The shape
Three defenders across the penalty area, the centre back a touch deeper than the full-backs. The midfield three stretch wider, the wide midfielders on the touchline with the ball and tucked in to the width of the box without it. The two forwards split either side of the opposing centre back. Without the ball it is two banks of three with two runners in front. With it the full-backs push on and the shape stretches.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. Starts play short to a full-back or the centre back whenever there is room. Owns the space behind the back three.
- Centre Back. Anchors the three, stays goal-side of the nearest forward and covers whichever full-back has gone. Plays through the centre midfielder rather than kicking long.
- Full-backs. Defend the wide channels and track the opposing wide player. With the ball they step up level with the midfield as a safe sideways pass.
- Centre Midfielder. The link. Receives from the back, turns if there is room and feeds the wide players or forwards. Without the ball, screens in front of the centre back.
- Wide Midfielders. Give the width in attack and run beyond the forwards down the line. Recover level with the centre midfielder to crowd the middle.
- Forwards. Work as a pair: one drops to show for the ball, the other runs beyond. Press the opposition defenders when they have the ball at the back.
Strengths
- Every player has a nearby passing option, which helps children still learning to find space.
- Natural cover in defence: one can step out and two remain.
- Easy to explain and to rotate players through.
Weaknesses
- The wide midfielders have the longest runs, and the shape sags when they stop tracking back.
- One central midfielder can be outnumbered by a team playing two or three through the middle.
- Two forwards can leave the centre empty if both chase the ball wide.
When to use it
Start here for most U11 teams in their first season of 9v9. It gives a defender, midfielder and forward role for almost everyone, so rotating children through positions is simple: a full-back becomes a wide midfielder, a wide midfielder becomes a forward. It suits a squad where ability is fairly even and you want each child on the ball a lot in a 30-minute half.
What to coach in training
- Play 6v6 plus keepers on a 50 by 35 yard pitch where a goal only counts if a wide midfielder touched the ball first. The forwards learn to wait for the width.
- Run a 4v2 rondo with the four as your back three plus centre midfielder, rehearsing the centre back playing through the middle rather than round the outside.
- Set a habit for the full-backs: whenever the ball is on the far side, they step inside to the edge of the box. Stop the game every time it does not happen for a few weeks.
Works well against
It copes well with 2-3-3 and 2-4-2 because three defenders are never outnumbered by their forwards and the spare man can step out. Against another 3-3-2 it is a straight contest for the same spaces. It struggles against 3-1-3-1 and 3-4-1, which put extra bodies in central midfield and leave your centre midfielder chasing.
