Question: My U14 Girls team has switched from 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3. It has been a wonderful move utilizing their skills and athleticism in a more efficient way. I have raised them on the USSF numbering system for the 4-2-3-1 but I'm conflicted with the numbers of the 3-4-3. I want these numbers to translate to other clubs as they move on. What are the standard numbers for this formation? Thanks in advance.
The current USSF numbering system is based on the 433 with 3 CMs (6, 8, 10). They don't have a RM or a LM. If you play a diamond in the midfield, the least confusing approach imo would be to drop one of the CB numbers and go with two #8's in the midfield. 1 | 2 5 3 | 8 6 10 8 | 7 9 11 This is more confusing but how I think about the 343 attacking shape of the classic Dutch 433 1 | 2 4 5 | 6 | 8 3 | 10 | 7 9 11 The classic 433 is shaped as 343 in attack and 442 defending in its own half. The classic 343 drops a midfielder (typically the weak side wide mid) back as the 4th back while defending to protect against a switch. So you could use the same numbers as you do for the 433, but it would probably be confusing because people always think about labels out of the dynamic game context like it is a chart on the wall.
if they understand the numbers in terms of each number's role in the ussf's 433, you're going to have to describe them in hybrid terms in a 343. your LCB is not a true 2 or 4/5. it's a mix of the two. your LM is not a 2 or 8 or 11. it's a hybrid of the 3 roles. i haven't used the ussf's numbering system because of this. i like to see what my team looks like before deciding how to line them up. most of the time, it's not a 433. none of them know the 433 position numbers before they come to me so teaching that to them and then sending them out in a different formation seems counterproductive. ideally our club would have a set nomenclature from u5 on up, but that's not going to happen when we're just happy to have parents who volunteer to come "coach" twice a week.
I'm blessed with a team that has a rather high soccer IQ. In the defensive 3rd we drift into a 5-3-2 and migrate to a 3-2-5 in the attacking 3rd. This has come naturally to most of the players on my team. Since I allow my CB to push up a bit through the middle 3rd, I've given her some 6 responsibilities. They know and understand the USSF 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 numbering system so to reinforce the defensive responsibilities of the wings, I've labled it as follows.. 1 4, 6, 5 3, 8, 10, 2 11, 9, 7 So far they understand quite well but saying that the 6 is a CB drives me nuts and I'd hate for them to have it wrong moving into other clubs.