Question about Coaching the 4-3-3

[iowa007]

My question is what are the keys to the 4-3-3 system? what are its strengths and weaknesses?
and what are the tips from coaches that prefer to use this system?


any advice, or nte links about the 4-3-3 would be greatly appreciated.


thanks

iowa007

[Elroy]

You have to make a number of decisions. First, are you playing a diamond or flat in the back - or somevariation thereof? I like either system. If I use a true sweeper, then the far side back must be trained to drop square to the sweeper and come somewhat to center when that player is attacked down the other side. In essense the diamond becomes somewhat squared. This allows the stopper to be more mark attentive of central attackers - the striker in an opponent's 4-3-3 or the offensive mid in a 4-4-2. It also allows the stopper a little more freedom offensively. Yes, the outside back does some extra duty and yes, it invites the big cross, but these slow down concentration at the point of attack and allow other defenders to recover.

If you want to play flat, or flat with an anticipatory sweeper then there are other considerations, but even so, far side defenders should be taught to hold square to the assigned deepest player to keep the trap alive and compress the opponent's attacking space.

Midfield. You've probably chosen a 4-3-3 b/c you have an aggressive, studly center mid. The outside mids have to learn to shift side to side in order to support this player. There is no sense to having the far side mid out on the touchline in this formation. Another consideration for outside mids is to force defensive play inside from the touch ( unless the opponents are in shooting distance. If the outside mid gets beat outside the line, esp against the diamond, it creates a difficult 2v1 for the outside back. So the outside mid keeps her butt against the line when she defends.

Forwards. You have a choice. The wings can be your major scorers or your center striker can be the scorer. On one of my most successful teams, we put our best distributor in the center and played aggressively flat to force the defense to flatten out. Then we hit a series of diagonal through balls from center to wing to wing to goal. This requires a dominate CM b/c the striker is either marked on the sweeper or double teamed. In that circumstance, the CM can start the passing sequence.

This is but the barest of skeletons. You need to adapt this formation to your talent pool. Generally, people choose the 4-3-3 b/c of its balanced field coverage or b/c they need the additional forward to apply appropriate offensive pressure. It is a good beginning formation for young players b/c all the roles are really easy to understand.

Good luck.

Roy

[Richie]

"My question is what are the keys to the 4-3-3 system? what are its strengths and weaknesses?"

I think it is a simple formation for players new to travel soccer. It is easier then 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 in my view.

Used more in womens game I believe.

I think a strength and also a weakness of this formation is the three forwards.

It is a strenght because it forces the defense to play with 4 backs if they rather play with three backs.

I think a weakness is because strikers would prefer to run on to a pass as they move into space. The extra striker means less space in general for the striker. Also it limits space for the mids, and backs to attack.

It could also make the team weaker defensively if the three backs don't help defensively when they lose the ball, and just wait up top for the rest of their team to win the ball for them, and get that ball up to them.

Just my view. We don't face many mens teams who play 4-3-3.

[Richie]

"It could also make the team weaker defensively if the three backs don't help defensively when they lose the ball, and just wait up top for the rest of their team to win the ball for them, and get that ball up to them."

I meant to say the three up top players not the three backs.