Formation

U13 age group

Game PositionsCC United has a different shape at the U9,11 and U13 age groups.

The team shape expands and covers as much as the field as possible in possession of the ball and constricts without over committing reducing space for the opposition without the ball.

Defining it as a shape allows players to move freely around the field, interchanging positions as long as the shape is maintained. This means that all field players have the opportunity to attack and must develop the all

techniques to do so. It also means that each player must be comfortable in different areas of the field both defending (realizing where cover will come from) and attacking (realizing where support is located). At U13 the game is completely real in size and rules. Players gravitate towards a zone or a side

(Central/Left/Right). Players will be more successful in certain areas pending on their physical and technical ability. Their success in central positions will have a lot to do with their tactical ability (decisions). The goal of the coach is to put each player in an area that will give them and the team more success. Players may utilize other positions to work on parts of their game. For example a defender may spend a short amount of time in midfield to work on passing and receiving. The table below lists attributes used more often by each position

Position Attribute 1 Attribute 2 Attribute 3 Attribute 4 Attribute 5 Attribute 6

Goalkeeper Physical- Strength Physical-Quickness Psychological-Bravery

Physical –Coordination

Technical- Passing

Psychological- Confidence

Outside Defenders

Physical- Endurance Tactical – supporting Tactical- covering Technical- Passing Technical – Crossing

Tactical – Forward Runs

Central Defenders

Tactical – Direction of attack

Technical – Long Passing

Tactical – Supporting Tactical- covering Technical- Heading

Psychological – communication

Outside Midfielders

Tactical- positioning Technical- Dribbling Technical –Crossing Tactical – covering Tactical- supporting

Central Midfielders

Tactical – Direction of attack

Technical – passing long and short

Technical – comfort on the ball

Tactical covering Tactical- Supporting

Psychological - Communication

Forwards Tactical- Positioning Technical Shooting Psychological- Confidence

Physical – Speed Physical - Strength

Technical – Passing short

The Following slides show how the shape works both with and without the ball and with players understanding the roles of each position they will become more effective on the field.

Formation 4-4-2

CF

RD

LMCMRM

LDCD

GK

CD

CM

CF

Goalkeeper

Defend: •Provide cover to last defender- when we are in attack and play outside your penalty area when the back line and team pushes up to halfway line

•Dominate your box, stop balls from crosses and shots

•Communication (organize defense to prevent shots)

•Correct positioning based on position of ball and center of goal

Attack:•Be ready for a back pass when opponents play the ball long behind our back line

•Be ready for a quick transition to start the attack

•Awareness of outlet

•Look for the longest outlet 1st

•Good distribution (throw-kick)

RD LDCD

RD LDCD

RM LMCM

S

Central DefendersDefend:

•Mark attackers zonally (don’t get pulled out of position)

•Be ready to attack the ball from punts from goalkeeper

•Don’t get caught square- provide cover when other central defender attacks the ball

•Provide

1.Pressure when the ball is in your zone

2.Cover to Each other, the central midfielders and outside Defenders

3.Balance when the midfielders or the fullback on the opposite side of the field goes to the ball

4.Communication to players in front and to the side

5. Be ready to pass on attackers to unmarked team mates

Attack:•Be ready to receive a pass off next line of players

•Be ready to support players 1 link away

•Be ready to play back to the goalkeeper when the ball is played behind

•Quality distribution away from trouble

•Make a diamond with outside midfielder and outside defender and central midfielder

•Be ready to switch play

•Be ready to follow your pass to make numerical advantage in the midfield zone

Wide Defenders

Defend:•Mark attackers in your area

•Be ready to mark attacking players that run past the wide midfielders

•Priority is to mark so wide midfielder is open

•Provide:

1.Pressure when the ball is in your zone

2.Cover to central defender and wide midfielder

3.Balance when the a forward, central midfielder or central defender on opposite side pressures the ball

Attack:•Provide an outlet, utilize full width of field

•Look to make forward runs without the ball (overlaps)

•Good communication when ball is passed inside

•Provide good support to wide midfielder and to central players

•Awareness of whether to cross the ball or dribble

Central MidfieldersDefend:

•Restrict the opponents ability to play through the center of the field

•Mark and track players in the central areas of the field

•Provide

•Pressure – when the ball is in your zone

•Cover- when the forward, wide midfielder or other central midfielder pressures the ball

•Be aware of where covering players are to in order to channel the attacker in a specific direction

•Provide good information- which way eth forward should send their player

Attack:•Be aware of opponents formation and attacking tendencies in preparation of transition

•Stay central and be the pivot in changing the point of attack

•Be available to receive a pass from any player

•Provide central support to all players

•Supporting runs beyond striker

•Be aware of space to exploit

•Look to pick up pieces from defender’s or striker’s tackles

•Short and long passes, be ready to switch play

•Anticipate and support early passes to forwards

Outside MidfieldersDefend:

•Mark and track runs of attackers in your area of field

•Provide cover to central midfielder and forward

•Provide balance when ball is on opposite side of field

•Be aware if outside defender is not marking and pass on attacking player

•Hold position when wide defender goes forward

Attack:

•Provide an outlet, utilize full width of field

•Good communication when ball is passed inside

•Provide good support to central players

•Either pass in overlapping wide defender or use them as a decoy

•Look to make forward runs without the ball

•Awareness of isolation and space

•If isolated 1v1 take on defender-If space attack

•Be prepared to switch play to opposite side

•Selection of crosses into the penalty area

Forwards

Defend:•Pressure on the ball-force defender’s to play towards their own goal

•Take advantage of defenders mistakes

•Channel play onto next defender

•Channel play away from key players

•Relative pressure on the ball either to close down or the channel in a specific direction

Attack:•Stay as central as possible

•Stay as high as possible whilst being aware of the offside rule

•Change positions with other forward- Right and left

•Change starting point of forwards- one high , one low

•Shoot on sight

•Movement off ball to support team mates

•Diagonal runs in front of defenders to move them

•Diagonal runs behind of defenders to get open

Defending our Left

Roles

•Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between center of goal and ball. Providing loud communication to team. Goalkeeper is ready for the shot and also ready to attack the space if the cross is delivered.

•Left Defender (LD) is applying pressure on the ball

•Defender (CD1) is providing cover for LD. If opponent gets past LD, CD is to provide immediate pressure

•Defender(CD2) is ready to move across if CD1 has to go to the ball

•Right Defender (RD) is providing balance and is in a position to attack the cross and also pressure the ball if it is switched to the opposite side. RD is also ready to move across and take CD2’s player if CD1 has to go across

•Midfielder (LM) is recovering inside and trying to keep his opponent wide to force 2v1

•Midfielder (CM) is ready to intercept the pass

•Centre Forwards are looking for space to move into when we regain possession.

•Note Look how compact the defending team is giving the attacking team little space to work in

•Note: If the Defending team wins the ball based on the opponents shape what type of pass will they make next?

GK

LD

RDCD2

CF

CM

LM

CD1

CF

RMCM

Defending our Right

Roles•Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between center of goal and ball. Providing loud communication to team.

•Right Midfielder (RM) is applying pressure to the ball

•Right Defender (RD) is moving up the field and providing cover to Right midfielder

•Centre Defender (CD) is proving balance

•Centre Defender (CD1) is marking the opposing forward and holding the defensive line ready to step forwards and put forward in an offside position

•Left Defender (LD) has come across to mark the other forward and is also holding the line ready to step forwards and put forwards in an offside position

•Left Midfielder (LM) is tracking the run of the opposing wide midfielder. LM may pass the player that they are marking onto LD if forwards 1 and 2 move across

•Centre Midfielder (CM1) is recovering and will try to get alongside CM2 but is ready to intercept the switched pass. CM1 is also in a position to intercept a pass to either of the two players

•Centre forwards (CF) are looking for space to check into when we regain possession.

•Note: Although our center midfielder1 is out of position we are comfortable as no player in a key area is isolated 1v1 and we are compact in our own half

CF

RD LM

CM

RM

LDCD1

GK

CD

CM1

21

CF

Defending our Center

Roles

In this scenario the attacking team has broken clear in midfield and is

advancing at the back four

•Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between center of goal and ball. Providing loud communication to team

•Defender (CD) is applying pressure on the ball

•Defenders (CD1 and RD) are in 2nd defender position

•Centre Midfielder (CM) is recovering putting pressure on the ball

•Defender (LD) is holding the off side line and is ready to step up

•Note: the compactness of the defense. The only available outlet from here is a pass out wide. The defense is also holding the offside line with the keeper in a position to cover a pass in behind the back line

RDLD

CD1

GK

CD

CM

Early Transition from Defense

Roles•Defender (CD) has won possession the 1st look is a quick pass to a forward. If not available make quick safe outlet pass diagonally to space

•Left Defender (LD) will move based on CD’s and Defender 1’s next movement. As defender2 may be dragged inside based on a threat to a pass into a forward defender 1 may have to mark (LM) creating space for LD to run into

•Midfielder (CM) is trying not to block the passing lane to the forwards and will either look to support the pass or if defender 3 stops the pass will get open

•Centre Forward 1 CF1) is holding his space long to keep the two central defenders occupied.

•Centre Forward 2 (CF2) is holding the space long but also prepared to check back into space to receive a shorter pass

•Centre Forward 1 (CF1) is ready to support the pass into CF2 or ready to receive a pass off CM if defender 3 stops the 1st pass

•Note: Player movement is based on the space available created either by the movement of the ball or team mates.

CF2

RD

LM

CM

RM

LDCD

GK

CD

CM

CF1

1

2

3

Offensive Possession

Roles

•Defenders (CD) are providing support for team mates while making sure opponents don’t get behind him. Either of the (CD) could go forward if the center midfielders dribble the ball forwards and create space for them

•Right Midfielder (RM) is maintaining maximum width to stretch the opposition.

•Right and Left Defenders will either cover by moving inside if (CD’s) go forward or overlap if the ball goes into a wide midfielder

•Left Midfielder (LM) is playing inside leaving space for the left Defender (LD) to come forward

•Midfielder (CM) preparing to support the pass into the forwards or if Defender 1 is able to pressure the ball be open to receive a pass

•Centre Forwards (CF) are playing opposites (high and low) looking to either check and create space or check to receive and turn

•Note: the two diamonds that have been formed with the (CF) (CM) and right and left defenders

CF

RD

LMCM

RM

LD

CD

GK

CD

CM

CF

1

Transition from OffenseRoles

•Goalkeeper is standing on imaginary line between center of goal, and ball. Retreat at the speed the ball is moving forward while being ready to sprint forward to intercept long pass.

•Central Defender (CD1) moves to a position to cover (RD) but still provide protection in the middle

•Central defender (CD2) moves across to mark (CD1’s) forward

•Left Defender (LD) moves toward a position that provides cover for the defense whilst still being able to get to the other forward

•Right Defender (RD) is responsible for marking the midfielder CD1 is ready to go behind RD if the ball is played behind

•Midfielder (M) is sprinting to provide pressure on ball carrier or cover if center forward (CF) gets there first.

•Left Midfielder (LM) moves to a position between the opponents Wide Defender and our goal while being ready to sprint to intercept pass

•Right midfielder(RM) moves to a position between the opponents Wide Defender and our goal while being ready to sprint to intercept pass

•Centre Forward (CF) is sprinting to provide pressure on ball carrier or cover if Midfielder (M) gets there first. Seek opportunity to intercept pass

•In this scenario the object of the team is to compact the play and keep the ball on the right hand side as we are potentially 5v3. The team must apply pressure to the ball and not totally fill spaces but invite the opposition to be hit into specific areas.

GK

LD

RD

CD1

CF

M

RM LMCF

CD2

CM