Formation

1
Formation
U13 age group
2
Game Positions

• CC United has a different shape at the U9,11 and
  U13 age groups.
• The team shape expands and covers as much as the
  field as possible in possession of the ball and
  constricts without over committing reducing space
  for the opposition without the ball.
• Defining it as a shape allows players to move
  freely around the field, interchanging positions
  as long as the shape is maintained. This means
  that all field players have the opportunity to
  attack and must develop the all techniques to do
  so. It also means that each player must be
  comfortable in different areas of the field both
  defending (realizing where cover will come from)
  and attacking (realizing where support is
  located).
• At U13 the game is completely real in size and
  rules. Players gravitate towards a zone or a side
  (Central/Left/Right). Players will be more
  successful in certain areas pending on their
  physical and technical ability. Their success in
  central positions will have a lot to do with
  their tactical ability (decisions). The goal of
  the coach is to put each player in an area that
  will give them and the team more success. Players
  may utilize other positions to work on parts of
  their game. For example a defender may spend a
  short amount of time in midfield to work on
  passing and receiving. The table below lists
  attributes used more often by each position

Position Attribute 1 Attribute 2 Attribute 3 Attribute 4 Attribute 5 Attribute 6
Goalkeeper Physical- Strength Physical-Quickness Psychological-Bravery Physical Coordination Technical- Passing Psychological- Confidence
Outside Defenders Physical- Endurance Tactical supporting Tactical- covering Technical- Passing Technical Crossing Tactical Forward Runs
Central Defenders Tactical Direction of attack Technical Long Passing Tactical Supporting Tactical- covering Technical- Heading Psychological communication
Outside Midfielders Tactical- positioning Technical- Dribbling Technical Crossing Tactical covering Tactical- supporting
Central Midfielders Tactical Direction of attack Technical passing long and short Technical comfort on the ball Tactical covering Tactical- Supporting Psychological - Communication
Forwards Tactical- Positioning Technical Shooting Psychological- Confidence Physical Speed Physical - Strength Technical Passing short
The Following slides show how the shape works
both with and without the ball and with players
understanding the roles of each position they
will become more effective on the field.
3
Formation 4-4-2
GK
RD
LD
CD
CD
LM
RM
CM
CM
CF
CF
4
Goalkeeper

• Defend
• Provide cover to last defender- when we are in
  attack and play outside your penalty area when
  the back line and team pushes up to halfway line
• Dominate your box, stop balls from crosses and
  shots
• Communication (organize defense to prevent shots)
• Correct positioning based on position of ball and
  center of goal

• Attack
• Be ready for a back pass when opponents play the
  ball long behind our back line
• Be ready for a quick transition to start the
  attack
• Awareness of outlet
• Look for the longest outlet 1st
• Good distribution (throw-kick)

RD
LD
CD
RD
LD
CD
RM
LM
CM
S
5
Central Defenders

• Defend
• Mark attackers zonally (dont get pulled out of
  position)
• Be ready to attack the ball from punts from
  goalkeeper
• Dont get caught square- provide cover when other
  central defender attacks the ball
• Provide
• Pressure when the ball is in your zone
• Cover to Each other, the central midfielders and
  outside Defenders
• Balance when the midfielders or the fullback on
  the opposite side of the field goes to the ball
• Communication to players in front and to the side
• Be ready to pass on attackers to unmarked team
  mates

• Attack
• Be ready to receive a pass off next line of
  players
• Be ready to support players 1 link away
• Be ready to play back to the goalkeeper when the
  ball is played behind
• Quality distribution away from trouble
• Make a diamond with outside midfielder and
  outside defender and central midfielder
• Be ready to switch play
• Be ready to follow your pass to make numerical
  advantage in the midfield zone

6
Wide Defenders

• Defend
• Mark attackers in your area
• Be ready to mark attacking players that run past
  the wide midfielders
• Priority is to mark so wide midfielder is open
• Provide
• Pressure when the ball is in your zone
• Cover to central defender and wide midfielder
• Balance when the a forward, central midfielder or
  central defender on opposite side pressures the
  ball

• Attack
• Provide an outlet, utilize full width of field
• Look to make forward runs without the ball
  (overlaps)
• Good communication when ball is passed inside
• Provide good support to wide midfielder and to
  central players
• Awareness of whether to cross the ball or dribble

7
Central Midfielders

• Defend
• Restrict the opponents ability to play through
  the center of the field
• Mark and track players in the central areas of
  the field
• Provide
• Pressure when the ball is in your zone
• Cover- when the forward, wide midfielder or other
  central midfielder pressures the ball
• Be aware of where covering players are to in
  order to channel the attacker in a specific
  direction
• Provide good information- which way eth forward
  should send their player

• Attack
• Be aware of opponents formation and attacking
  tendencies in preparation of transition
• Stay central and be the pivot in changing the
  point of attack
• Be available to receive a pass from any player
• Provide central support to all players
• Supporting runs beyond striker
• Be aware of space to exploit
• Look to pick up pieces from defenders or
  strikers tackles
• Short and long passes, be ready to switch play
• Anticipate and support early passes to forwards

8
Outside Midfielders

• Defend
• Mark and track runs of attackers in your area of
  field
• Provide cover to central midfielder and forward
• Provide balance when ball is on opposite side of
  field
• Be aware if outside defender is not marking and
  pass on attacking player
• Hold position when wide defender goes forward

• Attack
• Provide an outlet, utilize full width of field
• Good communication when ball is passed inside
• Provide good support to central players
• Either pass in overlapping wide defender or use
  them as a decoy
• Look to make forward runs without the ball
• Awareness of isolation and space
• If isolated 1v1 take on defender-If space attack
• Be prepared to switch play to opposite side
• Selection of crosses into the penalty area

9
Forwards

• Defend
• Pressure on the ball-force defenders to play
  towards their own goal
• Take advantage of defenders mistakes
• Channel play onto next defender
• Channel play away from key players
• Relative pressure on the ball either to close
  down or the channel in a specific direction

• Attack
• Stay as central as possible
• Stay as high as possible whilst being aware of
  the offside rule
• Change positions with other forward- Right and
  left
• Change starting point of forwards- one high , one
  low
• Shoot on sight
• Movement off ball to support team mates
• Diagonal runs in front of defenders to move them
• Diagonal runs behind of defenders to get open

10
Defending our Left

• Roles
• Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between
  center of goal and ball. Providing loud
  communication to team. Goalkeeper is ready for
  the shot and also ready to attack the space if
  the cross is delivered.
• Left Defender (LD) is applying pressure on the
  ball
• Defender (CD1) is providing cover for LD. If
  opponent gets past LD, CD is to provide immediate
  pressure
• Defender(CD2) is ready to move across if CD1 has
  to go to the ball
• Right Defender (RD) is providing balance and is
  in a position to attack the cross and also
  pressure the ball if it is switched to the
  opposite side. RD is also ready to move across
  and take CD2s player if CD1 has to go across
• Midfielder (LM) is recovering inside and trying
  to keep his opponent wide to force 2v1
• Midfielder (CM) is ready to intercept the pass
• Centre Forwards are looking for space to move
  into when we regain possession.
• Note Look how compact the defending team is
  giving the attacking team little space to work in
• Note If the Defending team wins the ball based
  on the opponents shape what type of pass will
  they make next?

GK
RD
CD2
CD1
LD
RM
CM
CM
LM
CF
CF
11
Defending our Right

• Roles
• Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between
  center of goal and ball. Providing loud
  communication to team.
• Right Midfielder (RM) is applying pressure to the
  ball
• Right Defender (RD) is moving up the field and
  providing cover to Right midfielder
• Centre Defender (CD) is proving balance
• Centre Defender (CD1) is marking the opposing
  forward and holding the defensive line ready to
  step forwards and put forward in an offside
  position
• Left Defender (LD) has come across to mark the
  other forward and is also holding the line ready
  to step forwards and put forwards in an offside
  position
• Left Midfielder (LM) is tracking the run of the
  opposing wide midfielder. LM may pass the player
  that they are marking onto LD if forwards 1 and 2
  move across
• Centre Midfielder (CM1) is recovering and will
  try to get alongside CM2 but is ready to
  intercept the switched pass. CM1 is also in a
  position to intercept a pass to either of the two
  players
• Centre forwards (CF) are looking for space to
  check into when we regain possession.
• Note Although our center midfielder1 is out of
  position we are comfortable as no player in a key
  area is isolated 1v1 and we are compact in our
  own half

GK
LD
CD1
CD
1
2
RD
LM
CM
RM
CM1
CF
CF
12
Defending our Center

• Roles
• In this scenario the attacking team has broken
  clear in midfield and is advancing at the back
  four
• Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between
  center of goal and ball. Providing loud
  communication to team
• Defender (CD) is applying pressure on the ball
• Defenders (CD1 and RD) are in 2nd defender
  position
• Centre Midfielder (CM) is recovering putting
  pressure on the ball
• Defender (LD) is holding the off side line and is
  ready to step up
• Note the compactness of the defense. The only
  available outlet from here is a pass out wide.
  The defense is also holding the offside line with
  the keeper in a position to cover a pass in
  behind the back line

GK
LD
RD
CD1
CD
CM
13
Early Transition from Defense

• Roles
• Defender (CD) has won possession the 1st look is
  a quick pass to a forward. If not available make
  quick safe outlet pass diagonally to space
• Left Defender (LD) will move based on CDs and
  Defender 1s next movement. As defender2 may be
  dragged inside based on a threat to a pass into a
  forward defender 1 may have to mark (LM) creating
  space for LD to run into
• Midfielder (CM) is trying not to block the
  passing lane to the forwards and will either look
  to support the pass or if defender 3 stops the
  pass will get open
• Centre Forward 1 CF1) is holding his space long
  to keep the two central defenders occupied.
• Centre Forward 2 (CF2) is holding the space long
  but also prepared to check back into space to
  receive a shorter pass
• Centre Forward 1 (CF1) is ready to support the
  pass into CF2 or ready to receive a pass off CM
  if defender 3 stops the 1st pass
• Note Player movement is based on the space
  available created either by the movement of the
  ball or team mates.

GK
RD
CD
LD
CD
RM
3
CM
1
CM
LM
CF2
2
CF1
14
Offensive Possession

• Roles
• Defenders (CD) are providing support for team
  mates while making sure opponents dont get
  behind him. Either of the (CD) could go forward
  if the center midfielders dribble the ball
  forwards and create space for them
• Right Midfielder (RM) is maintaining maximum
  width to stretch the opposition.
• Right and Left Defenders will either cover by
  moving inside if (CDs) go forward or overlap if
  the ball goes into a wide midfielder
• Left Midfielder (LM) is playing inside leaving
  space for the left Defender (LD) to come forward
  
• Midfielder (CM) preparing to support the pass
  into the forwards or if Defender 1 is able to
  pressure the ball be open to receive a pass
• Centre Forwards (CF) are playing opposites (high
  and low) looking to either check and create space
  or check to receive and turn
• Note the two diamonds that have been formed with
  the (CF) (CM) and right and left defenders

GK
RD
LD
CD
CD
RM
CM
CM
LM
1
CF
CF
15
Transition from Offense

• Roles
• Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between
  center of goal, and ball. Retreat at the speed
  the ball is moving forward while being ready to
  sprint forward to intercept long pass.
• Central Defender (CD1) moves to a position to
  cover (RD) but still provide protection in the
  middle
• Central defender (CD2) moves across to mark
  (CD1s) forward
• Left Defender (LD) moves toward a position that
  provides cover for the defense whilst still being
  able to get to the other forward
• Right Defender (RD) is responsible for marking
  the midfielder CD1 is ready to go behind RD if
  the ball is played behind
• Midfielder (M) is sprinting to provide pressure
  on ball carrier or cover if center forward (CF)
  gets there first.
• Left Midfielder (LM) moves to a position between
  the opponents Wide Defender and our goal while
  being ready to sprint to intercept pass
• Right midfielder(RM) moves to a position between
  the opponents Wide Defender and our goal while
  being ready to sprint to intercept pass
• Centre Forward (CF) is sprinting to provide
  pressure on ball carrier or cover if Midfielder
  (M) gets there first. Seek opportunity to
  intercept pass
• In this scenario the object of the team is to
  compact the play and keep the ball on the right
  hand side as we are potentially 5v3. The team
  must apply pressure to the ball and not totally
  fill spaces but invite the opposition to be hit
  into specific areas.

GK
CD2
CD1
RD
LD
CM
M
CF
CF
RM
LM