The shape
Two defenders sit across the penalty area and a single centre midfielder plays just in front of them. The front three stretch the pitch: two wide forwards on the touchlines and the central forward on the last defender. With the ball the team is top heavy and the midfielder is often the only link between the lines. Without the ball the wide forwards drop in alongside the midfielder, so it defends as a 2-3-1 if the children have been taught to, and as a 2-1-3 if they have not.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. Alert to counter-attacks with only two defenders ahead. Distributes quickly to a wide forward dropping deep rather than kicking long into a crowd.
- Defenders. Hold position and avoid being drawn forward. One goes, one stays, and they call the midfielder back when the opposition break.
- Centre Midfielder. The busiest player on the pitch. Shuttles between the defenders and the forwards and wins second balls in the middle.
- Wide Forwards. Stay wide when attacking to pull the defence apart, then come back to the halfway line when the ball is lost. Their recovery run is the shape's lifeline.
- Centre Forward. Finishes and presses. Stays high enough to be a threat but learns to drop in and link when the ball is with the midfielder.
Strengths
- Three forwards create a lot of chances and shots.
- Teaches pressing from the front with real numbers.
- Keeps opposition defenders busy, so their build-up is rushed.
Weaknesses
- Only three players behind the ball when it is lost.
- The lone midfielder is outnumbered by any shape with two or more midfielders.
- A long kick over the top turns into a 3v2 against your defenders.
When to use it
Use it when you want to encourage shooting and dribbling, or when your team is comfortably stronger and you want the ball at the feet of your forwards more often. Switch away if the goalkeeper is spending the game as a defender, and never use it to pile on goals against a weaker side.
What to coach in training
- Play 3v2 plus keeper where the three forwards attack, and on losing the ball have five seconds to get all three behind a cone line or the defenders win a bonus point.
- Run a 1v1 wide channel game for the wide forwards: beat the defender and cross, or cut inside and shoot.
- Set a press trigger: when the opposition centre back receives a goal kick, the nearest forward goes and the other two cut off passes. Rehearse it unopposed, then in a game.
Works well against
It is effective against 3-2-1 and 3-1-2 if the wide forwards press, as three defenders with only one or two midfield outlets become hurried into mistakes. Against 2-2-2 it is a shootout. It is a poor match for 2-3-1 or 1-3-2, which keep the ball in midfield while your forwards stand idle, and both will counter into your two defenders.
