4v3 Attack vs. Defense

Four attackers work a three-defender line for a shot on goal — while the defenders fight to break down the attack and earn their escape with a pass to you.

A player-up attack is only an advantage if you use it — move the ball, find the open player and the holes in the defense, and finish with a shot on goal.

Ages 9+4 attackers vs 3 defenders, plus a keeper (4v3)15 minCones, pinnies, balls, full-size goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones, pinnies for the three defenders, balls, and your full-size goal.
Build: Build a 30-by-30 grid with one side playing to the goal.
Place: Three defenders in pinnies, the attackers starting with the ball, a keeper in the goal — and you where the defenders can find you with a pass.

Show me the setup picture

A 30-by-30 grid playing to a full-size goal with a keeper, three defenders in pinnies, and four attackers with the ball.

One thing to remember: Exploiting a numerical advantage and finishing with a shot on goal — quick switching of the point of attack, one- and two-touch speed, thinking ahead — plus containing, early pressure, and covering a man-down situation for the defenders.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

The attackers exploit their extra player and finish on goal; the defenders break down the attack and end it with a pass to you — then you feed the attackers and it rebuilds.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Assign three defenders in pinnies, give the ball to the attackers, and put the keeper in the goal.
Coach says
Three of you defend — pinnies on. Attackers, the ball's yours, and you've got the extra player. Make it matter.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the jobs — the attackers move the ball looking for the open player and holes in the defense, exploit the advantage, and finish with a shot on goal. The defenders try to break down the attack and get experience covering a man-down situation; they end an attack by completing a pass to you, and you give the ball back to the attackers to build again.
Coach says
Attackers — find the open player, find the hole, finish. Defenders — win it and find me. Then we go again.
3Play▾
Coach does
Keep the attacks rebuilding. Push the attackers to switch the point of attack quickly to off-balance the defense, to play quick both physically — one and two touch — and mentally, thinking ahead, and to attack at the appropriate times. Hold the defenders to containing the play, keeping the ball in front of them, pressuring early, and allowing no space behind.
Coach says
Switch it — quick! Make them turn! Defenders — keep it in front, nothing in behind!
Look for: The quick switch — the ball moved fast enough side to side that the defense off-balances and a hole opens.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
The reset is built in — every defensive pass to you starts a new attack. Between rounds, retune the numbers to the game you're seeing, adding or dropping an attacker or defender.
Coach says
Too easy out there? One more defender's coming in — let's see it again.

If it's not working

If scoring chances never come, add an attacker or pull a defender until they do — and if goals come too easily, tip the numbers back the other way.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

The numerical advantage is the lesson — attackers learn what the spare player is for, moving the ball until the open player and the holes appear — while the defenders get real experience covering a man down, with the pass to the coach as their way out.

What are they learning?

Exploiting a numerical advantage and finishing with a shot on goal — quick switching of the point of attack, one- and two-touch speed, thinking ahead — plus containing, early pressure, and covering a man-down situation for the defenders.

How can I change it?

Easier: Increase the number of attackers or decrease the number of defenders when scoring chances are infrequent.

Harder: Increase the number of defenders or decrease the number of attackers when scoring chances come too frequently.