Formations

There is not one formation that is better than another — a shape is picked for the players you have, or for the system they move into next. Positions show players where to stand; positional play teaches them how to play.

The numbering system — what #6 or #9 means

US Soccer numbering system — each position's number and name on a field

The numbers come from US Soccer and stay the same in every formation — #9 is the striker whether there are one or three up front. At smaller formats one player carries two numbers, because they are learning the two jobs they will split between at the next size up.

3-3-2

Your formation

What it buys you

Easier formation for players to understand
Midfield shape can be played as a triangle or flat
Two central strikers occupy the opposing center back; forwards must learn diagonal runs
Allows two solid defensive lines, compact for the opposition to break

What it asks of you

Requires a very mobile center midfielder, and is vulnerable if wide players do not pinch in defensively
Players can be rigid in attack — long runs up and back for the outside midfielders
Requires coordinated movement between the forwards to defend
If defensive shape is not found early, midfield gaps are exploited quickly

Every position's job

#1: Goalkeeper — patient in the build-up, look to play out of the back, but can play direct
#9: Striker — time runs well, play on the shoulder of the last defender
#10: Striker — drops between the opposition's back line and midfield to receive; creative on the ball; drops back when not in possession
#2,3: Outside backs — get wide in the build-up and move forward with the ball; when not in possession get compact and force play wide
#4,5: Center back — stays deep during build-up so the ball can be played back to switch the point of attack; remains central, organizes, may step into central midfield to support
#6,8: Center mid — very mobile, high fitness, maintains possession, good range of passing short and long
#7,11: Outside midfielders — stay wide in possession to create 1v1s; squeeze in centrally when not in possession; runs must be dynamic

3-2-3

1-3-2-3

What it buys you

Can build out of the back with three defenders and two midfielders
Outside backs can push on, overlap or underlap
Numbers up in attack allows a quick counterattack
Three forwards should allow a high pressing game, winning the ball back immediately on losing it

What it asks of you

Can be outnumbered in midfield and vulnerable in wide areas
Requires wide players to work together with a high work rate and recover into midfield
Midfielders must be disciplined about when to join the attack
Leaves passing lanes open if the team does not transition and get compact on losing possession

Every position's job

#1: Goalkeeper — patient in the build-up, look to play out of the back with the defenders or midfielders
#6: Defensive mid — creates angles that split the opposition's strikers and shapes up to play forward; protects the back line and doubles up with the outside backs when needed
#8: Center mid — switches the point of attack and keeps the ball moving; the covering and balancing defender when defending in the attacking third
#2,3: Outside backs — get wide in the build-up and move forward with the ball; when not in possession get compact and force play wide
#4,5: Center back — stays deep during build-up to switch the point of attack; stays central and communicates with #6 about when to drop in
#7,11: Wingers — stay wide in possession to create 1v1s; squeeze over when the opponents build up on the other side
#9,10: Striker — plays between the opposition's lines and defenders; dictates when to press and when to hold

THE PRESSING FORMATION. Its stated strength is winning the ball back immediately on losing it — which is Goal 5, Hunt in Packs. A team whose season goals lean that way has a formation reason to consider this, post-beta.

2-4-2

1-2-4-2

What it buys you

Creates lots of natural triangles to play in midfield
Can create overloads centrally and allow combinations
Two central strikers occupy the center back or go wide, letting an attacking midfielder make deep runs
Midfield set-up allows the team to play on more than three lines

What it asks of you

Requires defenders comfortable defending 1v1
Leaves wide spaces if outside backs or the defensive midfielder over-commit
Vulnerable to the counterattack
Can require players to cover numerous positions

Every position's job

#1: Goalkeeper — good range of passing, comfortable playing a sweeper role
#6: Defensive mid — comfortable on the ball, dictates tempo; willing to step back between the two center backs in possession and when defending
#8: Center mid — decent range of passing; makes runs out of the midfield and moves the ball to keep possession
#9: Striker — times runs well, plays on the shoulder of the last defender; stretches the field wide at times, then drifts into the back-post area
#10: Striker — drops between the opposition's back line and midfield to receive; creative and dynamic with movement
#4,5: Center back — may have to go wide in the initial build-up; needs speed and strength defending 1v1
#2,7 & 3,11: Outside midfielders — high energy and endurance, cover a lot of space; comfortable attacking and defending 1v1

"Creates lots of natural triangles" is Goal 2 stated as a formation property. The transcripts' coach chose 3-3-2 partly because "triangles and diamonds are everywhere in it"; the deck says this shape produces more of them.

2-3-3

1-2-3-3

What it buys you

Lets the team be very direct and play higher up the field
Helps the team press higher and win the ball back in the attacking third
Good for teams with quality wide players with speed who like to cross and combine
Provides a lot of options to penetrate

What it asks of you

Requires defenders comfortable defending 1v1
Vulnerable to the counterattack
Can be open centrally, especially in midfield, where discipline is required
Maintaining possession to move the opponents may be difficult

Every position's job

#1: Goalkeeper — good range of passing, comfortable as a sweeper; plays a little more direct
#4,5: Center back — may go wide in the initial build-up; speed and strength defending 1v1
#6,8: Midfield — comfortable on the ball, dictates tempo; steps back between the center backs in possession and when defending; makes runs out of midfield and keeps the ball moving
#2,3: Outside midfielders — always an option for the wingers in front; drop back to defend the far side when the opposition builds on the opposite flank
#9,10: Striker — plays with their back to goal and brings others into the game; gets on the end of crosses
#7,11: Wingers — stay wide in possession and take on their defenders; good range of crossing; squeeze over and back when the ball is not on their side

The deck's own tension, preserved: the shape names three in the front line, and the roles then describe #9/#10 as one striker pairing plus #7/#11 wingers — five attackers named for a front three. Read the wide roles as the front line's wings. Recorded as published rather than repaired.

4-3-1

1-4-3-1

What it buys you

Numbers up defensively; lets the coach teach zonal defending
Maintains possession in center midfield with good angles and support play
Outside backs can step forward to create a midfield overload
A center back can step into midfield, freeing a center midfielder to support the striker

What it asks of you

Attacks can be hard to generate — a lot is asked of the single striker
Lets opponents play out of the back without much pressure
Not much width in the attacking third unless the outside backs push forward
Requires patience in the build-up; forward options are limited, and support must arrive quickly when the ball goes forward

Every position's job

#1: Goalkeeper — patient in the build-up; plays out of the back with the defenders or midfielders
#6: Defensive mid — keeps the ball circulating and penetrates by playing to the target player or into space; shields in front of the back line
#8: Center mid — good stamina; a box-to-box player supporting on both sides of the ball
#9: Striker — stays central, good with their back to goal to bring others into the game, or has the speed to get in behind
#10: Attacking mid — plays between the opponents' lines and supports the striker
#2,3: Outside backs — step into midfield in possession and even progress to the attacking third, getting high and wide
#4,5: Center backs — mark the opposition strikers and organize a compact back line; step into midfield when possible to create numbers up

The defensive-teaching formation — its first stated strength is that it lets the coach teach zonal defending, at the price of asking a lot from one striker.

From your club's coaching-education material. A formation is where you start a kickoff — it is not where they stand, and it is not lanes they run up and down.