7/28/2019 KNVB Coaching Corner 10

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KNVB Academy // 2008 Translation: Paul Driesen

In the previous article we explained what acoach, whose team plays in a 1:4:3:3formation, can do during the game if theopposing team switches from 1:4:3:3 to a1:3:4:3 formation. The options to influencehis players vary from making somesubstitutions to adjusting the style of play.A thorough preparation of your players forsuch a game situation is obviouslyessential. How do you prepare your teamfor this?

If the opposing team suddenly plays with aman advantage situation in the midfield,

certain threats can originate that have tobe neutralized, but also opportunities thatthe team should take advantage of.Players need to practice on thesesituations; they can experience itthemselves and discover which solutionsin the various situations offer the bestresults.

IMPROVING THE ATTACKIn this article we will focus on the offense,in which the objective is to improve the

build-up out of which scoring chancesneed to be created. The players need tobe made clear during practice what thethreats and opportunities exactly are if theopponent switches from 1:4:3:3 to 1:3:4:3.

The threats are: The build-up is disrupted

immediately. Defenders andmidfielders are marked tightly andthe goalkeeper sends the long ballto the forwards, because thedefenders (and midfielders) cant

be reached (one against one). The pressure starts immediately

when a defender receives the ball.There is a risk that the ball will belost close to the penalty area.

We consider three attackers playing oneon one with three defenders a chance.

TO NEUTRALIZEThe coach organizes his practices in sucha way that the players experience what itis to play against a 1:3:4:3 formation. He

must think about the proper objective, theformation during practice (of his own teamand the opposing team), the methodicalsteps and how the players can beinfluenced during the session. Obviouslythe abilities of his players play animportant part in this. Strictly speaking healready should have conducted the wholepractice over in his head several timesover. As an example, we will show atraining exercise that is focused onimproving the co-operation between themidfielders and the attackers after a longball from the goalkeeper or a defender

(see drawing). With this exercise theplayers are practicing how to neutralizethe first threat that was described aboveand in which at the same time the action isaiming to create chances (which is thepurpose of a build-up).

7/28/2019 KNVB Coaching Corner 10

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KNVB Academy // 2008 Translation: Paul Driesen

In this training exercise the coach focuseson instructing:

The players with the ball (pass theball in front of your teammate so hehas the possibility to immediatelypass the ball on, pass the ball oncethe contact with the attacker hasbeen established, and take youropponent on when you are facinghim in a one v one situation etc.).

The players without the ball (freeyourself from your direct opponent,take advantage of the spacecreated by teammates, move intospace in the back of (behind) anopponent, so he looses eyecontact with you).

The opposing team (first back off(low pressure), then pressure onthe player with the ball, immediatepressure on the players with theball, take away all the passingoptions for the player with the ball,etc.).

METHODICAL STEPS

The coach can increase the intensity byasking the opposing team to put more

pressure on the goalkeeper and thedefenders of the team he is coaching.Eventually one of the opponentsmidfielders can move forward towards thesecond defender, which would result inthe goalkeeper having to pass the longball.