The following drill is an example presentation that can be found on the 4-2-3-1 System of Play page in the Soccer Awareness Training Center. Soccer Awareness Training Center provides unlimited access to Wayne Harrison's Soccer Awareness systems, training sessions, drills and more. Wayne's system helps develop world class youth soccer players and teams in a systematic and imaginative manner that guarantees performance at the highest level of competition. Whether you’re a beginning coach who needs help getting started or someone who wants to add some variety to their training sessions, the Soccer Awareness Training Center offers a wide variety of drills to choose from. Join Today

Attacking to Defensive Team Shape

Attacking: Based on the 5 corridors width-wise we want all 5 corridors to have players in them. Based length–wise we want a maximum of 2 of 3 zones filled; with the exception of the keeper.

Defending: Based on the 5 corridors width-wise we want a maximum of 3 corridors filled with players preferably 2.5 if possible. Based length-wise we want a maximum of 2 of 3 zones filled preferably the whole team is condensed into 1.5 zones or at most half a field.

Dividing the field into fifths widthwise and thirds lengthways: the Offensive Set Up

Playing in 5 Corridors widthwise to help define the positioning of players. Also playing in 3 thirds from goal to goal lengthwise (lets call these ZONES FOR CLARITY). Here we have a good balance with players positioning at angles to each other. Must get the team into 2 thirds only, except for the keeper, both offensively and defensively.

Shadow Play: The Defensive Set Up

Play without opponents and show our basic attacking shape then offer alternatives for pressing as a group and have them do it as fast as possible. Use different color cones to represent where we lost the ball then organize the team around this defensive starting point having the players decide where they think they should be and why.

Can extend this back to the middle third also

We lose it wide in the middle third; purple cone; try to press them inside still to where our strength is with numbers. Wing full backs have to be brave and stay in midfield but condense in. (3) delays, shows inside to (10), the rest condense. (10) cuts off passing lane forward as does (11) inside or back.. It will NEVER be this picture perfect but all the same it shows what we should strive for. Pivot (6) is the key for cover.

Playing a Pressing game comes from the back

If we want to play a pressing game then we must have the back four as high as possible (essentially a back 3 now) and then the responsibility of the front players is to press asap when we lose it to stop a counter attack. Same in midfield where we now have our wing fullbacks positioned.

Pressing in attacking third condensing to 3 corridors

Condensing the spaces close to the ball. (11) forces (A) inside to the support and blocks the pass to (I). (3) is already up there and so is the next pressing player. Don’t worry about (D) and (G) and (4) already has covered the space should (A) be able to play the ball long. Defending just inside our own half.

New 4-2-3-1 System of Play Presentations in the Soccer Awareness Training Center

Correcting Potential Weaknesses in the 4-2-3-1 System of Play from a Defensive Perspective

How to Teach Freedom of Movement for the 4-2-3-1; Attacking and Defensive Positioning and Covering for Each Other

Showing the 4-2-3-1 Transitioning to the 3-4-3 in Attack

The Attacking and Defending Roles and Responsibilities of Each Player in the 4-2-3-1

Soccer Awareness Training Center provides unlimited access to Wayne Harrison's Soccer Awareness systems, training sessions, drills and more. Wayne's system helps develop world class youth soccer players and teams in a systematic and imaginative manner that guarantees performance at the highest level of competition. Join Now