Steve in Albuquerque

I have been on the site for over a year and have progressed but I am having trouble finding out how to play different notations. I see tags pointing down and tags pointing up. One instructer will tell you when to do a up stroke and another that dosn't. I can play the chords but the struming patterns is my downfall. Playing a Taylor Acoustic, steel string. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks all.

If I see an arrow going down, I play a down strum. But your ears will tell if you have it right.