The shape
Two pairs. The defenders stand either side of the goal area and the forwards either side of the opposition defender, with about twenty yards between the pairs. With the ball the defenders push up to halfway and the forwards go wide, so the box stretches into four points of a square. Without the ball the forwards drop a few yards towards the defenders to close the gap, and both pairs shuffle across together to the side the ball is on.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. Plays goal kicks short to either defender behind the retreat line. Reads when to come out, because the middle is empty.
- Defenders. Partners who cover each other and defend their own side. They can carry the ball into midfield because there is nobody there to pass to.
- Forwards. Partners who stay apart. They receive from the defenders, attack the goal together and drop towards halfway when the ball is lost.
Strengths
- Every player has a partner to pass to and cover.
- Defenders get to dribble and attack because the middle is empty.
- Simple to picture and to hold.
Weaknesses
- The middle of the pitch is empty, so a team that passes through it will win.
- No link player, so the defenders often kick long.
- Flat pairs give no angles for passing.
When to use it
Use it when you want defenders to carry the ball forward, or for a U7 group learning to work with a partner before being asked to understand a diamond. The pairs can be mixed ability so a stronger player supports a developing one. Go to 1-2-1 once the children can find space in the middle, because the diamond rewards that.
What to coach in training
- Play 2v2 in a 15 by 10 yard area to two small goals, swapping partners every two minutes. They learn to use the partner without being told.
- Run a game where a defender has to carry the ball over the halfway line before anyone can score.
- Set a shuffle rule: when the ball goes to one side, both players in each pair move across together. Stop the game and show it the first few times.
Works well against
It is a fair contest against 2-1-1 and 1-1-2, where numbers match in defence and attack. It is awkward against 1-2-1 and 1-3, both of which put players in the empty middle and pass through it, so the forwards need to drop in to deny the space.
