General Principles• High Pressure – First 10 of the halves and adjust as needed. We are ok with

testing opponents with long balls in first ten minutes before settling to control game.

• Organized and compact in defense• Must have defenders who love to defend• Creative and explosive in attack• Must have players who are creative and confident

• Dictate the pace of play…pressing, quick through the run-of-play, quick throws (behind the defense straight to goal when on), quick set pieces in midfield etc.

• Always receive ball “face up / open up”, everywhere on the field• Always communicate

WEST FORSYTH TITAN TRADITIONHow We Play

WEST FORSYTH TITAN TRADITIONHow We Play

General Defensive Principles• Collective Defending

• Active and aggressive defending, anticipation

• Cover for each other

• Every defender needs 45 degree coverage

• OB’s must step to opponents OM’s, and they must step quickly

• No balls bounce in the back…attack the ball, leave nothing to chance

• Playing out of the back

• Safety, live to play another play…in other words, know when to give it a ride

• Be patient when defending the counter

• CB’s keep play in front of you

• Communicate

WEST FORSYTH TITAN TRADITIONHow We Play

General Attacking Principles

• Pick on defenders

• Be a moving target…never kill the ball

• Run off the ball, even a bad run is better than no run

• Want the ball

• Change of pace

• When going 1v1, slow down to set your defender up

• Forwards must have as much effort, concentration, and pride holding the ball as they do when going to goal.

• Shoot Low Hard and on Frame

Examples of Play

4-3-3Back line

• “Group defending”

Midfielders

• “Control and Motors”

Forwards

• “Playmakers”

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Line4-3-34-3-3• Tight Unit

• As one moves, all move • Including GK

• Group defending• Always have support• Win everything in the air• Strong tackles… body in

front, not simply throwing a leg.

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• 2 Basic Shifts

• Right or Left• OB’s to OM’s

• Essential to eliminate OM’s with our OB’s

• Anticipate, close as the ball travels, and get there as the ball gets there

• Nike Swoosh• Give away weak-side

• Central penetration• Recovery• GK• Attack

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 2 Basic Shifts• Right or Left

• OB’s to OM’s• Nike Swoosh• Give away weak-side

• Central penetration• Recovery• GK• Attack

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 2 Basic Shifts• Right or Left• Central penetration

• Step, drop, compact• Give away flanks

• Recovery• GK• Attack

GK

LB

LCB

RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 2 Basic Shifts• Recovery

• Straight pass• GK• Attack

RS

GK

LB

LCB

RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 2 Basic Shifts• Recovery

• Dribble• GK• Attack

RS

GK

LBLCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 2 Basic Shifts• Recovery• GK

• Stay attached• Control whole box

• Attack

RS

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3

• Together• 3 Basic Shifts• Recovery• GK• Attack

• Overlap• Support

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

Back Five4-3-34-3-3• Together

• 3 Basic Shifts• Recovery• GK• Attack

• Overlap• Support

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Stay connected

• Always know where others are

• Chatter

• Eyes / Swivel

• Leave the flanks for our OB’s to defend

• 3 v2 or 3v3

• Recognize and organize accordingly

• DM – Game in front of you

• AM – Back to goal

Midfield4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Play on two lines

• Do not play on rails

• Defensive responsibilities

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Put pressure on backs – especially when turned

• Chase balls into corners, etc.

• Double back

• Sheppard play / cut field in half

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Outside forwards defend with ball on your side of field.

• Put pressure on backs

• Chase balls into corners, etc.

• Double back

• Sheppard play / cut field in half

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Minimal…use your energy in attack

• Put pressure on backs

• Chase balls into corners, etc.

• Double back

• Sheppard play / cut field in half

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Minimal…use your energy in attack

• Put pressure on backs

• Chase balls into corners, etc.

• Double back

• Sheppard play / cut field in half

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Minimal…use your energy in attack

• Put pressure on backs

• Chase balls into corners, etc.

• Double back

• Sheppard play / cut field in half

• Attacking

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Attacking

• When we win the ball…all three “show up”

• Use your energy in the attack

• Get the ball wide and play

• Stay connected, backside forward tries to split between OB/CB

• Dynamic attack will be 2nd nature

• Overload

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Attacking

• When we win the ball…all three “show up”

• Use your energy in the attack

• Overload

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

• Shape

• Defensive responsibilities

• Attacking

• Overload

Attacking Three4-3-34-3-3

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-34-3-3 advantages

vs 4-4-2

• 3v2 in middle of park

• Unguarded player

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-34-3-3 advantages

vs 3-5-2

• neutral in middle of park

• Unguarded Player

• 3v3 in attacking third

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-34-3-3 advantages

Easy adjustments• 4-5-1

• Shape of midfield

Compact and limits opportunities – disrupts opponents

Target Works – One or two others join

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

DM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-3REVIEW OF KEYS

• Forwards must be mobile

• OB’s eliminate OM’s

• Collective Defending

• Strength through middle.

GK

LB

LCB RCB

T

AM

RB

LS

AM

RS

DM

4-3-34-3-3Common Shifts in

GameWe will spend a good amount of our games with a holding pushing up to the AM level to support forwards and make penetrating runs. Note OBs push up to press higher up the field. We will score some goals… no… a ton of goals. That said, we are more vulnerable to a counterattack or long ball.

Blue areas are dangerous areas… CB communication and OB covering/CB stepping to ball in blue area is key.

1

2

3

4

Corner Number

• The first corner will be a #1 or #2. If two defenders step, then a #2. If 1 defender or no defenders step, it will be a #1.

• Later in game we will mix in a #3 if it looks favorable.

• #4 will be introduced later in season.