7v7 Soccer 2-3-1 Formation Intro to Shape and Build Up Play

Summary

This video offers an in-depth exploration of the 2-3-1 soccer formation in 7v7 matches, emphasizing the formation's natural width and adaptability to larger formats like 9v9 and 11v11. The tutorial focuses on the critical starting positions for effective build-out from the back, detailing the roles of center backs, full backs, central midfielders, and the striker. It illustrates how to maintain width, support each other, and exploit space against various pressing tactics. The video also discusses goalkeeper involvement and striker positioning for optimal ball distribution. Aimed at youth coaches and players, it provides practical insights for mastering the 2-3-1 formation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 231 formation is preferred for its natural width and ease of scalability to 9v9 and 11v11.
• 🔐 The starting positions are crucial, with center backs at the edge of the 18-yard box, full backs along the build-out line, and the central midfielder near the arch.
• 🚫 Avoid center backs drifting up or inwards, and full backs coming too low or central.
• 👤 The central midfielder should stay central and not crowd the space, while the striker should stay high up the field.
• 🎾 The goalkeeper should be comfortable distributing to center backs, ideally 95% of the time, to avoid immediate pressure from defenders.
• ↔️ Full backs should support the center back on their side and not cross the field unless necessary, staying at most halfway.
• 🔄 Center backs should look to take space up the field, not wide, to avoid congesting the play.
• 🚀 The striker's positioning is key for providing a beyond ball option, staying high and looking for through balls.
• 🛡️ Against a full press, center backs should drop to the goal line to maximize decision-making time.
• 🔄 In a 3v2 or 4v2 scenario, switching fields can be an effective strategy to break the press.

Q & A

What is the 231 formation and why is it preferred in 7v7 soccer?

The 231 formation consists of two center backs, two full backs or outside midfielders, one central midfielder, and one striker. It is preferred because it provides natural width and is easy for young players to understand. It also allows for easier transition to 9v9 and 11v11 formations.

Why is it important for the center backs to stay at the edge of the 18-yard box during a build out?

Center backs need to stay at the edge of the 18-yard box to maintain width and not drift up or in, which can compress the space and make it easier for the opposing team to defend.

What is the role of the full backs or outside midfielders in the 231 formation during a build out?

The full backs or outside midfielders should stay right around the build-out line, touching the touchline, to maintain width. They should only come down to support when the ball is played into one of the center backs on their side.

Why is the central midfielder's starting position around the arch important?

The central midfielder starting around the arch helps avoid crowding the space inside the box. If they start too high or too low, it can lead to trouble in the build out.

How should the striker position themselves during a build out in the 231 formation?

The striker should stay up and look for a beyond ball, drifting towards the side of the play but not coming down too low to avoid compressing the space and making it easier to defend.

What is the goalkeeper's role in the initial build out in the 231 formation?

The goalkeeper should play the ball to one of the center backs most of the time, as playing to the center midfielder can be risky due to defenders being ready to pounce as soon as the ball goes out of the box.

Why is it crucial for the center back receiving the ball to take space up the field?

Taking space up the field allows the center back to draw in defenders and create space for other players, such as the full back, to have more room to operate. It also helps in progressing the ball up the field.

How should the full back on the side opposite to where the ball is played position themselves?

The full back on the opposite side should come over halfway at most to support, but not so much that they crowd the space or leave their side exposed.

What adjustments should the team make when facing a full press from the opposing team?

When facing a full press, the center backs should get to the goal line to buy time for decision-making. The team should look to exploit the space by playing wide to the full backs or looking for the central midfielder to drop into space.

How does the 231 formation handle a more organized press with three attackers?

Against a more organized press with three attackers, the team can slide the ball out to the full back under less pressure, or look to switch the field if the central midfielder is marked, allowing the team to maintain possession and potentially exploit open spaces.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to the 231 Formation and Building Out of the Back

The video begins with an introduction to the 231 formation, a preferred tactical setup for 7v7 soccer. The speaker explains the formation's components, including two center backs, two full backs, a central midfielder, and a striker. The formation's advantages are highlighted, such as its natural width and ease of scalability to 9v9 and 11v11 setups. The importance of starting positions for building out from the back is emphasized, with specific instructions for center backs, full backs, and the central midfielder. The video also discusses the goalkeeper's role and the striker's positioning during the initial build-out phase. The speaker provides a critique of the speaker's U9 team's starting positions during a game and offers coaching tips for improvement.

05:01

😃 Detailed Analysis of the 231 Formation's Build-Out

This section delves deeper into the dynamics of building out from the back in the 231 formation. The speaker explains the initial steps the team takes when the goalkeeper has the ball, focusing on the center back's role in scanning the field and taking space to avoid crowding. The importance of the full back's positioning and the central midfielder's support is discussed, with an emphasis on maintaining width and depth. The video also addresses the striker's role in finding space for a beyond ball and the goalkeeper's comfort in moving out of the goal. The speaker uses examples from games to illustrate the effectiveness of the 231 formation under pressure from different types of defensive presses.

10:02

😄 Advanced Scenarios and Strategies in the 231 Formation

The final paragraph covers advanced scenarios that the 231 formation can encounter during a game. The speaker discusses how to handle organized and disorganized pressing from the opposition, emphasizing the need for the center back to take space and the importance of the full back's support. The video also explores what to do when the opposing team sits back, with the center back encouraged to maintain possession until engaged. The speaker provides insights on how to exploit space and switch the field when under pressure, using game footage to demonstrate effective strategies. The video concludes with a teaser for upcoming content on midfield transition, attacking, and finishing in the final third from the 231 formation.

Keywords

💡231 formation

The 231 formation is a tactical setup in soccer that consists of two center backs, three midfielders (two full backs and one central midfielder), and one striker. This formation is highlighted in the video as the preferred choice for 7v7 games due to its natural width and ease of understanding for young players. The video emphasizes how the 231 formation can be effectively utilized to build out of the back, creating a solid foundation for the team's offensive play.

💡Build out of the back

Building out of the back refers to the process of starting an attack from the defensive end, typically involving the goalkeeper and defenders. The video provides an in-depth analysis of how to effectively build out of the back using the 231 formation, focusing on the positioning and movement of players to create space and avoid pressure from the opposing team.

💡Center backs

Center backs are defensive players positioned in the middle of the backline. In the context of the video, the coach instructs center backs to stay at the edge of the 18-yard box to provide a solid base for building out of the back. Their positioning is crucial for initiating attacks and maintaining defensive stability.

💡Full backs or outside midfielders

Full backs, also known as outside midfielders, are players who operate on the wings, both contributing to defense and attack. The video discusses the importance of these players staying wide and high to provide width in the 231 formation, which is essential for creating space and options during the build-up play.

💡Central midfielder

The central midfielder is a key player in the 231 formation, positioned between the defense and the attack. The video explains that this player should start around the arch of the penalty area and is responsible for supporting the build-up play by moving into central spaces without crowding the center backs.

💡Striker

The striker, or number 9, is the forwardmost player in the 231 formation. The video emphasizes the importance of the striker staying high up the field to provide a target for long passes and to stretch the opposition's defense, creating space for other attacking players.

💡Natural width

Natural width refers to the inherent spacing of players across the width of the field, which is a significant advantage of the 231 formation. The video explains how this width is already provided by the formation's structure, making it easier for the team to maintain possession and create attacking opportunities without having to force players wide.

💡Initial build out

The initial build out is the first phase of play after gaining possession, typically involving the goalkeeper and defenders. The video provides detailed instructions on how the players should position themselves and move to facilitate a smooth and effective initial build out in the 231 formation.

💡Press

Pressing refers to the aggressive action of a team to win back possession as soon as the ball is lost. The video discusses various pressing scenarios and how the 231 formation can be adapted to counter different types of pressure, emphasizing the importance of quick decision-making and accurate passing under pressure.

💡Beyond ball

A beyond ball is a long pass played over the top of the defense to an attacker making a run behind the defenders. The video mentions the importance of the striker looking for beyond ball opportunities, which can catch the opposition off guard and create goal-scoring chances.

💡Switch field

Switching the field involves playing the ball to an unmarked player on the opposite side of the field to change the point of attack. The video explains how the 231 formation can facilitate switch field plays, particularly when facing a well-organized defense, to create space and exploit weaknesses.

Highlights

Introduction to the 231 formation, emphasizing its natural width and ease of understanding for young players.

The 231 formation's adaptability to 9v9 and 11v11 setups.

Critical starting positions for building out from the back in 7v7 soccer.

Instruction for center backs to stay at the edge of the 18-yard box.

Outside midfielders or full backs should stay wide along the build-out line.

Central midfielders should start around the arch to avoid crowding the space.

Strikers should stay high up the field to maintain space during build-out.

Evaluation of U9 players' starting positions during a game.

The goalkeeper's role in initiating the build-out by playing to center backs.

Tactical movement of fullbacks and central midfielders to support build-out.

Importance of center backs taking space up the field to avoid crowding.

Coaching tips for young goalkeepers to move out of the goal for support.

Strikers' role in drifting towards the ball for beyond ball opportunities.

Handling a full press with four attackers by center backs getting to the goal line.

Strategies for dealing with a press that leaves the central midfielder free.

Switching fields as a tactic against organized pressing.

Approach against teams sitting back with a more defensive stance.

Encouragement for center backs to hold the ball until engaged in build-out.

Upcoming videos on midfield transition, attacking, and finishing from the 231 formation.

Transcripts

do you want to know how to master the

231 my preferred formation at 7v7 today

is an introduction to the shape and a

deep dive into how we build out of the

back so let's go

so i've had a couple requests to do a

more of an in-depth 77 video very

similar to

the 9v9 video that i have on the channel

which is actually the most viewed video

on the channel and i'll link that in the

notes but several of you have reached

out and said hey could you do a similar

series based on 7b7 i also have a video

on the channel explaining why

i prefer the 231 over other formations

at 7v7 so i'm not going to rehash that

but i will also link that in the notes

the 231 formation consists of two center

backs

two full backs or outside midfielders

one central midfielder and one striker

there are many advantages to the two

three one the biggest one to me is the

shape provides natural width you don't

have to send people out wide to

manufacture with it's already provided

in the shape and it's easy for young

players to understand the other main

advantage is that you can build it to

9v9 and 11v11 easier than with other

formations

starting positions for our build out are

critical i tell our center backs that

they need to stay at the edge of the 18

yard box what can sometimes happen

is they tend to drift up

like this

or they start to drift in

like this

and you'll need to constantly tell them

the starting spot is at the edge of the

18 yard box the outside midfielders or

full backs need to stay right around the

build-out line right where the build-out

line touches the touch line because we

want them to stay as wide as possible

once the ball gets played in to one of

our center backs then the full back on

that side can come down to help but

until then they need to stay

high and wide the central midfielder

starts right around the arch if he

starts too high you can run into trouble

and if he starts too low you can run

into trouble so i like to tell them

start right around the arch the nine

it's critical that they stay up and this

can be difficult for young players what

we don't want is the nine to come down

here on our build out because it again

just compresses the space we have in the

middle so let's take a look at my u9's

setting up to build out of the back

during one of our games this fall as the

goalkeeper looks to roll the ball out

let's evaluate the field players

starting positions our two center backs

have started two centrally here taking

up space just outside the six yard box

their starting positions need to be

wider towards the edge of the 18 yard

box the left full back or left outside

midfielder is set up here you can see

that he's far too central from where we

want him in our starting position we

want him to be where the touch line and

the build outline come together our

right full back or right midfielder is

set up here you can see his width is

good as he's almost to the edge of the

field his depth however is not and he's

far too low from where we want the

starting position which again for the

full backs should be where the touch

line and the build outline come together

the center midfielder is too low

crowding the space inside the box he

needs to be set up right at the arch the

striker who's not in this picture is in

a good position high up the field

so now that we've established our

starting positions let's talk about the

initial build out first of all the

goalkeeper will be playing the ball to

one of the two center backs

95 of the time and the reason for that

is balls played to the center midfielder

in the 7v7 game oftentimes you have one

two three defenders standing right along

this build outline and the second the

goalkeeper plays the ball and it goes

out of the box uh they're sort of ready

to pounce and so it's it's much easier

to play a ball here to the center back

to give them more time for when these

defenders come versus playing a ball

right to the center midfield so as the

ball comes out to our center back a

couple things need to happen the

fullback on the side the ball was played

to needs to come down to support the

center midfielder needs to come over and

support as well and you have to really

coach this because the center midfielder

has a tendency to come over and crowd

the space here what i say is stay

central so come over a little bit but

make sure you're still staying central

the center back and the full back on the

side opposite to where the ball went

need to come and cinch in and one thing

that i tell especially the fullbacks is

that if the ball is not on your side of

the field you can the the most you can

come over is halfway okay that's the

very most and when that when you get

started you will have full backs that

that will come all the way across the

field and they'll come over here like

this

so if you can tell them look if the

ball's not on your side you you can come

over to about halfway that will help so

as the center back has the ball the

first thing they have to do is get their

head up and scan as the defenders come

if they have space we always encourage

them to take it now how they take that

space is important because we want them

to take the space going up the field so

going up like this what we don't want is

them to take the space wide because we

already have somebody wide here we don't

need to crowd the space so one thing

that you will see in young center backs

is they'll take this ball and they'll

start coming out here and that just

crowds space here and makes it much

easier to defend they need to take the

space take it up the field this way so

let's take a look at why it's so

important for our center back to take

that space you can see here that despite

being too central our center back is

still able to draw in almost three

defenders for the fullback to have space

out wide

so our center back has taken his space

our full back has come down to support

the central midfielder has come over a

little bit centrally but staying

centrally and supporting the full back

on the opposite side and the center back

on the opposite side are cinching in

there's two more positions that we need

to discuss so first and foremost it's

very important for young goalkeepers to

feel comfortable getting out of goal and

i think that's really important and even

if it leads to goals i don't want them

just sitting in the middle of the goal

so as they play that ball to the

fullback on their side they're

encouraged to come out to be that avenue

of support and i usually say come out at

least to the six yard box but even if

they come out here i don't totally

discourage it because i want them to be

very comfortable moving around also our

nine has to start drifting towards that

side now they've got to be careful so

what we don't want to see is our nine

come all the way down over here to the

touch line and then because then if that

ball is played out to our full back and

our full back starts coming up into this

space the nine is quote in their lane or

in their space what we want the nine to

do if this ball is here is to start

looking for what we call a beyond ball

so i'm going to add defenders in a

minute but you're looking for that space

some coaches call it get in the hole

where if there's space and we can play a

ball all the way through to the nine

we're going to want to do that but

that's going to take the nine number one

starting to sort of get towards that

side but not coming down here you'll see

a lot of of young forwards who are kind

of they just go to the ball they'll kind

of come down here and then you have

again a situation that's a lot easier to

defend because we've got four guys now

in a compressed space the nine really

has to stay up and look for this beyond

ball here's an example of our striker

getting themselves into a great position

for our center back you can see here

that our center back has taken his space

and gets his head up looking for the

striker the fullback on this side has

not come down in support and needs to be

deeper and wider

i'm going to start not with this

formation of a press which is how i

would prefer to press i want to talk

about what youth coaches have to see

quite a bit which is what i like to call

the full press so a lot of coaches will

have their two defenders or sometimes

one defender right around the midline or

the half line and they'll put four guys

here when i see this i immediately tell

our center backs to get all the way to

the goal line this will give them as

much time as possible to make a decision

on what to do what happens is if our

center backs stay up here and the ball

comes they now have nowhere near as much

time to make a decision on what to do

the pressure's on them immediately on

the other hand if they are as deep as

possible when the ball comes here they

will have exceedingly more time to make

a decision so

ball is with our keeper and it's played

to our right center back as this press

starts to come most of the time this is

just a mad dash of players coming and it

looks something like this i always

encourage the center back to take their

space unless they are under dramatic

pressure he could take his space a

little bit here but it might his best

option might just be to stay here

because what's going to happen is as the

fullback comes down if the defender

pressuring who is the widest does not

mark that man the easy solution to get

out of here is to just play it wide and

then we're gone in in basically a 3v2 or

a 4v2 however some presses are slightly

more sophisticated than that and if the

widest defender who is pressing takes

the fullback on this side you end up

looking at something like this so in

this scenario the onus of finding that

space is really on the center midfielder

because this is closed to the back to

the keeper and it's closed back here so

the center midfielder just needs to get

into this space and as long as you have

a center back who is moderately skilled

at passing this should be a fairly easy

ball as long as they get their head up

and scan and realize what's happening as

soon as possible and then again you're

off to the races with your center

midfielder your striker and likely your

full back on the opposite side so here's

an example of a game we played in the

fall where you can see this team is

coming at us with four attackers really

not in any organized shape the widest

attacker here goes directly to the ball

allowing our left center back to easily

slip it over to our left full back

let's talk about what happens if the

team's a little bit more organized so

here they're gonna press with three

they're gonna hold their central

midfielder and hold their two center

backs so as the ball comes out to our

right center back the question becomes

who provides the initial pressure and

some teams have this organized and some

teams don't if both the left full back

and the striker come in in something

that looks like this if they both come

to the ball again it becomes very easy

you just slide it out to the right

fullback here and you're off to the

races now for whatever reason if they

are organized and are pressing how i

would recommend you press the ball comes

from the keeper to the right fullback

the pressure should come from the nine

if that happens and the three presses

the two here you have a couple of

options now ideally the the best option

is the nine coming over and with that

beyond ball that we talked about because

now you're in a dangerous area but that

might not happen and the six might come

along with the nine so in that case

really the easiest thing is to just go

right back to the keeper now i should

say it's the simplest thing it's not the

easiest thing at this age if they see

pressure a lot of times they try to go

into it or they just always play the

ball over here if the press comes in

this direction with three that it's very

unlikely that fullback on the opposite

side will come and cover your keeper now

if that happens then we've got a

situation we gotta talk about and the

central midfielder on our team is going

to be the option or the nine here but

that's really unlikely what's more like

than likely is that this two is going to

come over and this should be inviting us

to switch field here's a team that's a

little more organized pressing us with

three players you can see that their

center midfielder is staying back and

all we do is slide it to our pullback

and we get out and generate an

opportunity

so let's talk about if the team you're

playing decides to sit back this is

really unlikely in 7v7 however maybe

you've broken their press and scored

several goals and and they've decided

that they really don't want to test you

so in this situation the ball goes out

to our right center back and as always

but but especially in this situation we

want the right center back to take their

space and the right center back is going

to take his space

i'm just going to move our full back and

our center back on the opposite side

over we're going to move our goalkeeper

over our nine's going to come our two is

going to come down and support we always

encourage the center back to take their

space until they are engaged so if

they're not engaged until the build-out

line they should not give up the ball

and the fullback will have to come with

as will the center midfielder have to

come with once they're engaged then they

can simply play the ball out wide or if

they are engaged in more of a pattern

that looks like this where the nine

comes over and it's like this then we're

in a very same situation the nine can

slip in here and we can try to play a

ball in here now we'd be looking for

like a one two down the wide area or

let's say the center back comes over and

you've got a really organized team and

they look like this there's there's no

problem here with our six kind of

sitting back or if the six is up here

just playing it back to our goalkeeper

or or just going directly back to the

other center back on the other side

trying to switch fields so guys that was

an introduction to the 231 with an

emphasis on building out of the back if

you have any questions feel free to

reach out and be on the lookout for some

videos on midfield transition and

attacking and finishing in the final

third from the 231

did you like that video check out that

one