There are four basic aspects in the game of soccer. As a soccer coach, you need to develop four clear strategic objectives that your players can follow. It took me years to develop this system of looking at the game and it seems to cover every tactical problem I've encountered.

	On ball	Off ball
Offense	-finishing	-finishing runs	finishing
	-possession	-support	buildup
	-pressure	-backup	regaining possession
Defense	-clearing	-marking	limiting the enemy

Finishing (trying to score vs possession)
Attempts on goal are the main reason why goals are scored; therefore, effective finishing decides the outcome of games. Without successful finishing, matches cannot be won. Develop a strategy of when to shoot and how many players to get involved in your attacks. Engaging too many players in the frontline may leave holes in your defense so balance is key.
Shooting: Shooting must be used when one finds himself in a position where his skills are capable and likely of producing a goal. If the given situation offers better alternatives for using possession, then a good finisher must realize that and restrain his attempt. The execution of the shot balances the risk of losing possession with the chance of scoring a goal. During matches, give constant feedback to your players of what the current value of possession is. Missed shots should be viewed as insight as to what went wrong.
Finishing runs: Finishing runs are offensive movements that increase a team's chance of scoring. Notice that executing a finishing run is not necessarily done with the intent of contacting the ball. For example, a dummy run will distract the enemy defense but the person initiating it has no intent of getting the ball himself. Encourage specific players, which you think are capable of scoring, to go up and make offense runs. Explain to them under which conditions to go ahead and where to run.

Preserving possession (buildup)
If your opponent doesn't have the ball he can't score on you. Skillful teams use possession to control the outcome of games. It is essential that you explain to your players what to do with ball possession. How do you want them to buildup attacks? Should they try to preserve control or risk it and go forward. Your decision should be dictated by the overall speed/skill of your team as well as the current result of the match.
Passing: There is a popular saying that states "If you can't pass, you can't play football". The ball can be kicked at speeds over 100 kilometers per hour surpassing even the most talented of sprinters, let alone dribblers. Passing the ball, or kicking it over to a teammate, is therefore a quick and energy-efficient way of moving the ball between teammates and exploiting possession. Thanks to these benefits, defending against a team that can pass the ball well becomes considerably harder. Without team-wide tactical organization, adequate skill, physique and mental toughness dealing with opposition that can dominate possession can be very frustrating from the perspective of the defending team. Discuss with your team how you want them to move the ball and buildup attacks. Decide what would work best for your team: to play the ball around the entire pitch or to make direct passes towards the enemy goal.
Dribbling: Operating on the field means using a variety of skills. Dribbling is the method used for transporting the ball from one point to the other. Tactically, it serves the same purpose as passing so it should be treated the same way. There is no sense in discouraging effective dribbling. For example, your attacks could be much more dangerous if you employ good dribblers who can carry the ball forward. Put your best dribblers on the flanks. Beating opponents on the wings causes more discomfort for the opposition by pulling out enemy defenders from the middle.
Ball control: This wide range of functionality cause the very common application of control in the modern game and makes it essential for players of all positions. Control increases one's comfort level when further handling the ball. That renders it very useful in situations where safety is needed. Sometimes, like when dealing with hard or high passes, it's eminent to use it. When used skillfully, control can get us away from dangerous pressure zones. Control can also be used to delay play and draw in enemy pressure. It is very important to have an accurate first touch because it determines to large extent the outcome of the following touch (it can even deter us from having such). Control must be applied in composed manner and should suit the current play based on available space and time. Tell your players individually when and how to use control. In defense, the ball should be handled calmly with safety in mind - in case of any doubt, it should be cleared away or played back to the keeper. In attack, clarify to your players if you want them to be quick and knock the ball around with a few touches or if they should settle it comfortably and force the enemy to pressure for it.
Support: Giving support mean proving options for the ball carrier with the intent of preserving team possession. Without off-ball movement it is impossible to move or make sensible use of the ball. Be very specific and give examples to your players of how to provide support. In attack, it is better to stretch the game as wide as possible. Your players should know that when attacking it not always best to run forward. When your team is in possession, there should always be at least one or two players who check to the ball by moving towards the player who has it. The best way to check for the ball is by running back, in direction of the sideline (so that you eventually become square to the ball carrier). This pulls apart the enemy defense.

Regaining possession (pressure)
Regaining possession is important because it immediately stops the advancement of an enemy attack and provides the opportunity to counter. Let your players know when/where to pressure the enemy and how many players should get involved in the process. Would you like them to regain possession as soon as they can or only when in their own half? These are issues that need to addressed beforehand.
Pressuring: Pressuring means directly challenging the ball carrier with the purpose of regaining possession. It is a tactically aggressive act that may cause problems in situations when your defense is inferior in terms of numbers.
Backup: Providing backup or cover means having an additional defender behind the player who is pressuring the ball. This discourages the ball carrier from trying to take on whoever is pressuring him and slows down his attack.

Delaying the opposition
Why expend energy and try to get possession of the ball if your team is winning with a comfortable margin? Defensively, it is not always suitable to confront the enemy and try to take the ball from him. In some cases, it may be smarter to simply delay his game or close his options (without necessarily trying to gain possession).
Clearing: Playing the ball out of danger is used to delay the opposition from advancing their attack.
Marking: Marking and covering enemies ensures the prevention of their involvement into an attack. It usually forces the enemy attackers to move away from your goal by blocking their direct route to goal.