Basic Patterns of Play 4-3-3 Full Back Feeds Ball Into Strikers Feet Who

Run of player

Path of ball

Basic Patterns of Play – 4-3-3

11 7

1 8 10

4 2 2 3 9 11 7

10 8

4 6 5 3 2 6 5 1

1 Full Back feeds ball into strikers feet who: (i) Angles ball in for wide player (no.11 or no. 7) (ii) Sets ball back to no. 10 who supports behind and plays through ball for no.8 driving into box. Or if un-pressured no.10 can shoot!

2 Full back feeds ball into deep centre midfielder (no.4) who shows short: (i) Opens up and plays long diagonal for wide players (no.7 or no.11) (ii) Plays across pitch to full back pushing on (iii) Plays round the corner to no.10 (iv) Pressured protects ball and plays to centre half to initiate attack

Run of player

Path of ball Additional Patterns of Play – 4-3-3

7 11

2 1

10 8

4 2 3 9 11 7

10 8

6 5 4 3 2 6 5 1 1 Centre midfielder (under pressure) plays into wide forwards feet: (i) No.3 overlaps as no.11 bounces into centre forward to play in for the overlapping full back (ii) No.11 drives towards corner of box to receive set back from no. 9 and attacks goal

2 Centre midfielder (under pressure) plays into wide forwards feet: As (i) but when ball is played into no. 9, she checks out and switches play to right forward. No. 2 supports behind or overlaps (dependant upon pressure upon ball) and no. 8 drives between centre halves.

Question: Can we encourage our players to think off of the ball to exploit space and receive in the most dangerous position possible? Further, can our players rotate positions comfortably and play to a shape not specific positions? Run of player

Path of ball Basic Patterns of Play – 4-4-2

9 10

11 7

4 8 2

3 2

9 10

11 4 8 7

6 5 3 6 5 2

Full back feeds ball into strikers feet who: 1 (i) No. 9 sets ball back for no. 4 who supports behind and plays ball in for wide midfielder (no.11) to run onto and cross (ii) No. 9 sets ball back for no. 4 who supports behind and plays ball through for no. 10 to get across defender and shoot

2 Centre half plays into wide midfielders feet who: (i) Plays inside to no. 10 as no. 2 overlaps for no.10 to set off for overlapping player to cross (ii) Drives inside and slides pass through for no. 8 who runs between centre halves to receive and shoot Question: Can we encourage our players to think off of the ball to exploit space and receive in the most dangerous position possible?Run of player Further, can our players rotate positions comfortably and play to a shape not specific positions?

Path of ball Additional Patterns of Play – 4-4-2

9 10

11 7

2 4 8

9 10 1

3 11 4 8 7 6 5

3 6 5 2

1 Centre half plays into centre midfielder’s feet who shows short: 1 (i) Pass out wide to midfielder (who comes inside). No. 10 shows short and no.7 plays the pass ‘safe side’ past no.10 into no.9’s feet. No.10 spins back and receives angled ball to shoot.

2 Full back has time and space on ball and: (i) No. 9 and no.11 show short for feet pass. No. 10 checks across pitch and runs between centre halves for long aerial ball from no. 3. Direct but effective!

Run of player

Path of ball Basic Patterns of Play – 3-2-1

7 7

5 6 5 6

2 3 2 3 1 2 4 4 2 1

1 1

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 7 Pattern 1 Pattern 2  GK rolls out  GK rolls out to  GK rolls out  GK rolls out to no.4 no. 4 5 6 to no.2 to no.3 who  No. 4 passes  No.4 passes  No. 2 slides sets back to wide to no.2 up to no.5 ball down no.4 pushing on who checks 3 2 the side for  No.4 passes  No. 2 feeds short 4 no.6 up to no.3 ball to  No.5 plays out 1 breaking who has centre to no. 3 forward on spun and forward (7) pushing on the diagonal pushed on and runs  No. 3 plays up  No. 6 takes  No. 3 forward to centre ball on and crosses  No.7 sets forward (7) crosses / early behind ball back for who then sets shoots opposition no. 6 who up for no. 5 to defence for plays touch on and no.7 to run through ball shoot onto for no. 2 to cross

Run of player

Path of ball Basic Patterns of Play – 2-3-1

7 7

5 6 5 6

4 4

2 3 3 2 1 1 2 2

1 1

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 2  GK rolls ball  GK rolls ball 7  GK rolls  GK rolls ball out to no.2 out to no.3 ball out to out to no.4  No.2 passes  No. 3 passes 5 6 no.4  No.4 sets ball up to ball up to 4  No.4 sets ball off to centre centre back to no.2 forward (7) forward (7) 3 2 no.3  No.2 plays  No.7 sets off  No. 7 sets pushing on long ball up for no.6 back for 1  No.3 plays to centre pushing on no.4 who long forward (7)  No. 6 crosses supports through  No.7 sets behind ball for off for no.4  No.4 passes no. 5 to pushing on wide for run onto  No.7 plays no.5 pushing and cross wide for no. on 6 pushing on  No. 5 crosses

Defensive Patterns – 4-3-3 vs. 4-4-2No.1  The farther the ball goes up the pitch the closer you move to the edge of the box  Clear up balls played behind centre halves 1

No.5 & No.6  Be tight when your forward is closest to the ball or shows short  Provide cover and depth No.2 & No. 3 No.2 & No. 3 when other centre half  Be close enough to  Be close enough to goes tight/challenges pressure wide pressure wide  Farthest centre half from players 1st touch players 1st touch ball must be deepest of  Tuck around and  Tuck around and back four provide cover to 5 & provide cover to 5 & 6 when ball on left 5 6 6 when ball on left although remain although remain aware of player aware of player 10 9 2 3

No.4 11 4  Be close to 8 or 10 7 when challenging and pick up 2nd balls  Prevent balls into forwards or attempt to steal from front

No.8 & No.10 8  High No.7 & No.11 pressure 10 No.7 & No.11  Force player inside against  Force player inside at all times opponent at at all times 4 all times 8  Track full back if  Track full back if pushing forward pushing forward No.9  Pressure nearest 7 centre half to ball 11  Make play predictable by 3 preventing centre 2 half from playing across to other centre half

9 6 5

Defensive Patterns – 4-4-2 vs. 4-4-2

No.1  The farther the ball goes up the pitch the closer you move to the edge of the box  Clear up balls played behind centre halves 1

No.5 & No.6  Be tight when your forward is closest to the ball or shows short  Provide cover and depth when other centre half goes tight/challenges No.2 & No. 3 No.2 & No. 3  Farthest centre half from ball must  Be close enough to  Be close enough to be deepest of back four pressure wide pressure wide st  st players 1 touch Mark ball side players 1 touch  Tuck around and  Play high up pitch to support midfield  Tuck around and provide cover to 5 & provide cover to 5 & 6 when ball on left 5 6 6 when ball on left although remain although remain aware of player aware of player 10 9 2 3

No.8 & No.4  Nearest player 11 pressures hard 7  Farthest player drops a little deeper to cover

8 4

No.7 & No.11 No.7 & No.11  Force player inside  Force player inside at all times 4 8 at all times  Track full back if  Track full back if pushing forward pushing forward No.9 & No. 10  Force centre halves 7 inside and pressure 11 hard to force uncontrolled 3 clearances 2

9 10

6 5

Defensive Patterns of Play – Mini-Soccer 3-2-1 vs. 2-3-1 3-2-1 vs. 3-2-1

1 1 4

4 2 7 3 7 2 3

5 6 6 5 4 6 5 5 6 3 2

2 7 7 4

1 1

No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 (i) The further the ball goes up (i) Mark close to wide (i) The further the ball goes up (i) Mark other teams wide player the pitch the further you move midfielder when close to ball the pitch the further you move by pressuring first touch to the edge of the box (ii) Come across pitch near to to the edge of the box (ii) If you can’t get tight early, (ii) Be alert to come and clear Chelsea no. 4 when ball on (ii) Be alert to come and clear stand off and let player come onto you, leaving less space behind with feet balls played over opposite side of pitch with feet balls played over defence defence

No. 4 No. 5 & No. 6 No. 4 No. 5 & No. 6 (i) Mark other teams forward (i) Nearest player moves (i) Mark other teams forward (i) Mark other teams (ii) Mark on the side that the ball towards ball when with (ii) Mark on the side that the ball midfielder tight is on (ball-side) opponent to block passes is on (ball-side) (ii) Go closer to other (iii) Be strong and determined to (ii) Other player marks other (iii) Be strong and determined to midfielder when they are win ball teams midfielder (no.4) win ball trying to win the ball (iv) Do not ‘dive in’ (iv) Do not ‘dive in’

No. 7 No. 7 (i) Pressure (i) Mark defender defender nearest tight and do not to ball forcing allow them to get them towards the past side

Defensive Patterns of Play – Mini-Soccer 2-3-1 vs. 2-3-1 2-3-1 vs. 3-2-1

1 1 2 3 7 2 3 7

6 4 5 4 6 5 6 5 5 4 6 3 2

7 3 2 7 4

1 1

No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 (i) The further the ball goes up (i) Nearest defender to (i) The further the ball goes up (i) Nearest defender to the pitch the further you move forward marks them on the the pitch the further you move forward marks them on the to the edge of the box ball side to the edge of the box ball side (ii) Be alert to come and clear (ii) Spare defender goes deep (ii) Be alert to come and clear (ii) Spare defender goes deep with feet balls played over and towards other defender with feet balls played over and towards other defender defence defence

No. 4 No. 5 & No. 6 No. 4 No. 5 & No. 6 (i) Mark other teams midfielder (i) Mark other teams wide (i) Mark the nearest centre (i) Mark the other teams wide (ii) Mark on the side that the ball is player by pressuring first midfielder to the ball player when they are near the on (ball-side) touch (ii) Be pressuring them as soon ball (iii) Be strong and determined to win (ii) If you can’t get tight as they receive the ball (ii) Come inside and mark ball (iv) Follow their midfielder if she early, stand off and let player other centre midfielder when runs forward come onto you, leaving less ball is on other side of the space behind pitch

No. 7 No. 7 (i) Pressure (i) Mark defender defender nearest tight and do not to ball forcing allow them to get them towards the past side

Run of player

Path of ball

Basic Patterns of Play – 3-4-1 Basic Patterns of Play – 4-2-2

1 1 2 1 1 2

5 6 6 2 3 2 3 4 8 4 5

8 7 7 9 9

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 2  GK rolls ball out to  GK throws  GK rolls ball out to  GK plays early no.6 who drops and long and early no. 5 who drops and into no.8 demands out to no.3 demands  No. 6 drives  No. 6 plays up to  No.3 passes  No. 5 plays up to on and no. 4 safe side to ball up to no. 4 safe side to receives set attract central centre attract central back before pressure forward safe pressure playing up to  No. 4 plays sideways side (9) – 8  No.4 plays up no.9 for no.2 pushing runs on driving no. 2 on  No. 3 drives them on  No. 9 sets for  No. 7 shows short on off of ball  No.2 plays up safe no.5 driving and no. 2 plays safe to receive set side for no.9 to set on side missing them back and back for no.4 who  No. 5 shoots out and hitting no.9 plays long has pushed on and 9 and 8  No.9 sets for no. 7 angled cross  No. 4 plays deep react for spinning to finish from deep for and straight for no.7 secondary no.7 who who comes across chances works the line to cross for between players attacking defenders box

Defensive Patterns of Play – 3-4-1 vs. 3-3-2 Defensive Patterns of Play – 4-2-2 vs. 3-3-2

1 1

9 8 5 6 2 9 8 3 2 3 7 5 4 5 5 7 4 8 6 6 7 8

3 9 2 3 7 9 2

4 4

1 1

No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 No. 1 No. 2 & No. 3 (i) The further the ball goes up (i) When on side of pitch that (i) The further the ball goes up (i) When on side of pitch that the pitch the further you move ball is pressure wide players the pitch the further you move ball is pressure wide players to the edge of the box first touch (opposition 5 or 7) to the edge of the box first touch (opposition 5 or 7) (ii) Be alert to come and clear (ii) When farthest from ball (ii) Be alert to come and clear (ii) When farthest from ball with feet balls played over tuck in and mark 2nd striker with feet balls played over tuck in but remain aware of defence (but be ready to explode defence wide players position forward on regain) No. 6 No. 5 & No. 6 (i) Mark forward nearest to the (i) Mark forward nearest to the ball on the ball side No. 4 & No. 5 ball on the ball side No. 4 & No. 8 (ii) Communicate to farthest full (i) Mark opposition centre (ii) Farthest centre half from the (i) Nearest Centre midfielder back away from ball to tuck midfielder (no. 6) when ball goes deepest and provides to the ball shuffles and round closest player to the ball cover for other centre half prevents passes to forwards (ii) When farthest centre feet midfielder from the ball front (ii) Farthest centre midfielder screen passes into forward’s comes across to mark No. 7 & 8 feet opposition centre midfielder (i) Track opposition full back No. 7 & No. 9 when they attack (i) Encourage ball to full backs. (ii) When away from ball drop No. 9 Nearest forward pressures. halfway between opposition (i) Encourage their gk to give (ii) Farthest forward comes wide midfielder and opposition the ball to no.4 and then press central to prevent full back to be able to recover to showing to left our right opportunities to switch play defend and counter to attack midfielder

‘Make play predictable by encouraging balls into particular parts of the pitch and then ensuring that all players defend effectively and know when to mark players and when to mark space’

No. 4 & No. 5 (i) Mark opposition centre midfielder (no. 6) when closest player to the ball (ii) When farthest centre midfielder from the ball front screen passes into forwards feet