As detailed in the tactical theory Playing System Balance* guide, a team’s playing system balance refers to the tactical balance* in the team’s playing system* in each positional area*.
A good playing system balance can be achieved by assigning tactical roles* that result in appropriate tactical-structures* (including formations* and attacking structures*) and an appropriate responsibility distribution*. This is done by assigning player roles and duties accordingly (and, if desired, by manually editing player instructions to modify player roles and duties).
For details of the playing positions referred to in these guides see the tactical theory Playing Positions* guide.
Formations
As detailed in the tactical theory Formations* guide, a team’s formation is the combination of its positional structures* in all positional areas*.
Attacking Structures
As detailed in the tactical theory Attacking Structures* guide, attacking structures are tactical structures formed by a team’s attacking shape*, off the ball movement* and on the ball movement*.
Appropriate attacking structures can be achieved by considering your use of forward movement partnerships*, as well as your team’s penetration score*, solidity score* and support score*.
Responsibility Distribution
As detailed in the tactical theory Responsibility Distribution* guide, a team’s responsibility distribution refers to its assignment of positional responsibilities* through its assignment of tactical roles*.
Appropriate tactical roles to assign in each of the main positional areas* in order to achieve an appropriate responsibility distribution are suggested in separate guides, as introduced below.
Detailed for each of the main positional areas, where relevant, are:
- Key tactical roles – the recommended role categories* to use in the positional area. These are the role categories that are included in a typical combination in the positional area, as detailed in the tactical theory Role Categories* guide.
- General usage – suggestions regarding the general use of the key tactical role, including the recommended minimum number of players to assign the key tactical role to, as per the typical combination, and suggestions regarding the use of vacating players*, for whom you may want to use alternative players due to their movement away from the positional area.
- Tactical roles – appropriate tactical roles* to use for each of the key tactical roles. The details provided are derived from the tactical theory Positional Responsibilities* and Role Categories* guides.
- Player roles and duties – the player roles and duties that can be used to assign each of the key tactical roles, along with their focus levels*, if used with their default player instructions, as per the analysis in the Player Roles & Duties guides. Higher focus levels are more suitable when using a more structured team shape, while lower focus levels are more suitable when using a more fluid team shape, as explained in the System Fluidity guide.
- System-specific* – the use of these player roles and duties is discussed separately below.
- Atypical* – these player roles and duties are slightly less suitable but you may still wish to use them.
- Vacating* – the assignment of these player roles and duties instructs a player to act as a vacating player and so you may want to use alternative players, as detailed above for general usage.
- Other tactical roles – other role categories that can be used in the positional area if desired. Possible reasons for using these role categories are provided in the tactical theory Role Categories* guide.
- Symmetry – the recommended use of symmetry when assigning particular key tactical roles in the positional area. The use of symmetry is discussed in the tactical theory Responsibility Distribution* guide.
- Counterbalancing combinations – recommended counterbalancing tactical roles to use when assigning particular tactical roles that focus more on a particular positional responsibility* in the positional area. Counterbalancing combinations are discussed in the tactical theory Role Categories* guide.
- System-specific tactical roles – tactical roles in the positional area that include the use of system-specific role types*, along with recommendations regarding the use of such tactical roles. System-specific tactical roles are discussed in the tactical theory Role Categories* guide.
Balancing Central Defence
- Central defence = sweeper (SW) + centre backs (CB)
An appropriate responsibility distribution in central defence can be achieved by considering key tactical roles, symmetry and counterbalancing combinations.
Balancing Central Midfield
- Central midfield = defensive midfielders (DM) + centre midfielders (CM)
An appropriate responsibility distribution in central midfield can be achieved by considering key tactical roles, symmetry and counterbalancing combinations.
Balancing the Flanks
- The flanks = deep wide players + advanced wide players
- Deep wide players = full backs (FB) + wing backs (WB)
- Advanced wide players = wing midfielders (WM) + wing forwards (WF)
An appropriate responsibility distribution on the flanks can be achieved by considering key tactical roles, counterbalancing combinations and system-specific tactical roles.
Balancing Central Attack
- Central attack = attacking midfielders (AM) + centre forwards (CF)
An appropriate responsibility distribution in central attack can be achieved by considering key tactical roles, counterbalancing combinations and system-specific tactical roles.
