WORLD CLASS COACHING
A Quick Guide to the 1-4-3-3
By Luca Bertolini
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part Four
HOW TO COACH THE 1-4-3-3 ATTACKING
ATTACKING EXERCISES
ATTACKING SMALL-SIDED GAMES
Exercise 3: 10 v 9 game Exercise 3: 10 v 9 game
Objective: build up the moves fast, support the attacking phase and stay balanced to prevent counter attacks.
Organization: half field (at least), 19 players (1 goalkeeper included), cones, additional mini goals.
One team of ten players is shaped into a 4-3-3 attacking formation and the defensive one is shaped into a 1-4-2-2. The field is divided into four areas: a small one where the move must be built up after the kick of the goalkeeper, a second small one where the forwards of the defending team start, a third middle one where a 3 v 2 duel is played and the final third where the defenders are in numerical 4 v 3 advantage at the beginning.
Sequence: As the four defenders of the attacking team receive the long pass, they must be able to send a full back inside the next area with two passes, playing 4 v 2.
The full back must pass forward again and the midfielders must be able to build up quickly in the middle third playing in numerical advantage 3 v 2. All of them must support the attacking move then.
The forwards are outnumbered 3 v 4 in the final third when the first of them receives; but they are helped by the three midfielders at the back and then two midfielders can run inside the final third to create a strong side and to finish playing 5 v 4.
The sixth one is the player who must try to win the second balls and who must build up the moves again near the opposition's penalty area if they can't finish quickly.
If the defenders of the black team are forced to play more than two passes to build up, the fullback must play a long ball toward the forwards in the final third and the midfielders must run up to support the move.
If the defenders are able to recover the possession they can counter attack, playing 2 v 1 in the middle third and scoring in one of the two mini goal; in this case the four black defenders must be able to save the space and defend the strong side.
Coaching points:
• To build up of the moves fast
• To play vertical with quick combinations in the middle third
• To support the attacking move to win the second times of the ball and the negative transition
• To defend the strong side if the ball is lost
Exercise 4: 3 v 2 Small Sided Game
Objective: to coach the creation of the numerical advantage while attacking.
Organization: 40x25 yards pitch, 11 players (1 goalkeeper included), cones.
The pitch with one regular goal is divided into three areas. A 2 v 1 starting situation is played inside the lower build up area, and two 2 v 2 duels are played in the other two areas.
Sequence: The goalkeeper starts the sequence, passing the ball toward the lower area; the two players of the attacking team must solve the 2 v 1 numerical advantage situation within 5 seconds after the first ball control. One of them must be able to dribble or to receive inside the upper area. If no one can, the possession is gained by the defending team.
When the player of the attacking team dribbles inside the middle third, a 3 v 2 situation is created; only one of the two players who started the move can play inside the middle third.Again, one of them must be able to dribble or to receive inside the final third within 5 seconds. If they can't, the possession of the ball is won by the defending team.
When the midfielder of the attacking team dribbles inside the final third, another 3 v 2 duel is created at the beginning; only one of the three players can play inside the final third from the middle third. Two defenders can run back to create the only possible numerical advantage 4 v 3 for the defending team.
Wherever the defenders recover the possession they can try to finish in the fastest way possible toward the same goal.
Coaching points:
• To build up of the moves fast
• To play vertical with quick combinations
• To create numerical advantage when in possession
• To finish quickly
