volume 6 formations

FROM THE SIDE LINE VOLUME 6

FORMATIONS 2: 3 - 5 - 2

CONTENTS3 - 5 - 2 WITH 2 HOLDING MIDFIELDERS

3 - 5 - 2 WITH 1 HOLDING MIDFIELDER

3 - 5 - 2

UNITS IN A 3 - 5 - 2

PLAYER ATTRIBUTES IN A 3 - 5 - 2

ROLES/ RESPONSIBLITIES

STRENGTHS OF A 3 - 5 - 2

WEAKNESSES OF A 3 - 5 - 2

ATTACKING OPTIONS

IS THE FORMATION RIGHT FOR YOU

SESSION EXAMPLES

3 - 5 - 2

IS A FORMATION WHERE THERE 3 DEFENDERS (CENTRAL DEFENDERS), 5 MIDFIELDERS (2 WING BACKS)(3 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS) AND 2 STRIKERS

THE AIM OF THIS FORMATION IS TO CONTROL THE CENTER OF THE FIELD

VARIATIONS OF THE 3 - 5 - 2

- 3 - 5 - 2 DEFENSIVE TRIANGLE: WHERE THERE ARE 2 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

- 3 - 5 - 2 ATTACKING TRIANGLE: WHERE THERE IS 1 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER

- 3 - 4 - 1 - 2

- 3 - 4 - 3

3 - 5 - 23 defenders

- 3 center backs

5 midfielders

- 3 central midfielders

- 2 wing backs

2 strikers

- 2 center forwards

UNITS IN A 3 - 5 - 2


3 DEFENDERS (3 CENTER BACKS)

HAVE TO BE QUICK AND ATHLETIC

HAVE TO BE CAPABLE TO DEAL WITH WIDE AREAS AS WELL AS CENTRAL AREAS

GOOD TECHNICAL ABILITY

GOOD DECISION MAKERS

HIGH CONCENTRATION LEVELS

STRONG IN 1 V 1 SITUATIONS

VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING/ READING OF THE GAME

THE ABILITY TO START ATTACKS FORM THE BACK

STRONG IN THE AIR


5 MIDFIELDERS (DEFENSIVE)

PLAYERS THAT CAN READ THE GAME

BREAK UP OPPOSITIONS ATTACKS

CAN DISTRIBUTE ACCURATELY

CAN WIN 1ST AND 2ND BALLS

DISCIPLINED

HIGH DEFENSIVE MENTALITY

PLAYER ATTRIBUTES IN A 3 - 5 - 25 MIDFIELDERS (ATTACKING)

CREATIVE

PRODUCES SCORING OPPORTUNITIES

GOOD TECHNICAL ABILITY

GOOD GAME UNDERSTANDING AND THE ABILITY TO READ THE GAME

COMFORTABLE TO TAKE DEFENDERS ON

BE ABLE TO SUPPORT/ LINK UP WITH THE STRIKERS

CAPABLE TO SHOOT FROM RANGE

CAN RETAIN POSSESSION

CAPABLE TO FIND SPACE

CAPABLE TO ATTACK SPACE WHEN THEY HAVE THE BALL


5 MIDFIELDERS (WING BACKS)

DEFENSIVE AND ATTACKING MENTALITIES

EXTREMELY FIT TO RUN UP AND DOWN THE LINE

SPEED

VERY GOOD IN 1 V 1 SITUATIONS

HIGH TECHNICAL ABILITY

ABILITY TO CROSS

HIGH LEVEL OF GAME UNDERSTANDING

GOOD AT TACKLING/ DEFENDING


2 STRIKERS

ABILITY TO HOLD THE BALL UP

FIND SPACE/ LOSE A MARKER

ABILITY TO SHOOT

GOOD AERIAL ABILITY

STRENGTH

SPEED

ABILITY TO DRIBBLE AND TAKE ON DEFENDERS IN 1 V 1 SITUATIONS

ABILITY TO PASS/ MAKE CORRECT DECISION UNDER PRESSURE

CONFIDENT

ABILITY TO LINK UP WITH SUPPORT PLAYERS MAKING RUNS AHEAD OR BEHIND

ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

CENTER BACKS

DEPENDENT ON HOW THE COACH PLAYERS THE 3

- FLAT BACK 3

- 1 SWEEPING WITH THE OTHER TWO MARKING

ZONAL MARKING OR MAN TO MAN MARKING

MARK STRIKER(S)

REMAIN COMPACT WITHIN THE DANGER ZONE IN FRONT OF THE 18’ BOX

PENETRATE BY PASSING AND NOT DRIBBLING THE BALL OUT

REDUCE AS MANY ERRORS AS POSSIBLE

ABILITY TO COVER LOTS OF GROUND

WORK TOGETHER AS A UNIT

ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITES

5 MIDFIELDERS

DEPENDENT HOW THE COACH PLAYS THE 5

- V SHAPE (1 HOLDING, 2 IN FRONT AND 2 WIDER IN FRONT OF THE 2)

- 2 HOLDING, 3 IN FRONT

- 3 FLAT, 2 IN FRONT

- 4 FLAT, 1 IN FRONT

- 1 HOLDING, 4 IN FRONT

CONTROL THE GAME BY MAINTAINING POSSESSION

ADD CREATIVITY TO THE GAME/ ATTACKS

DRIFT INTO AREAS OF SPACE

MAINTAIN A DEFENSIVE SHAPE OUT OF POSSESSION

LAST FOR THE WHOLE GAME RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE LINE (WING BACKS)


5 MIDFIELDERS

PROVIDE WIDTH TO THE TEAM

CREATE AS MANY 1 V 1 SITUATIONS AS THEY CAN

SWITCH PLAY WHEN NECESSARY

SUPPORT THE STRIKERS IN GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITIES

CONTROL THE TEMPO OF THE GAME

BE ABLE TO PERFORM DEFENSIVE AND ATTACKING DUTIES

BREAK THE GAME UP AND CREATE ATTACKS AS SOON AS POSSESSION HAS BEEN WON


STRIKERS

DEPENDENT ON HOW THE COACH PLAYS THE 2

- 2 FLAT

- 1 BEHIND 1 IN FRONT

- STAGGERED

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

STOP THE OPPOSITION BUILDING FROM THE BACK

CONSTANTLY CREATING AND EXPLOITING SPACE


STRIKERS

PULL DEFENDERS ACROSS TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE FULL BACKS TO ATTACK

DRAW OPPOSITION CENTER BACK’S OUT OF POSITION

LINK TOGETHER AND KNOW WHERE EACH OTHER IS THE WHOLE GAME

SCORE GOALS

HOLD THE BALL UP TO ALLOW THE OTHER ATTACKERS TIME TO CREATE NUMBERS UP IN THE ATTACKING 3RD

STRENGTHS OF A 3 - 5 - 2

SYMMETRICAL

PROVIDES WIDTH, DEPTH AND CENTRAL PASSING OPTIONS

DEFENSIVELY SOLID THROUGH THE MIDDLE

STRIKERS DON’T GET ISOLATED AS THEY HAVE SUPPORT

TRIANGLE IN THE MIDDLE CREATE PASSING OPTIONS/ ANGLES

ALLOWS FOR WING BACKS 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

EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE AND CAN BE USED AS A DEFENSIVE OR OFFENSIVE SYSTEM

PROVIDES OPTIONS TO SWITCH PLAY AS THE OPPOSITE FULL BACK ADVANCES UP THE FIELD

WEAKNESSES OF A 3 - 5 - 2

CENTRAL MIDFIELD CAN BE MATCHED MAN FOR MAN

ADVANCED WING BACKS CAN LEAVE THE TEAM EXPOSED

THE 3 DEFENDERS CAN GET EXPOSED FROM DEEP CROSSES

3 AT THE BACK CAN CAUSE CONFUSION IF PLAYERS DON’T UNDERSTAND OR KNOW THEIR ROLES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

WING BACKS CAN GET OVERLOADED 2 V 1

CENTER MIDFIELD CAN GET PULLED OUT OF POSITION TO COVER THE WING BACKS IF OVERLOADS ARE CREATED

1 OF THE DEFENDERS CAN BE PULLED OUT OF POSITION IF A STRIKER DROPS DEEP TO RECEIVE

SPACE CAN BE CREATED BETWEEN THE 3 DEFENDERS IF THEY DON’T WORK TOGETHER

PLAYERS HAVE TO BE HIGHLY DISCIPLINED AND MAINTAIN CONCENTRATION THE WHOLE GAME

ATTACKING OPTIONS

AS THE LEFT CENTER BACK GETS THE BALL, LEFT WING BACK GETS AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE. THE STRIKER CHECKS AWAY AND THEN TOWARDS

THE LEFT CENTER BACK. (1) LEFT CENTER BACK PASSES TO THE STRIKER. AS THE BALL IS

TRAVELING THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER WILL DROP OFF. (2) THE STRIKER LAYS THE BALL TO THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER. THE STRIKERS SPLIT WIDE TO PULL THE CENTER BACKS OUT OF POSITION THEN RUN INTO THE BOX.(3) THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER PLAYS A THROUGH BALL BETWEEN THE CENTER BACKS FOR THE

STRIKERS TO RUN ONTO OR ATTACKS THE SPACE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE FULL BACKS WILL CUT IN

ATTACKING OPTIONS

(1) LEFT CENTER BACK PASSES THE BALL TO THE LEFT WING BACK AS THE BALL IS

TRAVELING THE HOLDING MIDFIELDER CHECKS INTO SPACE TO RECEIVE. (2) WING BACK PASSES TO THE HOLDING MIDFIELDER (3)

HOLDING MIDFIELDER PASSES TO THE OTHER HOLDING MIDFIELDER (4) HOLDING

MIDFIELDER SWITCHES THE BALL TO THE RIGHT WING BACK WHO ATTACKS THE SPACE

CREATED (5) RIGHT WING BACK CROSSES INTO THE BOX. STRIKERS CHECK AWAY FROM THE BALL THEN SPRINT INTO THE BOX, THE LEFT

WING BACK WILL CUT IN FROM THE FAR SIDE AND THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER WILL MAKE A

DELAYED RUN INTO THE BOX.

ATTACKING OPTIONS

(1) CENTER BACK PASSES TO RIGHT FULL BACK. ATTACKING MIDFIELDER CHECKS

TOWARDS THE RIGHT FULL BACK (2) RIGHT FULL BACK PLAYS A 1 - 2 WITH THE

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER (3). (4) THE RIGHT FULL BACK LOOKS TO DRIVE THE BALL ACROSS THE BOX. THE LEFT FULL BACK WILL CUT IN

FROM THE FAR SIDE. THE STRIKERS WILL BOTH MAKE RUNS AROUND THE CENTER BACKS. ONCE THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER HAS PLAYED A

1 - 2 WITH THE RIGHT FULL BACK, THEY WILL MAKE A DELAYED RUN INTO THE BOX

ATTACKING OPTIONS

WHEN CENTER BACK RECEIVES THE BALL (1) THEY PASS INTO THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER

(2) PASSES TO ONE OF THE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS. THE STRIKER ON THE SIDE OF THE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER THAT RECEIVES

THE BALL RUNS TOWARDS THE HOLDING MIDFIELDER TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE OTHER

STRIKER TO RUN INTO. (3) DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER PASSES A THROUGH FOR THE OTHER STRIKER TO RUN ON TO. THE TWO FULL BACKS WILL CUT IN. THE OTHER STRIKER THAT MADE THE RUN WILL TURN AND RUN INTO THE BOX ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SECOND STRIKER. THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER RUNS BETWEEN THE

TWO STRIKERS

IS THE FORMATION RIGHT FOR YOUR TEAM?

DO I HAVE THE PLAYERS TO PLAY THIS FORMATION?

DO I HAVE THE FULL BACKS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR 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: 3 QUARTERS OF A FIELD MARKED OFF FROM

POST TO THE 3 QUATER MARK. TWO TEAMS (6 V 4). TEAM IN WHITE PLAY WITH 2 DEFENDERS 3

MIDFIELDERS AND 1 STRIKER. PLAY STARTS FROM THE CENTER BACK PASSING THE BALL TO GK WHO THEN PLAYS OUT THROUGH THE LEFT FULL BACK. TEAM IN

WHITE SCORE BY TRYING TO GET THE BALL INTO THE CHANNEL BETWEEN THE HALF WAY LINE AND 3 QUATER MARK. OTHER TEAM HAVE 5 PASSES TO TRY AND SCORE

IN THE BIG GOAL. PROGRESSION: CHANGE SIDES SO THAT YOU ARE NOW

COACHING THE RIGHT FULL BACK ADD ANOTHER PLAYER (6 V 5)

CAN ONLY ENTER THE CHANNEL THROUGH A CERTAIN COMBINATION

COACHING POINTS: COACHING THE LEFT FULL BACK WHAT TO DO WHEN THE GK RECEIVES THE BALL

MOVEMENT OF THE STRIKER TO LINK WITH THE FULL BACK

MOVEMENT OF THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER RUNS OF THE PLAYERS TO PENETRATE THE CHANNEL

DIFFERENT ATTACKING OPTIONS HOW TO REACT IF POSSESSION IS LOST

SESSION EXAMPLESSET - UP: FULL FIELD WITH TWO TEAMS (11 V 7) TEAM WITH 11 IN FORMATION (3 - 5 - 2). TEAM WITH 7 ALWAYS START FROM A GOAL KICK AND

MUST MAINTAIN POSSESSION TEAM WITH 11 MUST SCREEN THE OPPOSITION

AND TRY STOP THE OTHER TEAM PENETRATING THEM. THE TEAM WITH 11 CAN ONLY WIN THE

BALL FROM AN INTERCEPTION PROGRESSION: ADD MORE PLAYERS TO THE TEAM

WITH 7 ADD BY - PRODUCTS TO THE SESSION (IF THE

TEAM WIN POSSESSION CAN WE COUNTER IN 10 SECONDS)

PROGRESSION TO A NORMAL GAME 11 V 11 COACHING POINTS: SHIFTING AS TEAM OUT OF

POSSESSION REMAINING COMPACT SO THE TEAM CAN NOT BE

PENETRATED INDIVIDUAL/UNIT ROLES IN RELATION TO WHERE

THE BALL IS DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

SESSION EXAMPLES SET - UP: 2 BIG GOALS ON THE EDGE OF THE 18’

BOX. CHANNEL THE FIELD DOWN THE WIDTH OF THE 18’ BOX IN THE FIELD MAKE THREE ZONES. IN THE TWO END ZONES PLAY 1 V 1 IN THE MIDDLE ZONE PLAY 3 V 3. OUTSIDE THE AREAS HAVE 2 NEUTRAL (WING BACKS) THAT PLAY FOR THE

TEAM IN POSSESSION. GAME STARTS FROM A GK THE TEAM PLAY

THROUGH THE 3RDS AND TRY SCORE INTO THE OTHER GOAL. 2 ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS CAN PUSH INTO THE FINAL THIRD WHEN THE STRIKER

GETS THE BALL PROGRESSION: CAN ONLY SCORE A CERTAIN WAY (THROUGH THE MIDDLE)(CROSS FROM THE WING

BACKS) 1 MIDFIELDER CAN DROP AND HELP DEFEND COACHING POINTS: MOVEMENT TO RECEIVE

MIDFIELD TRIANGLE MIDFIELDERS PUSHING FORWARD TO SUPPORT

THE STRIKER RUNS WHEN THE WING BACKS ARE CROSSING

SESSION EXAMPLES SET - UP: 3 V 3 IN THE MIDDLE 4 PLAYERS ON THE OUTSIDE. 3 PLAYERS IN THE MIDDLE KEEP POSSESSION WITH THE 4 ON THE OUTSIDE. THE OTHER 3 ARE DEFENDERS AND MUST TRY WIN THE BALL. IF THE DEFENDERS TOUCH THE BALL THEY THEN BECOME THE ATTACKERS AND THE

OTHER TEAM BECOME THE DEFENDERS PROGRESSION: RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF

TOUCHES THE PLAYERS ON THE OUTSIDE CAN HAVE

SET TIME LIMITS THE DEFENDERS HAVE TO WIN THE BALL IN

COACHING POINTS: PRESSING IN 3’S RECOGNIZING MISTAKES AND WHEN TO TRY

WIN THE BALL SETTING TRAPS AND TRYING TO FORCE THE

OTHER TEAM INTO CORNERS BODY POSITION AND APPROACH OF CLOSING

THE PLAYER DOWN ATTITUDE TOWARDS WINNING POSSESSION

volume 6 formations

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