The joystick in port 1 controls all menu selections. To make
selections from most of the menus, move the joystick forward, back, left,
or right until the desired choice is highlighted on the screen. Once the
item you want is highlighted, press the fire button to select that option.
Menus and screens that differ from the norm are discussed below.
The Main Menu Screen
On the Main Menu Screen, your team is highlighted in green, the next opposing
team is highlighted in red. The option PLAY NEXT GAME will change to
PLAY PLAYOFFS or START NEW YEAR at the appropriate times.
A Team History
When you select this option, the screen will automatically show statistics
for your team. To view data for other teams, move the joystick forward or
pull it back. Press the fire button to return to the Main Menu.
Recruit a Player
Add a rookie player to your roster by selecting RECRUIT A PLAYER from the
Main Menu. The recruiting screen will show a list of your current players,
along with their skill ratings, ages, injury periods and natural positions.
Push the joystick forward or pull it back until the name of the player that
you want to replace is highlighted, then press the fire button. If you want
to change the player's name (optional), pull the joystick back until "NAME"
is highlighted and press the fire button. Type the name of the new player
(up to eight characters) and press RETURN.
Now push the joystick forward until "SKILL" is highlighted and press
the fire button. Move the joystick left or right to adjust the skill points
assigned to the player (maximum of 50). Keep in mind that you must pay four times
the number of skill points in trading points to recruit the player. The top
figure on the right of the screen displays the total number of trading
points you start with. The second number displays the number of points to be
spent for the neew recruiy, and the bottom number shows how many points you
will retain after recruiting the new player. When the new player's points suit
you, press the fire button.
Set the new player's natural field position by pulling the joystick back
until "POSITION" is highlighted, then press the fire button. Move the joystick
left or right until the desired position is displayed. Press the fire button
to select that position. After all the new player's attributes have been set,
select OK and press fire to return the Main Menu. Select CANCEL to return to
Main Menu without adding the player to your lineup.
A Player Trade
When you select A PLAYER TRADE from the Main Menu, the screen will display
your roster on the left and the opposing team's roster on the right.
To view other rosters, move the joystick left or right to highlight VIEW TEAMS
and press the fire button. Hold down the fire button and push the joystick
forward or pull it back to scroll through the teams. The longer you hold the
button, the faster the teams scroll. Release the fire button when the roster of
the team you want to trade with is displayed.
To try a trade, highlight TRY TRADE and press the fire button. If you have
at least 10 trading points (for the arbitration fee) the program will display the
current arbitration cost and the options OK and CANCEL. To return to the
Main Menu without trading select CANCEL and press the fire button. To try
a trade, select OK and press the fire button. You will see the prompt "CHOOSE
YOUR PLAYER TO TRADE WITH." Push the joystick forward or pull it back to
highlight the name of the player you wish to trade and press the fire button.
You will then see the prompt "CHOOSE PLAYER TO TRADE FOR." Again,
move the joystick forward or back to highlight the name of the player you
wish to acquire and press the fire button. After both players have been
selected you will see the prompt "ENTER TRADING POINTS." along with the
maximum number of poins available to you. Type in the number of trading
points you are willing to spend to obtain the desired player (enter "0" if you
don't wish to offer any) and press RETURN; "ARBITRATION IN PROGRESS" will
flash on the screen. When arbitration is over and your offer has been
either accepted or rejected, press the fire button to continue. To return to the
Main Menu, highlight RETURN and press the fire button.
Improve Team
To send your team to training camp, select IMPROVE TEAM from the Main
Menu. At the prompt, type in the number of trading poins to be used for
the training camp (1 to 300) and press RETURN. To return to the Main Menu
without sending your team to training camp, enter "0" as the number of
trading points to be spent (or simply press RETURN). A message will appear
when the camp is over; press the fire button to return to the Main Menu.
Set Up Team
Pick your starting lineup by selecting SET UP TEAM from the Main Menu. The
screen will then display all 20 team members on the left and the sixteen
starting players and alternates on the right. Players on the left are grouped by
position, and within position by skill. Players on the left are shown in gray
if they are starters of alternates, white if they are still available. Player on the
right are shown in red if they are injured, yellow if they are out of their natural
position; otherwise they are shown in gray. An inured player may be a
substitute, but not a starter.
To change your lineup, use the joystick to position the pointer over the name
of the first player whose lineup spot you wish to change and press the fire
button. Now position the pointer over a second player's name and press the
fire button; the two players will change places. If, after choosing the first
player, you decide not to make a change, simply select the same player twice.
To view other teams, use the joystick to position the pointer over VIEW TEAMS
and press the fire button. Holding down the fire button, psuh pr pull the
joystick to change the display from one team to another. You can view all the
teams in the league in this manner. The longer you hold the fire button,
the faster the teams will scroll. Select FINISHED to return to the Main Menu.
Start New League
If you decide to reset the league, you will first be asked for a team name.
Type in a name (up to 10 characters) and press RETURN (or Enter). To
change to clock speed, highlight "CLOCK SPEED PER GAME" and press the
fire button until the desired speed (1X though 10X) is displayed. To change
the numger of games to be played in a playoff round, highlight that round
and press the fire button until the desired number of games appears; 1 (one
game); 2 (best two out of three); or 3 (best three out of five. When you have
finished selecting your options, highlight FINISHED and press the fire button.
Play Next Game
Highlight the PLAY NEXT GAME options from the Main Menu and press the
fire button; the Game Setup Screen will appear. To make a change in one of
the options shown there, use the joystick to posiition the pointer over the
current setting of the option that you wish to change and press the fire button
until the desired setting appears.
In the "DETAILS" section, you can change the clock speed for a practice
game from 1 to 15 times normal speed. (Clock speed for league game can
be set for 1 to 10 times normal speed from the START NEW LEAGUE Screen
only.) In practice mode, you may also select the two teams that will play next
(you can even play against yourself!). Move the pointer to the name of the
team you want to change and press the fire button ; the names of all the teams
will scroll past for as long as you hold the button.
Release the fire button
when the name of the team you want to select appears. (Your opponents for
all league games are selected by the computer.) You may change the color
of your team's jerseys by positioninh the pointer over the picture of your
midfielder and pressing the fire button (the other team members will wear
a lighter shade of the same color). The color choices are brown (light red),
blue (light blue), or gray (white). You may also change the color of the
opposing team's yerseys.
The "CONTROL" section shows whether JOYSTICK 1, JOYSTICK 2, or the
COMPUTER controls each team's midfielder, goalkeeper and coach.
Certain options may be changed, as follows. In a one player game against the
computer, you must choose to control either your team's midfielder or
goalkeeper by selecting JOYSTICK 1 for that option; the COMPUTER will
control the other position.
You may also choose to act as your team's
coach by selecting JOYSTICK 1 for that option; otherwise, the COMPUTER will make
your coaching decisions. The opposing team is controlled entirely by the
COMPUTER. In a two-player game against the computer, one player controls
the team's midfielder while the other controls its goalkeeper. Select JOYSTICK 1
1. One of the most important aspects of playing the midfielder is anticipating
what your teammates will do with the ball. Always keep in mind what
offensive strategies are being used by your team. For example; if the
strategy SHOOT is in effect, your teammates will take more shots at the
opposing goalkeeper as opposed to passing the ball to you. As midfielder,
you should be in position to pick up the rebounds and kick them past the
goalkeeper while he is out of position (use the Quick Shot!). On the
other hand, if your team strategy is to PASS, then your teammates will pass the
ball around, trying to set you up for a score. In these situations, your job
is to shake off your defender so you are in the clear to receive a pass.
2. You can tie up opponents by running close to them. The players will not
run through each other, but will hit and bump. However, if you interfere with
an opponent's movements, a penalty might be whistled against you, and
your player is susceptible to injury.
3. Play the rebounds! Even the best goalkeeper will break under a lot of
pressure, and an older goalkeeper will stay on the ground longer.
4. Keep in mind that defenseman have better ball handling skills than forwards,
who have better control than midfielders (and goalkeepers are better at stealing
the ball than anybody). This is important to remember when dribbling the
ball down the field. Try to out maneuver an opponent. Trying
to bulldoze past a defender will probably lose you the ball.
5. If the midfielder runs into the wall, he will temporarily lose control of
the ball.
6. When your defensive strategy is DEFEND, your teammates generally will get
back to help out the goalkeeper. They won't overcommit themselves to
the man they are covering. In this case, you may want to "double-team"
the opponent with the ball. When your defensive strategy is COVER, your
teammates generally play tight man to man coverage. However, this strategy
introduces greater possibilites for defensive mistakes and offensive
opportunities.
7. Defensively; use "aggressive runnung" sparingly or your player will become
exhaused.
8. On offense, learn to use the direction indicator bar to try to take advantage
of the goalkeeper's positions. try to "shoot it where he ain't". Also, learn
to use the Quick Shot option effectively: Overuse will tire your midfielder.
9. The most important thing to do as a goalkeeper is to STAY ALERT! A split-
second lapse could cost you the game winning goal.
10. Don't commit too early to a save. If you commit before the man taking the
shot, he might go right around you or shoot over you. Remember that
older goalkeepers take longer to recover from a save, and therefore to be
ready for the next shot.
11. Since the "camera" follows the ball, you may not always get to see your
goalkeeper as soon as you would like. This may lead to some difficulties
in positioning your goalkeeper properly. Whenever the ball first crosses the
center field line into your half of the field, your goalkeeper will automatically
be positioned directly in front of the middle of the net. If you remember
this, you will always know where your goalkeeper is when it matters.
However, if you move the joystick you will move the goalkeeper, too,
even if he is off screen at the time. As a beginning player, only move
your joystick when you can see your goalkeeper.
12. As a coach, place your youngest men in the game. Wearing out an older
but great player early in the game may mean he won't be any use to you
later on when you need him.
13. Bicycle kicks and headers are excellent defensive moves for stopping
high shots, especially for players whose skill levels are not high enough
to allow them much success with other defensive moves.
14. The PASS offense can be risky; if your team members are not careful or
skillful enough, more often then not the ball will be intercepted. Don't
get too fancy!
