For the Under 6, Under 7 and Under 8 age groups this formation works on a diamond shape which gives support in defence and attack. Play with a goalkeeper at 5v5 and without a goalkeeper at 4v4.
FOR
Can help provide discipline and responsibility. There is clearly one player with the main defensive responsibility and one with the main attacking responsibility. Two midfielders are able to support both attack and defence, allowing either to burst forward to join the attack with the other sitting back.
AGAINST
Players naturally seem to prefer attacking to defending – if both midfield players focus too much on attack this will leave the defence badly exposed. It requires these players to be disciplined. The two midfield players need to be fit, mobile, and especially able to develop a good partnership (e.g. to know when to sit-back and defend if the other goes forward).
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
This formation provides balance between defence and attack, while also maintaining an outright striker and a player to stay at the back so good for all round learning to take players to the next stage.
ATTACK
Good support from behind for the attacker to get balls played through and balls from the wings.
MIDIFIELD
The two midfield players are expected to support both the defence and the attack, which can help the team adapt the formation to what is needed most at any moment in time.
DEFENCE
Plays the sweeper role covering right across the back but needs support from midfield.
Defending against overloads can happen whether your team is in an organised or disorganised state. You can plan defending when organised much easier than when you are defending disorganised. MORE
A high pressing game gives teams a huge advantage when they win the ball back because you are close to your opponents goal. Lose the ball, win it back in 6 seconds is a rule that I use in training sessions. But how does that work? MORE
Often in crowded areas of the pitch teams lose the ball by trying to hold on to it or with misplaced passes. Short passing in areas like the penalty area is key to keeping the ball and creating space for the goal scorers. MORE
Playing a ball into a striker in space gives that player the chance to run with the ball and beat a player and smash the ball into the net. Use this session to give your receiving strikers practice in beating players and scoring goals. MORE
This gets players to understand the importance of playing a long ball after keeping possession. It comes in handy in a match situation when your team is attacking and switching play from one side to the other or when hitting a long ball to the strikers to start an attack. MORE
Young players need to have success in training or they will not know what to do in matches – this session gives them time to think about exploiting the final third MORE