The shape
A straight spine with a pair at the top. The defender sits in front of the goal area, the midfielder stands in the middle of the pitch, and two forwards spread either side of the opposition defender. With the ball the forwards go very wide and the midfielder has two options. Without it the forwards should come back level with the midfielder to form a 1-3, but at this age they usually stay high, so the team defends with the keeper, the defender and the midfielder.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. Ready to come out behind a single defender. Passes to the defender or straight to the midfielder on goal kicks.
- Defender. Holds the middle and does not chase wide. Delays the attacker until the midfielder comes back.
- Midfielder. The link. Receives from the defender, turns and finds a forward. Comes back to help defend as soon as the ball is lost.
- Forwards. Stay apart on either side of the pitch. One receives, the other runs towards goal. They press the opposition defender after goal kicks.
Strengths
- Two forwards means more goals and more children scoring.
- Simple shape to picture for very young players.
- Keeps the opposition defender busy at all times.
Weaknesses
- One defender and one midfielder is a thin defence.
- Forwards who stay high leave the midfielder alone in a huge space.
- Easily beaten by a team that passes through the middle.
When to use it
Use it when your team is finding it hard to score and you want two children to experience being close to goal, or when two players enjoy playing together. Keep it to part of a match rather than a season, because the balance is poor, and go back to 1-2-1 if the defender and keeper are doing all the work. Rotate the forward pair so it is not always the same two.
What to coach in training
- Play 2v1 to goal for the forwards against the defender, with the midfielder playing the pass. They learn to pass or dribble depending on where the defender goes.
- Run a 1v1 plus keeper for the defender where they must delay the attacker for five seconds until a team-mate arrives.
- Set a drop rule in a small game: when the other team wins the ball, the forwards must touch the halfway line before they can tackle.
Works well against
It gives 2-1-1 and 2-2 plenty to think about because two forwards keep two defenders occupied and the midfielder can run at a single opponent. Against 1-2-1 it is outnumbered in midfield, and against 1-3 your single midfielder faces three, so expect long spells chasing the ball.
