Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1-3-3-2 Formation Overview 9v9

Attacking Shape

When on attack we want to make sure we're making the best use of the whole field by spreading out! At their age, they're starting to understand a sense of teamwork, but they still like to dribble and take on opponents 1v1, but passing is often a better way to help the team progress forward. More dribbling = more energy used in the match!

Strikers - Preferably high up the field in the middle spaces. The two strikers can work as a duo once one of them has the ball to help break the opponent's lines in the middle of the field. Available for crosses coming in from out wide from the wingers or through ball coming from in the middle from the center midfielder.

Wingers / Wide Midfielders - High and wide, very close to the touchline. Most of the space is out wide and that's where dribbling and taking on an opponent is the most useful. Once a player or two has been beaten they should look to either cut inside towards goal or send in a cross for one of our players to try and get on the end of.

Center midfielders - In the middle of the field in the center spaces (center circles for a reminder!). Controller of what's going on, lots of passing to help the attack happen. Center midfielders do a lot of scanning to see what's going on and to help control the play.

Defenders - Up high at least towards the halfway line, we have offsides and we want to use it as a tool that's a part of our game. Free kicks high up the field = more chances to score! Defender doesn't mean " just hang back and wait", we always want our defenders to stay involved in the game and be proactive. Even better if they're actively trying to win the ball back before the ball just comes towards them or their area!

Starting The Attack

This is what our shape should look like as we're trying to start out attack and progress up the field.

Goalkeeper - We want to focus on all the different ways to start an attack to help the team progress up the field. Switching the distribution up will keep our opponents on their toes! Short to the defenders positioned wide on the edge of the box. Long ball to the wide players close to the touchline. We always want to avoid putting the ball into the middle of the field while in our half as more often than not that will lead to a goal being scored on us

Defenders - No build out line so opponents have freedom to be wherever they like as long as they stay onside if their team wins the ball back. Wide defenders are close to our goal but wide on the side of the GK box. Central defenders should be in the middle spaces to help deal with mistakes (balls in the middle). If the ball is played short to you, you could either pass to the wide player (follow your pass into the open space) or dribble out into the wide areas yourself. If the ball is played long first to the wide player, move up the field with the team to help stay apart of the attack we are trying to create. 

Wingers/Wide Midfielders - We want to be higher in the wide spaces, able to receive a long ball if it's played that way to then drive up the field taking on opponents 1v1. As we progress up the field into the opponent's half and final 3rd we want to try to look for the pass/cross to the inside or cut inside to get towards goal.

Center Midfielders - Occupying the middle space in our half, in FRONT of the opponents. If a ball is played into the middle, we want to have one our players there to help protect our goal. If our center midfielders win the ball back in the middle, they should look to play an outward pass to our wide players or through the lines to our strikers if the pass is there (scanning!)

Strikers - High up the field close to the halfway line ready to break free from the defenders!

Attacking Corners

Corners often have the GK box quite congested whether it be on attack or defense. When we are attacking on corner kicks our winger are to take the corners. That way we can numbers in the box while have at least two of our defenders back and ready for a potential counterattack.

On these kicks, players will have starting positions, but we do want to make sure we're moving around in the area to create space for ourselves.

Strikers - Closest ones to the GK. Defenders will often try and move you away from their GK. Stay disruptive in the area to help create a chance, space, or sight at goal for yourself or another player.

Center Midfielders - In the middle of the box (we love the center spaces! Circles and half circles for a reminder!). If the ball lands at your feet, have a shot towards the corners or where the gk isn't standing

Wingers/Wide Midfielders - Whatever side the corner is on, the winger on that side should be taking the corner kick. Use signals to call someone close if you'd like to play short (be on the lookout for offsides if you're expecting a pass back to you). Use a different signal to let your teammates know it's coming into the box/area. Join the play once you've made your kick.

Defenders - The wide defender on the side where the corner kick is being taken should position themselves on the top of the box to add numbers and potentially have a shot at goal. If the ball is cleared out, quickly rejoin the defensive line. The other two defenders should be no further than the center circle just in case we are counter attacked from the corner.