| Changing the number of players in a team
can change the way the team plays. It can mean new responsibilities or
opportunities for everyone. The structure, or form, that the game takes is
called systems of play.
Here, Eric
Cantona argues, tongue in cheek, against these systems in favour of a high
risk 1-1-8, takes you to
YouTube. It’s the "Just let them play school"
taken to extremes. While this is good theatre it’s not practical advice.
After all, Eric couldn’t have played the role of the playmaker at
Manchester United without those six or seven players behind him doing the
dirty work. And he never could have learned all of his great attacking
qualities by "Working harder, not smarter" as a youth. Someone else was
moving the piano. In youth soccer development the
numbers 1v1 to 11v11 play an important role. They provide a clear starting
and ending point for evaluations and learning, a simple path that provides
both the tools to measure and assist in the process. This one element of
the game, the number of players, provides you with a powerful way to help
the players develop their
TIC and to make a greater contribution to the game. In the end that’s
all the players want; to have an impact and to play a role in the outcome.
Note; The 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 videos are included just to
give a visual reference to the form. The UEFA.com position videos in 4v4
and above are included to relate how a form contributes to a specific
learning opportunity.
1v1,
takes you to YouTube.
The basic form of soccer. Each player is learning opposite lessons in the
game. Without a basic grasp of this level what follows will be much more
difficult.
2v2,
takes you to YouTube. Working with a
teammate. Cooperating to achieve an objective.
3v3,
takes you to YouTube. If two’s company and
three’s a crowd you had better sort it out here. Now the game revolves
around a shape and a centre.
4v4
is special. It’s the smallest form of real soccer and the fastest way to
develop an appreciation of all of the basic tasks and skills.
Generally the four players assume a diamond shape, it’s the most efficient
and effective way to cover the field and that creates the following
learning opportunities; (All of these videos are at
UEFA.com - Training Ground.)
-
The sweeper can learn to play as a
centre-back. Their basic task
when in possession will be to
build up the attacks and
support the midfielders. When the opponents have possession they’ll have
to mark the striker 1v1.
-
The midfielders first defensive task is to neutralize
their immediate opponent, again 1v1. In possession they also have to
help in the build up and then support their own striker. Getting forward
to score goals is a bonus, a supplementary task. They learn the roles
and skills of the
right and
left midfielder through their
position and responsibilities.
-
The top player can learn the role of the
target player and/or
striker. These jobs require
different skill sets and will depend a lot on the qualities of the
player themselves. They will also have to defend against the opponents
sweeper, a la 1v1.
-
The beauty of
4v4
is that the players interchange positions as they see fit, as the
situations dictate. They change within the flow of the game to meet
the needs of the team. This flow cannot be
effectively controlled by the
coach, it’s up to the players to see and develop their "Feel" for when
to go, when to stay and which job is most important. If a player is
comfortable in a specific role they can develop a level of expertise
in it. They adopt it as their own. In any case, over time players will
have to use both feet in attack, defence, to dribble, pass, tackle and
shoot in all of the areas, i.e., right, left, top and back, of the
field. They have to fill all of the basic roles, i.e., ball winner,
goal scorer and playmaker, of the real game. They have to deal with
hundreds of 1v1’s, 2v1’s, 2v2’s, all of those smaller forms in the
context a real game.
5v5 - Without goalkeepers. With the addition
of an extra player one of the
basic
tasks from 4v4 will be duplicated. This affects the distances, angles,
space and tasks of all of the players. On the smaller field it also
encourages the use of two line play.
-
3-2, adding the 5th player up top. This
creates a three player back line because the midfielders don’t have to
go forward as much and have less space to do so. It changes them to a
right and
left fullback’s
that work alongside the center back. When the opponents also play a 3-2
one of the back players will be free. If it’s one of the outside players
they can practice playing as a
wing back. If they are marking
the opposition, the centre back is free and can play as a
libero. Up top the second
striker can play off of the first. One player can assume the role of
target player while the other plays as the striker. The 3-2 alignment
encourages building up from the back because the team’s balance favours
it.
-
2-3, adding the 5th player to the back. Now
the midfielders don’t need to come back as often so they play farther
up. This works well when you are better then your opponent. If not, the
two back players will be under constant pressure and will have a hard
time building up the attack. When both teams play this way the game
usually degenerates into two different 3v2’s, one in each half of the
field. A team must make up in superior qualities what it lacks in
numbers. Since the
build up precedes the attacking
phase if back players aren’t up to the task the game can get ugly fast.
-
1-3-1, adding the 5th player to the midfield.
Only the best players and teams should try this. It demands a high level
of technical and tactical qualities, especially from the
central midfielder. Not only do
they have to understand their own game but they need to know where
everybody else is at all times. The central midfielder will need to fill
in all of the other roles as players move and be comfortable in them
all.
5v5 - With
goalkeepers.
This is basically the same as 4v4 on the field. The addition of a
goalkeeper has little effect on the other four players roles.
6v6 usually means the
introduction of a
goalkeeper. The five players on
the field follow the same outline as 5v5 above. 6v6 without a goalkeeper
is not seen in competition. In training it’s a good way to present the
basic tasks of 7v7 and to force an aggressive defense.
7v7 one of the standard small sided games. The examples
below assume a goalkeeper;
-
3-3, the basis
for three attackers in 11v11. This is the smallest form for developing
wingers. Each flank player in
the top line, each winger has an immediate opponent, i.e. they need to
develop their 1v1 skills. They have a marked central striker, i.e. a
target to play to and an opposing goalkeeper who cuts out the poorer
crosses. The large goal offers the choice to cross or shoot. This is
a good form for introducing 4-3-3 and 3-4-3.
-
4-2, the
basics of the counter attacking game. You can use this form for
teaching either, the four back players behind two central midfielders,
or, the four midfielders behind the two central strikers in 11v11. The
former encourages a counterattacking philosophy and develops a
holding midfielder while the latter can help to develop the
playmaker. He or she has three
players behind them to defend and two players in front of to find. That
means fewer defensive responsibilities and many opportunities to find a
target or carry the ball forward. The communication and the separation
of tasks between the two central back players is a key learning point.
This is a good form for introducing the 4-4-2 forms.
-
2-3-1, this
structure asks a lot of youth players. First, the
lone striker will find
themselves isolated quite a bit. The outside midfielders must be able to
cover the entire length of the field, corner flag to corner flag.
Because of this they will constantly find themselves chasing the ball,
an opponent or both. Because of their defensive responsibilities they
will be starting their attacks, and making crosses, from deep positions
and this does not develop the wing play qualities of the 3-3. Because
the lone striker won’t be able to pressurize the opponents back line
effectively, one or more of the midfielders will often push up. However,
if they are starting from positions too far back they get forward too
late. The ball passes by them and the back two are exposed. Finally,
unless one of the three midfielders drops back to play with the back
two, the back two players will not have many chances to carry the ball
forward or join in the attack. They have problems building up and resort
to the long ball. Teams that use this form will need to rely on strong
physical qualities as opposed to technical/tactical ones. This is a
form for developing the 3-5-2 form.
-
3-2-1, the
Christmas tree. With an emphasis on defence this takes the
2-3-1 to a new negative level. The difference between the two forms is
that in the later there are two full time defenders and three part
timers while the former is reversed. The change is in one players basic
tasks. The problems are similar to the 2-3-1, an isolated striker and
midfielders who have to cover a lot of ground. The advantage is the
increased strength of the back line. The extra defensive player can help
to reduce the midfielders need to come back. Two players can cover the
back when the third joins in the attack. This is a good form for
developing the 4-5-1 or 5-3-2.
8v8, the other standard small sided game. The biggest
change between 7v7 and 8v8 is it’s easier to play three real lines in 8v8.
When you use three players as the basis for a line there are only three
players left. (Some coaches try to use a 2-2-2 but this does not
adequately cover the field.) By using the basic forms from 7v7 some of the
forms you can make are; 3-1-3, 3-2-2, 3-3-1, 4-2-1. All of these forms use
three lines with a minimum back line of three players. The eighth player
creates the need for an even greater separation of tasks, the extra line
and that lengthens the team. A four player line might be overkill in
protecting the width.
9v9 to 11v11. These are considered to be full sized
games. The most common 11 a side forms are below.
Starting XI - US Soccer’s WNT Greg Ryan and u17’s John Hackworth.
Must see video from top US National
Coaches.
Formations:
5-3-2 - UEFA.com video.
Formations:
3-5-2 - UEFA.com video. -
Ajax vs. AC Milan
1995, takes you to YouTube.
Formations:
4-5-1 - UEFA.com video. - Basic forms for
counter
attacking soccer.
Formations:
4-4-2 - UEFA.com video.
Formations:
4-4-2 - (Diamond) - UEFA.com video.
Formations:
4-3-3 - UEFA.com video. - The defensive form of playmaking soccer.
Formations:
3-4-3 - UEFA.com video. - The attacking form of playmaking soccer.
Players do not move out of one level into another and
never go back. Even International players continue to play small sided
games like
1v1,
2v1,
2v2, 3v2, 4v3, 4v4,
6v4 and so on,
takes you to UEFA.com - Training Ground.
Certainly some time can be spent in isolated technical drills. But real
development can only happen, and be evaluated in the context of the game.
With youth players this means small sided games with an eye on what role
they could best fill in 11v11, and often in more then one system and
level. The smaller forms provide the context and the tools for their
exploration and growth in the game. So time spent learning the smaller
forms is never wasted. Individual, small group and team tactics, fitness,
roles and all of the individual skill sets can be developed in a real
match context.
The bottom line on player
development.
-
Player development should have a clear starting and end
point. - It’s not a random set of technical
skills without context. 1v1 to
11v11 contains all of the moments, tasks and TIC. You have to know
where you are, where you’re going and how you are going to get there.
This progression does that.
-
It should follow a simple and logical progression.
- The different sizes of the game. Use uneven
numbers to bridge the gaps.
-
It should take into account to individual differences.
- The coach should look for, cater to and
develop the players strengths first. Build
on what they can do before obsessing on what they can’t. Also, avoid
mass solutions. Not all of the players suffer from the same diseases.
-
The coach must balance between the present and
potential qualities. - Use the different
forms and roles to explore potential. Todays striker is tomorrows
centre back.
-
Ultimately a players development is measured by their
contribution to the game. They don’t get
style points, they need to get the job done.
-
Their contribution to the game rests on their general
and special qualities and how they are applied to the game.
- Everybody is different. This is why Festival
play is such an important part in development. Players learn about
differences in themselves and others.
-
These qualities can be enhanced or hindered by the role
they are assigned in the team. - With older
players match the qualities to the role. There are only two reasons
why players fail. They are at the wrong level or in the wrong
position. In recreational soccer having players at the wrong level
goes with the territory. Having them in the wrong position goes with
the plan.
© Copyright 2007 Burke
Athletic Club. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2007 Demosphere
International, Inc. All rights reserved. |
.jpg){kind=small}
