Offers perfect symmetry and stability within a team and is neither overly defensive or overly attack-minded.Suits all styles of the game, most notably a game that relies on crossing and playing wide.Industrious, hard-working players all around the pitch.Support will come from the two in behind but because they are playing as ‘midfielders’ if the striker can never hang onto the ball the formation won’t work effectively. A centre forward who can hold up play and is talented on and off the ball.Either wingers or attacking midfielders who can play inverted and not get caught too far wide.As a coach you can also call these positions wing-backs to really cement that notion in their minds. Right and left midfielders who can get up and down the line and understand that although they are not defenders, they have a crucial defensive role.It’s also easily able to accommodate nearly every type of player and allows teams with a lack of natural defenders to still have a strong defensive base if the the three in front of them do their defensive work. The formation suits teams looking to play on the counter attack just like it works for teams who like to keep possession, play wide, play through the middle or even the often-criticized long-ball game. It allows players to easily learn defensive and attacking roles and gives them the freedom and autonomy to play however they want to play. With practically a perfect balance of players in both attack and defense, the 2-3-2-1/2-3-3 is one of the most popular 9v9 formations out there and is used by Barcelona and Ajax’s famed academies. Defenders can often be reluctant to join the attack.įor more on the 3-2-3, see Coaching the 3-2-3 (9v9).Requires wingers to track back and defend or central midfielders to cover in wide areas, otherwise there’s a massive gap in between them and the fullbacks.If central midfielders are not tactically sound and positionally aware, it can become very easy for them to get outnumbered due to the wingers playing so high.Wingers can get drawn too wide, leaving the centre forward all alone and outnumbered.Provides a solid defensive 3 as a base with central midfielders easily able to learn the art of dropping in and covering for defenders when they go on runs.Easily adaptable into a 3-4-1 in defense if wingers track back.Provides loads of width but still a good base in midfield, creating excellent balance in the team.Defenders who understand they need to be more than just defenders.
So with that, The Mastermind Site has compiled a list of the best formations and the tactics and requirements associated with each. By studying the best formations in 9v9 a lot can be learned and translated over to the 11v11 game and so it’s a mystery why this level of play is not often studied. With so much analysis on the best formations for 11v11, it’s amazing how the 9v9 game often gets overlooked. In The Mastermind‘s hometown province of Ontario, 9v9 starts at the U11 stage and ends at U13, when players move up to the 11v11 game for the rest of their lives. 9v9 is one of the most exciting stages in the development of young players as it’s the first time they are truly able to understand positioning, formations and how to play to the strengths of their teammates.