FIFA 23 INSTRUCTIONS

FIFA 23 Player Instructions make your players play the way you want.
FIFA 23 Custom Tactics

Instructions for FUT


Ultimate Team is all about creating the team of your dreams. However, you’re mistaken if you think the job stops once you buy all the players you want. FUT goes much beyond that. It would be best if you customized your club to make it unique and fine up everything so that your players play as a team. That’s where formations, tactics and instructions play an important role.

Player Instructions allow you to adjust the way your players play. They have a big impact on your play style. Unlike what happens with custom tactics, these orders will not affect the whole team but only one player.

These are the FIFA 23 player instructions in the Ultimate Team game mode:

  • Attacking Runs
  • Attacking Support
  • Chance Creation
  • Defensive Behaviour
  • Defensive Position
  • Defensive Support
  • Interceptions
  • Position Freedom
  • Support on Crosses
  • Support Runs
  • Run Type
  • Saving on Crosses
  • Saving Outside Box

Setting Up New Instructions


Now that you know each instruction, it’s time to learn how to set them up.

How to set up new FIFA 23 player instructions?
  1. From the main Ultimate Team screen, press R1/RB to select the [Club] tab;
  2. Select [Squad];
  3. Press L2/LT to popup [Squad Actions];
  4. Scroll down to [Custom Tactics];
  5. Press R1/RB to go to [Instructions];
  6. Select a player and use the right stick to change the respective instructions;
  7. Edit the instructions of other players and save.
Before starting a match, you can also make changes, selecting Edit Lineup > Squad Actions > Tactics > Instructions. Even after the game starts, you can pause it and make new adjustments.

To make your job much easier, we strongly recommend you set up game plans with specific player instructions.

Attacking Runs


This instruction affects where your strikers position themselves when attacking.
RF, LF, CF, ST
Get In Behind Make forwards runs in behind the defence.
Mixed Attack Occasionally make forward runs when the opportunity arises.
Target Man Back into an opponent and ask for the ball to feet.
False 9 Drops into midfield to create attacking space for teammates and has time and space to dribble or pick up passes.


This instruction affects how far forward your fullbacks get to support the attack.
RB, RWB, LB, LWB
Join the Attack Make forwards runs in behind the defence.
Balanced Attack Occasionally make forward runs when the opportunity arises.
Stay Back While Attacking Never make forward runs while on attack.

Attacking Support


This instruction affects how far forward your central midfield players go when attacking.
CDM, CM
Drop Between Defenders Keep in the back and maintain the shape of the formation.
Stay Back While Attacking Never make forward runs while on attack.
Balanced Attack Occasionally make forward runs when the opportunity arises.
Get Forward Join the attack and make runs beyond the striker(s).


This instruction affects how your centre-backs support the attack.
CB
Join the Attack Occasionally make forward runs when the opportunity arises.
Stay Back While Attacking Never make forward runs while on attack.
Play As Striker Go up front in the last few minutes of a match if losing.

Chance Creation


This instruction affects the width of runs made by your wide-men.
RM, RW, LM, LW
Cut Inside Make cutting runs to the inside from out wide.
Balanced Width Stay wide or cut inside depending on the situation.
Stay Wide Always try to stay wide and close to the line.
Free Roam Take a free role and roam the attacking third.

Defensive Behaviour


This instruction affects how your CDM tries to win the ball back.
CDM
Cut Passing Lanes Split the opposition and cut out the passing lanes.
Balanced Defence Keep your shape and stay in position to defend.
Man Mark Mark up tight and stick with your opponent.

Defensive Position


This instruction affects how wide will be your first defensive line
CDM, CM
Cover Center Always try to defend central positions.
Cover Wing Defend the open wing if teammate isn’t marking.


This instruction affects the shape of your defensive line.
RB, RWB, CB, LB, LWB
Step Up Step up and mark opposing attackers tighter when they are free to receive a pass.
Stick to Position Stay in your formation when attacking.

Defensive Support


This instruction affects how your midfielders assist with defending.
CAM, RM, RW, LM, LW, RF, CF, LF, ST
Come Back on Defence Always try to track back and support the defence.
Basic Defence Support Come back to support the defence when needed.
Stay Forward Do not come back to support the defence.

Interceptions


This instruction affects how aggressive your players are at winning the ball back.
All positions, except goalkeeper
Aggressive Interceptions Always looking to intercept passes aggressively..
Normal Interceptions Looking to intercept passes when the interception chance is reasonable.
Conservative Interceptions Only trying to intercept passes if the player can win the ball clearly.

Position Freedom


This instruction affects how closely your midfielders stick to their positions.
CDM, CM, CAM
Free Roam Take a free role and roam the attacking third.
Stick to Position Stay in your formation position when attacking.
Drift Wide Make runs to wide areas of the pitch.
Deep Lying Playmaker N
CDM only
Take a free role and roam into space to provide a passing option.

Support on Crosses


This instruction affects what positions your midfielders take up when preparing for a cross.
CM, CAM, RM, RW, LM, LW
Get Into The Box For Cross Make runs into the penalty area in crossing situations.
Balanced Crossing Runs Run into the penalty area or stay on the edge in crossing situations.
Stay On Edge Of Box For Cross Stay on the edge of the penalty area in crossing situations.

Support Runs


This instruction affects how wide your strikers runs are.
CF, ST
Drift Wide Make runs to wide areas of the pitch.
Balanced Width Stay wide or cut inside depending on the situation.
Stay Central Stay in central areas of the pitch.


This instruction affects how close they come towards the ball when attacking.
RM, RW, LM, LW, RF, LF
Get In Behind Make forward runs in behind the defence.
Balanced Support Make forward runs or come short depending on the situation.
Come Short Come short and ask for the ball to feet.
Target Man Back into an opponent and ask for the ball to feet.

Run Type


This instruction affects the width your fullbacks attacks.
RB, RWB, LB, LWB
Inverted Make underlapping run on the inside of the wide players for more central support.
Mixed Attack Occasionaly make forward runs when the opportunity arises.
Overlap Make overlapping run on the outside.

Saving on Crosses


This instruction affects how your goalkeeper behaves on crosses.
GK
Comes for Crosses Goalkeeper will come off his line more often when defending crosses.
Balanced Default behaviour during crosses to stay or come for crosses depending on situation.
Cautious with Crosses Goalkeeper will stay on his line more often when defending crosses.

Saving Outside Box


This instruction affects if your goalkeeper leaves the goal or not.
GK
Sweeper Keeper Aggressive coming outside of box and challenging opponent for loose balls.
Balanced Conservative on balls outside of the box unless clearly getting to it first.

The Best FIFA 23 Player Instructions


You will find many players saying they found the best player instructions possible, but you should know that there is no perfect configuration, so avoid copying it from other players. It doesn’t mean it will work with you because it works with them.

You should always set up instructions according to your play style, experience, and squad needs. When you make a decision, you are adding good things to your team but at the expense of something bad. It’s up to you to decide whether or not it’s worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
FIFA 23 Player Instructions allow you to adjust how your players play, including how they position themselves on the field, run, and support the attack or the defense.
FIFA 23 Player Instructions are your only chance to give direct instructions to a single player. Unlike what happens with custom tactics, these orders will not affect the other players on the team.
They are only applied to the players of the starting eleven. If you make a substitution, the player who comes in will not follow the instructions of the player who goes out. It is also essential to understand that instructions are assigned according to the positions on the field. For example, a striker will have different instruction categories from a center back unless he plays as a center back.
The game will save your last configuration, so you don’t have to set it up every time you play. Besides, all players will assume the standard format unless you apply a different instruction. Don’t forget that you can set up a game plan with specific instructions for each player, making your job much easier.
There are no better instructions than others. It all depends on your squad and play style.
If you have never set up your own instructions, your players will be using the default values. If you want to change them, please follow these steps:
  1. From the main Ultimate Team screen, press R1/RB to select the [Club] tab;
  2. Select [Squad], [Squad Actions], [Custom Tactics] and then [Instructions];
  3. Make the desired changes and save.
Yes, FIFA 23 instructions can be edited on the web and companion app.
Dynamic Tactics allow you to to create multiple game plans that you can switch between during a match. To set up a game plan, follow these steps:
  1. From the main Ultimate Team screen, press R1/RB to select the [Club] tab;
  2. Select [Squad];
  3. Press L2/LT to popup [Squad Actions];
  4. Scroll down to [Custom Tactics];
  5. Press L2/LT/W and edit one the four-game plans available;
  6. Save the changes.
You can now access the plans in-game with the directional button.
No. Player instructions are only allocated to players, not positions.
You should always set up your instructions according to the attributes of each player and your squad’s needs. Your player might not be able to handle the assigned instructions properly if the instructions are beyond their abilities.
Depending on whether it is directed at forwards or defenders, this instruction for attacking runs differs.

Forwards
When ‘Get In Behind’ is active, your players will face the goal, and their runs will be in straight or slightly curved lines to try and get between the CB and the goalkeeper. It is a good instruction for players with a good acceleration stat and counter-attack styles. However, you will be caught in the offside position more often.
When ‘Target Man’ is active, your strikers will play with their backs to the goal and get tight to the CBs to try and hold the ball up to bring other players into the action. It can be used with success in slower players with high strength stat, especially in a two strikers formation.
When ‘False 9’ is active, your strikers will drop into midfield with their backs to goal, trying to find space and playing almost like a CAM. You will win an extra man to create chances, but you will lose a reference on the box.
If you are not sure about which instruction you should use here, we suggest keeping the ‘Balanced Attack’ selected.

Fullbacks
If ‘Join the Attack’ is active (former ‘Always Overlap’), your fullbacks will sometimes overlap your wingers if they drop short of receiving the ball but will mostly get further up the pitch to be closer to your winger to help with the attack.
If ‘Stay Back’ is active, your fullbacks will rarely get forward; they will stay in a defensive position. It is useful if they have good defensive skills and you want to keep your defense compact.
‘Balanced Attack’ is the most used option but not always the best one. Depending on whether you are winning or losing, you can change to one of the other two to adjust the players supporting the attack or the defense.
If ‘Cut Inside’ is active, your wingers will try to get into the channel between the full-back and the center-back and will be looking to angle their runs towards the goal. It is a must for players with good shooting and curve stats.

If ‘Stay Wide’ is active, your wingers will try to stay on the outside of the full-back and not cut inside unless it’s to get on the end of a ball that has been played inside. This instruction is beneficial for fast players with good passing/crossing stats.

Unless you are too bad on the wing or cutting inside, we suggest you use ‘Balanced Width’ to avoid performing the same moves repeatedly. It would be best if you were unpredictable to get past your opponents.

You also have the option to choose ‘Free Roam’. Selecting this instruction, players have the freedom to make runs out of position. In other words, they tend to stray far from their assigned positions during the match.
If ‘Cut Passing Lanes’ is active, your CDM will try to stop the pass forwards by ‘screening’ the backline and not attacking the ball until after it has been passed.

If ‘Man Mark’ is active, your CDM will follow the player he is marking and be ready to intercept the ball if he tries to turn. However, this leaves space behind your midfield.

‘Balanced Defence’ is our favorite. The best way to defend in FIFA 23 is to keep our formation’s shape and wait for the opponent’s movement. If you want to press your opponents, don’t do it with your CDM.
Depending on if it is directed at midfielders or defenders, this instruction for the defensive position is different.

Midfielders
If ‘Cover Center’ is active, the players will concentrate more in the middle, exposing the flanks more.
If ‘Cover Wing’ is active, the players will defend widely, leaving the middle more exposed but stopping all that comes from the sides. This option is great against wide formations.
You should leave the default option active unless your players have low stamina and pace.

Centre Backs
There are two options available: you can have them step out of position and mark opposing attackers tighter when they are free to receive a ball or the inverse situation.
Unless you need to do something to change the result, we believe you will be more comfortable with the default option.
If ‘Come Back’ is active, your players will drop into the same line as your defensive midfielders and will become almost like a wide defensive midfielder, slightly more narrow than a fullback.

If ‘Stay Forward’ is active, your players will not get behind the ball to defend and will stay wider and further forward, looking to hit your opposition on the counter. It is beneficial for fast players with poor defending skills.

‘Basic Defence Support’ is the mid-term. They will go back, but only when you are outnumbered.

Unless you use a formation with enough CDMs, we recommend you to use ‘Come Back’ in at least one of your midfielders.
If ‘Aggressive’ is active, your players will look to press the ball as soon as it is passed to an opposition player.

If ‘Conservative’ is active, your players will stand off and try to let your opposition make a mistake rather than forcing one. Be prepared to give up a lot of possession if you use this one.

In our opinion, you should use ‘Aggressive Interceptions’ in most of your players. You will win the ball possession more often and more quickly. However, if you feel that it is leaving considerable gaps in your defense, if you are being punished with yellow and red cards too often or making too many fouls, you may try to use ‘Normal Interceptions’. An exception is made to your CBs and probably your fullbacks: Leave them in the default instruction to avoid penalties. You will be blaming EA and their stupid handicap if you don’t do it.
If ‘Roam From Position’ is active, midfielders will take up whichever position they feel like in the midfield. The CAMs are who benefit most from this instruction. For CDMs, it allows for a deep-lying playmaker role coming closer to support the ball handler and dropping deeper to receive a pass during the possession or build-up.

On ‘Drift Wide’, that freedom is even bigger.
When ‘Deep Lying Playmaker’ is enabled, the CDMs are consistently asking for the ball and gravitating towards ball handlers.
If ‘Stick to Position’ is active, your midfielders will stay close to their intended position.

Unless you know what you are doing, we recommend you to use the second option. It is very confusing to give freedom to our players because they will be out of position most of the time. Since we play like robots (even if we don’t realize it), we will not have the players where we want. On the default instruction, you can see the shape of your formation. It’s less unpredictable but also more accessible.
If ‘Get In The Box’ is active, your midfielders will charge into the box to try and head the ball as close to the goal as possible. It is beneficial for players with good heading and jumping stats.

If ‘Stay On Edge’ is active, your midfielders will hang on the edge of the box for a cutback, leaving the box pretty empty. It is a decent choice for players with good long shots stat, waiting for a rebound.

Depending on the attributes of the forwards, you may pick ‘Balanced Crossing Runs’ or one of the two other player instructions to fill the team according to its needs. Don’t forget that there is a tactic that lets you define how many players you want in the penalty area in situations like this one.
If ‘Inverted’ is active, the fullbacks will concentrate more in the middle, exposing the flanks but giving more short passing options.

If ‘Overlap’ is active, the fullbacks will attack widely, giving passing options to the wingers.

We believe you should avoid inverted and go for overlap or mixed, depending on your play style.
The wisest decision is to select ‘Balanced’, which means that the goalkeeper will decide by himself what he should do. You can adjust this instruction in-game depending on whether your opponent is playing.
Unless you know what you are doing, leave the decision for the IA and select ‘Balanced’.