Or secondly, he may attempt to push the ball past the defender, assuming he is off balance. In the first case, the defender is forcing the attacker to focus totally on the ball. In the second case, the defender should be in good position to cut-off the attempted pass and possibly be able to step between the attacker and the ball. All coaches have tremendous memories. Unfortunately, the recall sometimes occurs well after that point in time when it most needed.
Every coach is different from a pre-organization standpoint.
Some need to have a very specific plan, whereas others want to stay flexible and adjust to the situation as it happens. Most coaches fall somewhere in-between these two extremes. Clip boards are very useful for carrying notes and reminders, but they are difficult to track of during a training session. For most coaches, a 3x5 or 4x6 card should be large enough to jot down a general practice plan. As an added tip, find a plastic transparent casing, such as a CD envelope for the 3x5 card.