FROM THE SIDE LINE VOLUME 5

FORMATIONS 1: 4 - 4 - 2

CONTENTS4 - 4 - 2 FLAT FORMATION

4 - 4 - 2 DIAMOND FORMATION

4 - 4 - 2 DESCRIBED

UNITS IN 4 - 4 - 2

PAIRS IN 4 - 4 - 2

STRENGTHS OF A 4 - 4 - 2

WEAKNESSES OF A 4 - 4 - 2

ATTACKING OPTIONS

IS THE FORMATION RIGHT FOR THE TEAM

SESSION EXAMPLES

4 - 4 - 2IS A FORMATION WHERE THERE ARE TWO LINES OF 4 AND TWO STRIKERS

VARIATIONS HAVE COME FROM THE 4 - 4 - 2

- 4 - 4 - 2 DIAMOND MIDFIELD

- 4 - 4 - 1 - 1 WITH THE STRIKER DROPPING DEEP

- 4 - 2 - 4 BOTH WINGERS ADVANCE HIGH UP THE FIELD

- 2 - 4 - 4 BOTH FULLBACKS ADVANCE HIGH UP THE FIELD

4 - 4 - 24 defenders

- 2 center backs

- left and right fullback

4 midfielders

- 2 central midfielders

- left and right wing

2 strikers

- 2 center forwards

UNITS IN A 4 - 4 -2

UNITS IN A 4 - 4 - 2

4 DEFENDERS

- WORK TOGETHER AS ONE UNIT

- ABILITY TO USE THE OFFSIDE TRAP

- COVER EACH OTHER

- COMMUNICATION/ ORGANIZATION

- IN POSSESSION OPEN UP TO RECIEVE

- OUT OF POSSESSION GET COMPACT

- PUSH THE LINE UP AS THE BALL TRAVELS FORWARD

- SHUFFLE IN RELATION TO THE BALL

- DENY SHOTS OR THE BALL GETTING BEHIND THEM

- CLOSE DOWN SPACE OF ATTACKING PLAYERS

UNITS IN A 4 - 4 - 2

4 MIDFIELDERS

- PROVIDE WIDTH

- SUPPORT THE ATTACKERS IN ATTACK

- SUPPORT DEFENDERS IN DEFENDING

- PROVIDE SERVICE INTO THE BOX FOR THE STRIKERS

- CONTROL THE RHYTHM OF THE GAME

- CREATE ATTACKING OPTIONS

- CREATE THE LINK BETWEEN DEFENDING AND ATTACKING

UNITS IN A 4 - 4 - 2

2 STRIKERS

- DEPENDENT ON HOW THE COACH PLAYS THEM

- BOTH STRIKERS NEXT TO EACH OTHER

- STAGGERED

- ONE STRIKER DROPPING OFF THE OTHER AS A TARGET STRIKER

- FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE OUT OF POSSESSION

- GIVE THE TEAM DEPTH

- ABILITY TO HOLD THE BALL UP

- ABILITY TO CREATE SPACE TO EXPLOIT FOR THEMSELVES AS WELL AS ADVANCING MIDFIELDERS

- PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR FAST BREAKS OR CROSSES INTO THE BOX

GROUPING OF PAIRS

PAIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

CENTER BACKS

- STOP OR DELAY ATTACKS

- MAN MARK/ ZONAL MARK

- COVER/ SUPPORT EACH OTHER

- READ THE GAME

- REMAIN GROUPED TOGETHER AND AVOID GETTING STRETCHED/ SPLIT

- COMFORTABLE IN 1 V 1 AND 2 V 2 SITUATIONS

- WIN HEADERS

- ORGANIZE THE DEFENSIVE LINE

- UTILIZE THE OFFSIDE TRAP

- LINK UP WITH THE MIDFIELDERS

- COMMUNICATION

- ONE CAN DROP OFF AND ACT AS A SWEEPER OR COVER FOR THE OTHER CENTER BACK WHO IS CHALLENGING FOR HEADERS

PAIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITES

LEFT SIDE

- ATTACK PLAYERS DOWN THE CHANNELS

- PROVIDE WIDTH TO THE TEAM

- MAKE RECOVERY RUNS AND DEFEND

- MARK PLAYERS THAT ARE ON THEIR SIDE

- DELIVER CROSSES INTO THE BOX

- SUPPORTING RUNS AHEAD OF THE BALL/ OVERLAPS

- SUPPORT THE CENTER BACKS

PAIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITES

RIGHT SIDE

- ATTACK PLAYERS DOWN THE CHANNELS

- PROVIDE WIDTH TO THE TEAM

- MAKE RECOVERY RUNS AND DEFEND

- MARK PLAYERS THAT ARE ON THEIR SIDE

- DELIVER CROSSES INTO THE BOX

- SUPPORTING RUNS AHEAD OF THE BALL/ OVERLAPS

- SUPPORT THE CENTER BACKS

PAIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITIESCENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

- 1 PUSHES TO SUPPORT THE STRIKERS THE OTHER SITS TO SUPPORTS THE DEFENDERS

- OUT OF POSSESSION BOTH DEFEND

- CONTROL TEMPO OF THE GAME

- LINK THE STRIKERS AND DEFENDERS

- WORK BOX TO BOX THE “ENGINE” OF THE TEAM

- CREATE ATTACKING OPPORTUNITIES

PAIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

STRIKERS

- PROVIDE DEPTH

- PROVIDE AN OUTLET/ TARGET MAN

- HOLD THE BALL UP AND LINK WITH THE OTHER STRIKER OR MIDFIELDERS

- OPTIONS IN THE BOX FOR THE CROSSES

- WIN HEADERS

- STOP THE OPPOSITION BUILDING FROM THE BACK

- CONSTANTLY CREATING AND EXPLOITING SPACE

- DRAW OPPOSITION CENTER BACK’S OUT OF POSITION

- SCORING GOALS

STRENGTHS OF A 4 - 4 - 2

SIMPLICITY

THE TEAM SHAPE IS ALWAYS BALANCED

THERE IS A LOT OF WIDTH PROVIDED

STRIKERS DON’T GET ISOLATED AS THEY HAVE SUPPORT

VERY STRUCTURED WITH EACH PLAYER KNOWING THEIR ROLES

ALLOWS FOR FULLBACKS TO ADVANCE HIGHER UP THE FIELD CREATING OVERLOADS IN THE ATTACKING THIRD

PROVIDES OUTLETS WITH A TARGET STRIKER FOR QUICK BREAKS

PROVIDES OPTIONS WHEN CROSSING INTO THE BOX

BOTH OPPOSITIONS CENTER BACKS HAVE A MAN TO MARK

WEAKNESSES OF A 4 - 4 - 2

RESTRICTS CREATIVE PLAYERS/ TEAMS

CAN BE PREDICTABLE

OPPOSITION CAN PLAY BETWEEN THE LINES

SPACE BEHIND THE DEFENDERS CAN BE EXPLOITED IF THE DEFENDERS PUSH UP TO CLOSE THE GAP

PLACES HIGH DEMANDS ON THE MIDFIELD PLAYERS

THE 2 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS CAN GET OVERLOADED

PASSING OPTIONS CAN BE RESTRICTED

MORE FLEXIBLE FORMATIONS CAN CREATE CONFUSION IN MARKING

CAN RESTRICT CREATIVITY

CAN BE CAUGHT ON A COUNTER ATTACK IF THE FULLBACKS PUSH UP

CAN BE EASY TO PENETRATE

ATTACKING OPTIONS

MIDFIELDER HAS THE BALL. THE STRIKERS WILL MAKE A CROSS OVER RUN (FIRST STRIKER

FURTHEST FROM THE BALL RUNS BETWEEN THE TWO CENTER BACKS SECOND STRIKER CLOSEST

TO THE BALL RUNS AROUND THE FIRST STRIKER). AS SOON AS THE RUN HAS BEEN MADE THE MIDFIELDER WILL PASS THE BALL FOR THE

STRIKER TO RUN ON TO. THE STRIKER CAN EITHER (1) SHOOT/ GO HIMSELF OR (2) PASS ACROSS FOR THE OTHER STRIKER TO FINISH.

THE MIDFIELDER THAT DID NOT PASS THE BALL WILL MAKE A SUPPORTING RUN TO HELP THE

STRIKERS

ATTACKING OPTIONS

FROM WINNING POSSESSION THE BALL IS PLAYED INTO ONE OF THE STRIKERS WHO LAYS BACK TO ONE OF THE MIDFIELDERS WHO PASSES OUT WIDE FOR THE WINGER TO RUN DOWN THE LINE. THE STRIKER THAT LAYED THE BALL BACK TO THE MIDFIELDER MAKES A RUN AROUND THE

OTHER STRIKER AND THEN TOWARDS THE PENALTY SPOT. THE OTHER STRIKER MAKES A DIAGONAL RUN TOWARDS THE FRONT POST.

CENTER MIDFIELDER THAT DID NOT PASS THE BALL MAKES A DELAYED RUN TO OUTSIDE THE BOX THE OTHER CENTER MIDFIELDER STAYS

INCASE POSSESSION IS LOST THE WIDE MIDFIELDER MAKES A DIAGONAL RUN TOWARDS

THE BACK POST.

ATTACKING OPTIONS

THE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER PASSES INTO THE STRIKER WHO HAS DROPPED OF TO CREATE SPACE WHO LAYS BACK TO THE ATTACKING

MIDFIELDER WHO PASSES OUT WIDE FOR THE FB TO CROSS INTO THE BOX. THE WIDE MIDFIELDER CHECKS INSIDE TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE FB TO OVERLAP. THE STRIKER THAT LAYED THE BALL OFF RUNS AROUND THE OTHER STRIKER AND RUNS TOWRDS THE PENALTY SPOT. THE STRIKER THAT DID NOT LAY THE BALL OFF

MAKES A DIAGONAL RUN TOWARDS THE FRONT POST. THE WIDE MIDFIELDER THE OTHER SIDE MASKES A DIAGONAL RUN TOWARDS BACK POST. THE MIDFIELDER THAT PASSED THE BALL THEN MAKES A RUN ACROSS THE OTHER MIDFIELDER TO THE EDGE OF THE BOX THE MIDFIELDER THAT DID NOT PASS THE BALL MAKES A CROSS

RUN TO SUPPORT THE FB WITH THE BALL

ATTACKING OPTIONS

FROM WHEN THE GK RECEIVES POSSESSION OF THE BALL HE DISTRIBUTES QUICKLY TO THE MOST ADVANCED STRIKER WHO LAYS BACK TO THE OTHER STRIKER THAT HAS DROPPED AND

LOOKS FOR A 1 - 2 BETWEEN THE TWO CB’S. THE TWO CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS WILL MAKE A

CROSS RUN THE TWO WIDE MIDFIELDERS WILL MAKE STRAIGHT RUNS AND THE REST OF THE

TEAM PUSH UP TO THE HALFWAY LINE.

IS THE FORMATION RIGHT FOR YOUR TEAM?

DO I HAVE THE PLAYERS TO PLAY THIS FORMATION?

WHAT STYLE OF FOOTBALL DO I WANT TO PLAY AND DOES THE FORMATION ALLOW ME TO PLAY IT?

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE TEAM

SESSION EXAMPLES SET - UP: (SHADOW PLAY)

USING A FULL FIELD HAVE THE TEAM STAND IN FORMATION (4 - 4 - 2). PLAY STARTS WITH

THE GK PLAYING THE BALL OUT FROM THE BACK THE TEAM MUST WORK THE BALL UP THE FIELD AND SCORE INTO THE THE OTHER GOAL.

PROGRESSION: PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THE TEAM (TIME LIMIT)(AMOUNT OF TOUCHES)

(CERTAIN COMBINATION) GRADUALLY ADD DEFENDERS

COACHING POINTS: ROLES WITHIN A 4 - 4 - 2

WHAT THE TEAM DOES WHEN CERTAIN PLAYERS ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL

ATTACKING OPTIONS/ COMBINATIONS TO CREATE GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITIES

RUNS OF PLAYERS INTO THE BOX AND WHERE PLAYERS MUST CROSS TO

DEVELOPING RHYTHM AND SPEED OF PLAY

SESSION EXAMPLESSET - UP: FULL FIELD WITH BIG CONES

MARKING THE POSITIONS OF THE PLAYERS A PLAYER ON EACH CONE EXTRA PLAYERS STAND IN THE CBS POSITIONS. PLACE ALL BALLS WITH

THE CB’S PLAYERS PASS TO EACH OTHER IN ANY

COMBINATION/ PASSING OPTION THE COACH IS WORKING ON AND ATTACK THE OPPOSITE

GOAL PROGRESSION: PLAYERS CAN FOLLOW THEIR

PASSES ADD DEFENDERS IN THE BOX TO CHALLENGE

THE STRIKERS COACHING POINTS: QUALITY, WEIGHT AND

TECHNIQUE OF PASS WHICH FOOT TO PASS TO

OPENING UP SCANNING BEFORE RECEIVING

MOVEMENT TO RECEIVE PASSING/ ATTACKING OPTIONS

SESSION EXAMPLES SET - UP: HALF FIELD WITH TWO SMALL GOALS ON THE HALFWAY LINE. PLAYER ATTACKERS VS

DEFENDERS (6 V 5)(INCLUDING GK). ATTACKERS SCORE INTO THE BIG GOAL

DEFENDERS SCORE INTO EITHER OF THE SMALL GOALS. PLAY ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE ATTACKERS FROM THE CENTER CIRCLE

PROGRESSION: ATTACKERS: CAN ONLY SCORE FROM A CERTAIN COMBINATION

CAN ONLY SCORE AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PASSES

HAVE TO SCORE IN A CERTAIN TIME LIMIT DEFENDERS: CAN ONLY SCORE IN A CERTAIN

SMALL GOAL PLACE DEFENSIVE ZONES WHERE DEFENDERS

TRY STOP THE BALL FROM ENTERING COACHING POINTS: ATTACKERS: SPEED OF

PLAY PLAYERS ROLES/ RUNS WHILE ATTACKING

DEFENDERS: SHIFTING AS A UNIT

SESSION EXAMPLES SET - UP: HALF FIELD WITH A BIG GOAL ON

THE HALFWAY LINE. MARK CHANNELS DOWN THE WIDTH OF THE 18’ BOX. PLAY 3 V 3 INSIDE

WITH 1 V 1 IN THE CHANNELS. (BACK 4 AND 1 STRIKER V 4 MIDFIELDER AND 1 STRIKER)

PROGRESSION: TEAMS CAN ONLY SCORE FROM A CROSS

TEAMS CAN ONLY SCORE FROM A COMBINATION COACHING POINTS: SPEED OF PLAY

MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT 1 V 1 DRIBBLING/ SKILL TO BEAT THE

DEFENDER IN THE CHANNELS QUALITY AND TYPES OF CROSSES TYPES OF RUNS INTO THE BOX

FINISHING DEFENDING AS A UNIT/ SHIFTING AND REMAINING COMPACT WHEN OUT OF

POSSESSION SPREADING OUT AND PROVIDING WIDTH AND

DEPTH IN POSSESSION