You have to talk to each other.

How many times has a coach said that?

Drills are designed just to get players in the habit. A post might start high, pass to the wing, then cut to the basket calling the name of the wing. Or working on transition, it’s not enough the point guard be in place to receive the outlet, he or she must call for the ball, too. In practice, without defenders.

It’s important.

It might not be so apparent on the pitch. The defenders, the last line of defense before the keeper, are so far away from the bleachers. As a fan, you never hear the chatter.

But they’re talking.

They better be.

If the defenders on Norman North’s back line hadn’t made communication, cohesion and chemistry strengths, they wouldn’t be playing Edmond Memorial for the Class 6A state title tonight at the Yukon Soccer Complex.

Even if it wasn’t always so.

North coach Don Rother began the season, from keeper Royal Mulinix’s perspective, with a left-to-right line of defenders that included Chris Levere, Will Dakil, Huston Hoelscher and Kalen Ryden.

Yet, after a few games, particularly back-to-back losses at the Palmetto Classic in Columbia, S.C. — 6-3 to Spring Valley and 3-2 to Cardinal-Newman — Rother figured he could do better.

So he moved Trevor Laffoon next to Dakil, moved Hoelscher to Levere’s spot and moved Levere to the midfield.

That worked well enough — the Timberwolves won their last two games in South Carolina — but Rother wasn’t done.

“You’ve always got to try stuff,” he said. “You’re always going to try to find a way to play just a little bit better.”

And he missed Laffoon in the midfield. So Laffoon moved forward, Ryden moved inside, taking his spot, Hoelscher moved from one edge to the other and Johnny Ling moved into Hoelscher’s old spot.