A constant headache to youth coaches is seeing their players wander all over the field - usually with the soccer ball not too far away. The soccer ball does have a hypnotic affect - players just want to be "where the action is". As kids get older they miraculously spread out because the ball travels greater distances with more powerful kicks. Nature takes its course.
However, it's still easy to get disoriented on the pitch (field) without some kind of GPS. The goal posts provides an easy reference for players. Click the soccer field below. Note that I've taken the liberty of using the goal boxes as goal posts in my cyberspace soccer field example.
1. The left back, left middie, and left attacker should position themselves between the left goal post (looking forward) and the sidelines.
2. The center back/stopper, center middie, and striker should position themselves between the goal posts.
3. The right back, right middie, and right attacker should position themselves between the right goal post (looking forward) and the sidelines.
4. The sweeper will move from zone to zone as she supports her defensive backs. If the center back is playing a classic stopper (tracking the best player on the other team), she will move around the field marking their star player.
Of course the soccer ball rarely travels in a straight line up and down the field. Therefore, players must be flexible and know what to do when this happens. For example, if the center midfielder is dribbling across the field at our right midfielder, what should they do? Answer, they should overlap and switch positions.
In Summary - The goal posts were a great help to me during my playing days and hopefully they will work for you today. It can be your on the field compass or GPS to successful position play.