young to help him grow as a player.

Man I never even realized this when watching soccer but it’s a very complicated sport and deserves appreciation.

I like how you break it down from just a board to actual gameplay examples, keep it up!

GREAT JOB!! This was so professional and informative!!!

Love how you highlighted Ji Sung Park in some of your examples. Was a world-class player in terms of moving without the ball, imo.

7 years later, and still one of the best and definitely most concise explanation of the game for players and watchers I've seen. I'd pay 10% of my yearly streaming fees to get you to make more vids.

Hey this really helped me out a lot! Even though it's been almost 5 years since this was first posted. Wish you'd continue doing such analysis

This is probably one of the most useful videos on RU-vid for helping our younger players wrap their heads around these confusing topics. It seems straightforward and logical when you explain it in your video, but out on the field it is a different story.

dang, if someone explained even an inkling of this to me when i was younger i wouldnt have struggled so much i was a classic winger with pace, technique, shooting and crossing but i knew jack about positioning and no one ever bothered to explain it to me even though i asked everyone i knew

Great tips! A summary for easy reference... Positioning: 1. Come back to the ball (and show in between defenders) 2. Change directions 3. Change your speed Movement: 1. Always move 2. Always look 3. Don't always run straight

Please make more videos. I've watched all your videos and I really appreciate it. I've been playing soccer since I was 13 but I only played with my buddies and my skills improved very slowly. At first I thought it was because I didn't have that soccer-mentality like my other friends. But now after watching your videos, I realized that it was because no one ever taught me this stuff before. All they did was yelling at me for not knowing where to run or what to do. If I had learned this back then, I would have improved much more. Thanks again. I guess it's never too late to learn anything. Please do more of this. Quan.

This is brilliant! Your verbal commentary overlaying video with animations is far better than other informational vids that only use text. Keep it up!

My favorite run is the diagonal, blind-side run. You start running into the space behind the centre back at the back post. This forces the back line to fall. Then, you slow down just a bit, and go on the blind-side of the centre back at the near post, and dart in front of him. Essentially, you're using one defender to screen the other. It's very difficult to defend against if done properly.

Hi Howard, I really leaned some insight from your videos! You did an awesome job. Please keep posting. Thanks a lot.

Thank you Sooo much! I never got the chance to be on a travel team, so now, as a highschooler, I have to do a lot of research in order to understand some of the rules and positioning! God Bless you, man! 😉👍

I've been struggling with being a forward as I have been a defender for most of my life. This was very instructive and I can't wait to use these tips to help my game! Thank you!

i dont know if you see this but i just wanted to say that i searched for ages to find a good tutorial and yours is by far the best ic ould fin and we are in 2023

Outstanding job in teaching positioning! This really helped my 11yr old's understanding of movement. Thank you!

Best vision video I ever watched, thank you for making this vid. I have a match today and this vid helped so much✊😎

Hi Howard,Many thanks for taking the time to collate and explain these videos. My son has benefited greatly from watching this video the last few days as part of training his soccer brain. The difference on the field was fantastic. We both thank you and I hope you continue your great work.Regards,Mark

This is extremely helpful. Emphasis on extremely. The detail in the explanations. Thank you so much.

I've got something for you, man. If you don't keep these videos coming, I'll find YOU! Trust me, this is one of the best analytical videos I've seen so far. Keep them coming. I've learnt so much from these short clips than I have in watching some full matches. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Don't stop.! SUBSCRIBED

I wish I discovered your channel before. ( I also wish I'd learnt all these when I was a kid.) Great work !

One of the best videos on soccer that I have seen. Your video edits, pauses, and clear commentary make for a great teaching video. Thank you for making it!

Great tips supported by game foot at the top level. Difficult concepts to understand. You explained it in easy to understand ways! Thank you!

A major problem I experienced in playing here in America in my youth was the lack of positional awareness by almost everyone I played with, me included which I realized as I got older and started to understand the game a lot more. Coaches I had never taught us these BASIC things. I'm sorta bitter about it because I feel like myself and a lot of players I grew up with would have benifited so greatly by having a coach that actually understood the game. I played for a really high level club and we had good players but the coaching was terrible when I look back on it.

Great video! I've played football for years now and this still helped out a tonne (and is also something my coaches have failed to teach me, for some reason).

One of the best videos explaining the important role of awareness in football. Kudos to you my friend. This in my opinion should be the grammar of every kid learning to play football. My son is made to watch this video regularly as repetition is the mother of all learning.

Thank you so much for this. I’ve always had no idea what to look for or where to stand or run to. I plan to start watching pro soccer to get a better understanding and video is gonna make those study sessions way more effective. The editing with the arrows and circles helped a ton for my understanding too. Seriously thanks so much 🙏

This video gave me some good understanding, upload more

Still can’t believe Messi joined inter Miami

Please please make more series! I haven't found any other videos as clear and easy for young players to understand. You are making a huge impact on young players. Thank you!!!

Completed your 4 part series. Absolutely loved them. I learnt alot from your videos. Please upload more even if it is a short video. Thanks for the tutoring.

Even though I play FIFA this has been such an amazing video! Thank you a ton for these sets of videos!

hey men upload more videos!!, good stuff

I really hope you'll put out more videos soon , you're doing a great job and I'm sure this helps everyone as much as it helped me. I've subbed , can't wait for more. Best of luck.

Thanks much for all the time you put into this. great scenarios to show the importance of proper positioning!

Thanks! Awesome Howard. Video on effective.

You really helped me thank you so much❤️❤️

I always had problem with ball and after this video, i have seen a drastic change in my game. Thank you for this amazing video.

GREAT STUFF!! One of the best videos I've seen. Been watching many training videos. You're right, no one covers space... Thank you!

Do you have a website or something with more soccer content , this was great!

Howard, I never comment on anything, ever -- in fact, this is my first time -- but this video is great. Well done, thank you!!

This is absolutely perfect! This is what I needed for my JV, thank you!

Thank you so much! It's great to be able to watch the fundamentals of the game from this perspective. I look forward for more content like this! :)

I'm 30 and literally just trying to get myself to a Sunday League standard where I can play for fun without being an absolute embarrassment! This was extremely helpful, thank you.

I mainly wanted to learn about soccer ⚽ because I wanted to have something to start a conversation with this boy I liked. I no literally nothing about any type of sport except archery and I STILL understood the video. Now I think I'm starting to like soccer....

That's what I was looking for. I have a big problem with positioning and creating open space. But now I have the solutions. Thank you very much Sir❤️🙏

This is a great video. I appreciate the fact that you use such diverse videos

2019 and this video still helps me

is there a video like that for center backs or defense players?

What a great video! I'm playing in a men's league and haven't touched a soccer ball in 20+ years. This breakdown was just what I needed.

wow, one of the most useful, straight forward videos i have seen up in here. thanks!

Nice video Bro :) This is the real way of playing football . Wow. Man United Off ball movements are so good under Ferguson . Van Gaal could use a tip ;)

Can you please give me tips on dribbling and positioning as a winger? Please!

Simple is the best way on the field. The clips are very clear explained and the methods are easy to understand. Great work.👍

I'm 53 and never had the time to get into the game or any game at this level.. This was an excellent break down. Thanks greatly.

This video could be "How to not defend".

Park Ji Sung was indeed the best off the ball player of all time.

Wow!!! What a great video explanation of strategies! Thanks so much and keep them coming, please.

Thanks for the video, I’m always looking for ways to improve. I love the way you use in game footage

what a great insightful video. im tired if seeing highlights. people need to understand football is an off the ball game. may i please request a defensive video and i am a box to box midfielder(CM) can you do a video on that and how to switch play with long passes

If only my team didn't toe punt it all the time to the marked man.

Very much appreciated ma man. I have always been playing instinctively and wen I don got the ball am lost on wat to do nxt this really enlightened me ,very grateful for the content.

Great video. About time someone created an analysis of creating space, drawing defenders to/away from yourself, and true spatial awareness. I really liked the head tracker you utilized. Please create more videos of moving without the ball utilizing the head tracker. I am trying to teach these concepts to my son and your video was extremely helpful.

Ole Gunner is starting to watch these. He's getting desperate

Most basic thing of football is calling FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL Otherwise great video...

Such a great video man! Please make more of these they Are really helpful and i have learned so much from this one and the four part series u made. Ur great!

Great video to help my u12 team grasp concepts visual vs. trying to comprehend verbally. Tremendous help...Thank You!

Excellent video. Thank you! I sent you a private message, please check and reply back if possible!

What is soccer?

Thank you so much! Please make more videos. This is the best basic soccer video I've watched.

Thanks for the information I finally got into my school soccer (fútbol) team by this video and many others I played as a Center back and I wish you make more videos to help out others.Keep doing ur thing and I wish you a great day.

Fantastic analysis I can't wait to explain this to some of my teammates on Saturday, I'm sure it will be a huge help! 👏🏽👏🏽

Really nice way of explaining positioning and movement! Thank you!

Thanks man! Very informative and very professional. Much appreciated!

your info and breakdowns of play are very helpful. showing my daughter these key tips.

best soccer video i have watched for the night .KEEP MAKING STRIKER VIDEOS WHEN EVER U GET NEW IDEAS .. it's very helpful

Thanks Coach! This is a point of discussion to the team and you did a great job illustrating that!!! Thank You

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing! ❤

this video was so helpful man please keep it up and your simplicity is great

This is great, very useful. I talk to my kids all the time about spacing, now I can just show this video. Thanks

Hey man, your videos and analysis are great. Looking forward to your next post

This tutorial is amazing. I can confirm the examples shown in the video have happened in my games. I wish there was another video showing defenders how to counter the moves.

Awesome video! I play in a u12 age group as of right now and this helped me a lot.

Howard, a true teacher...not easy to find....thanks, you understand the meaning of the word fundamental...

Thank you so much for giving your time to help me in understanding basics. Please make more videos for every position.

Man we need more videos from you!!! You are awesome!!

one of the best youtube football coaching.. learn a lot actually!!

You're phenomenal mate honestly best videos for analysis I have watched on RU-vid a shame you don't have much content

WOW ! Loved this video! Thanks for the share!

this helped a lot since it’s been like 10years that i haven’t played soccer since 5 now 15 i understand what’s going on. but the thing is that coaches doesn’t really explain the positions of the field all they do is explain plays and forms or skills, and not focusing on explaining the positions. like there’s people who are new to soccer and the number one thing that’s important is explaining the positions and what they do you know. but this helped me more out bc i was overthinking a lot of what to do or like where they stand at

I need to learn a lot about it, thanks, that was a useful video.

Great videos man! Helped a lot... Waiting for more!

This is great video for developing players...and some older ones that never really learned how to play the game. There are so many skilled players that have no idea about basic strategy and movement.

Had been looking for so long on positioning and space. Finally found this video and particularly like the special yellow "vision line that represents the eyes. Please load up more of these stuffs. '

This was a really amazing video with really cool and helpful guidelines!!