The 1-4-3-3 formation

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Click to edit Master title style In the 1-4-3-3 formation there are 3 lines with a balanced spread of players over the
pitch (triangles of players) which creates good conditions for:

Rationale

Click to edit Master text styles effective positioning play

Second level playing out
level combination football / short passing game Third

Fourth level creative and varied attacking play using the width of the field Fifth level early disturbing and pressuring after losing possession
For youth players, the positions and the attached basic tasks are logical and recognizable, which makes learning to play as a team easier to develop The Optus SSF formats 7 v 7 (1-3-3) and 9 v 9 (1-3-2-3) lead up to the 1-4-3-3 formation in a logical and methodical manner
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The 1-4-3-3 formation has 2 basic forms, with a number of derived (offensive or defensive) variations:

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Basic forms

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1. level The midfield triangle with the point (no.10) forward. Second

Third level 2.
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The midfield triangle with the point (no.6) to the rear.

FFA advises that players in the age categories U/12 to U/15 should learn to master basic form 1. U/16 to U/19 should also learn to master basic form 2

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Basic Form 1: "point" (no.10) forward

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Basic Form 2: 2 "point" (no.6) to the rear1 4 3 3 Formation

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1. 2. Direct transition of all players (no time to mourn)

General defensive principles

Click to edit Master text styles Restore formation (no mixing of the lines)
Second level

Third level 3. Make team compact: short distances between lines and players
Fourth level Fifth level defending: everyone responsible for own zone 4. Zone
5. Pressurized defending by the whole team, forcing the opponent to play wide or back or lose the ball Players to always coach the players in front of them (help your team mate)

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Defensive principles per line

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Defenders & Goalkeeper (1 2 3 4 5)

Click to edit Master text styles Everyone responsible for own zone so:
Third level
(width of pitch)

Always maintain the structure / organisation of the defence line and keep opponent away from own goal (communication)

Second 1. level Horizontal take over: pass players on in case of switching opponents
2. Vertical take over: pass players on in case of overlapping opponents Fourth level (length of pitch) Fifth level

Cover each other (diagonal covering), full backs to squeeze until maximum 5m. area; goalkeeper to act as sweeper if required Sharpness, mobility and insight (positioning / timing) are absolute requirements for modern central defenders (Neill, Vidic, Terry) Modern full backs need to be fast, explosive and mobile rather than just big and strong (Wilkshire, Cole, Evra)
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Own zone

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Horizontal take over (switching opponents)

Fifth level

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Vertical take over (overlapping opponents)

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Diagonal covering & squeezing of full backs

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Defensive principles per line

Midfield (6 8 10) pointed forward:
Nos 6 & 8
Cover the central and lateral defensive midfield areas Screen / shield the lines to the strikers Take over positions,fill gaps and stay behind level the Third ball (at least one of both) BallFourth winners with strong tactical awareness / level insight Fifth level Grella, Culina, Carrick, Essien

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No. 10
Connects with no.6 & no.8 to form a block in the midfield Covers the central offensive midfield area Supports no.9 in pressuring the opponents central defenders Bresciano, Cahill, Kaka
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Defensive principles per line

Midfield pointed to the rear:
No. 6
Covers the central defensive midfield area Screens / shields the line to the strikers Takes over positions,fill gaps and always stays behind the ball BallThird winner level with strong tactical awareness / insight, on field leadership Fourth level Toure, Mascherano

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Nos 8 & 10
Connect with no.6 to form a block in the midfield Cover the lateral midfield areas Technical and tactical all round midfielders that are able to cover large spaces Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack, Xavi, Iniesta

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Attackers (7-9-11) title style Click to edit Master

Immediate transitioning from BP to BPO (especially important for attackers!) Connect to the midfield ASAP Second Work together as a unit (communication!) level Squeeze and delay opponents playing out in a 3 v 4 situation while leading Third level them to a flank Fourth level Start pressuring collectively on the signal from (one of) the designated axis player(s) Fifth level Prevent opponent from playing a forward pass where possible, otherwise always force opponent to give the forward pass under pressure Prevent defenders from moving into the midfield Take over each others positions / tasks if necessary

Defensive principles per line

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Work as a unit Squeeze and delay 3 1

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Leading to a flank

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General offensive principles

1. 2. Immediate and quick transition BPO to BP by all players, open up the spaces and restore attacking formation

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Always look for a forward pass as first option, if not possible: Click to edit Master text styles

Second level 3. Play out through good positioning play with dynamic participation of all players
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5. 6. 4. Ball possession is of vital importance in order to control the rhythm / speed of the Fourth level game and feed the attackers in a structured manner Starting from wide positions for improvisation and individual actions in the attacking third Recognizing the value of set-piece specialists

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The defenders:

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Offensive principles per line

Playing out is a means to an end! The purpose is to go forward while keeping possession! This requires dynamic participation of all players, good positioning play and fast and precise level passing: Second

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Third level 1.

Create the right moment for the forward pass or: Fourth level 2. Have a defender move into midfield to create an extra player Fifth level in the midfield The goalkeeper must be the 11th outfield player while playing out! (fast change of direction; recognizing the right moment to play the forward pass; etc.) If the opponent uses a formation with 2 strikers the emphasis is placed on building up through the full backs (central defenders to create space) If the opponent plays with 3 strikers the emphasis is on building up through central defenders (full backs to create space)
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Full back building up

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Central defenders building up

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Purpose is forward pass

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Defender in midfield

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Offensive principles per line

Midfield pointed forward:
Nos. 6 & 8:
transfer playing out to attacking feed and support the attacking unit good game (passing) skills, vision and handling speed are required (Grella, Culina).

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level No.10 Second (key player in this formation):

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attacking midfielder Third level (not a traditional playmaker) Fourth level good interaction with the strikers Fifth level (especialy with no. 9) penetrate in front line and look for scoring chances good anticipation/feeling for right moment good tactical insight, technique and handling speed (Kaka, Cahill, Bergkamp) In this formation nos. 7 & 11 are more traditional wingers making attacking moves in the wide positions and providing assists and crosses. They can come inside but needs to be well timed, not closing the spaces for no.10. 1 4 3 3 Formation (Robben, Giggs, Beckham)

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Offensive principles per line

Midfield pointed to the rear:
No. 6 is the controlling midfielder. He/she always has to stay behind the ball and take over the positions of the players that go forward. No.6 also holds a key role in playing out and is a player with strong game (passing) skills and vision. (Essien, Mascherano, Toure, Carrick) Nos 8 & 10 feed and support the strikers. They have strong individual skills, vision and handling speed. Theylevel provide the assists for the strikers Third and have goalscoring abilities. These are the Fourth level complete midfielders. (Lampard, Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta) Fifth level

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In this formation nos. 7 & 11 are multi functional attackers making attacking moves to the inside (and outside) starting from wide positions. The 3 attackers often switch positions but the formation should always be maintained. (Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Henry)

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Offensive principles per line

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The attackers (7 9 11)
Wing attackers Nos. 7 & 11: starting from wide positions going outside and inside are creative and pro active (with the ball and running off the ball) provide assists, crosses and have goal scoring ability Second level (Messi, C.Ronaldo, Rooney, Kewell)

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Third level
Central striker No. 9:

Fourth level strong in receiving and holding the ball with his / her back to the goal Fifth level strong in attacking combinations
goal scorer (Drogba, Torres, Adebayor, Viduka) Collective important aspects in the attacking third: Fast / direct combinations (wall-pass; no look pass; 3rd man; etc.) Individual attacking qualities and ability to improvise Effective positioning in front of goal
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Attacking combinations 11

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Attacking combinations

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Positioning in front of the goal29 29