This document provides an overview of modern soccer tactics and systems of play. It discusses the evolution away from rigid formations toward more flexible systems defined by tactical ideas rather than positions on the field. Common modern systems like 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2 are explained along with their strengths and weaknesses. Defensive tactics like pressing and zonal marking are covered as well as attacking tactics involving partnerships between players. The document emphasizes adapting tactics to the strengths of the players and being flexible rather than rigidly adhering to any one system.

1. Rob Herringer- NSCAA National Staff
Head Men’s Coach- Benedictine College

2. • Evolution of systems of play (brief)
• Modern systems of play
• Modern Defensive Tactics
• Modern Attacking Tactics
• Implications for coaches
• Summary and Closing
• All information presented is applicable to BOTH the
men’s and women’s game.
• More examples used from the men’s game, however.

3. “Football is not just about players. It is about
shape and about space, about the intelligent
deployment of players, and their movement
within that deployment.”
-Jonathan Wilson
Inverting the Pyramid

4. ENGLAND v. SCOTLAND- FIRST INTERNATIONAL MATCH- 1872 (0-0)

13. • “Formations are dying out. It’s increasingly
difficult to mark the movement of the players,
with respect to the ball, just by assigning
numbers to each line.” –Slaven Bilic (Croatia)
• “The formation is only the first snapshot. After
that, the players are always on the move because
the ball is on the move, so the formation no
longer exists…a team’s style of play is related to
an idea, not to geographic positioning on the
pitch.” –Juanma Lillo (Spain)

15. • 4-2-3-1 (Germany, Netherlands and many
others)
• 4-3-3 (Portugal and Russia)
• 4-4-2 (England)
• 3-5-2 and 4-1-3-2 (Italy)
• 4-6-0 (Spain)

16. • 4-2-3-1
• 4-3-3
• 4-4-2
– Block of 8
– Diamond midfield
• 3-5-2
• 4-1-4-1

17. “This is a fundamental: it could be said that the
whole history of tactics describes the struggle to
achieve the best possible balance of defensive
solidity and attacking fluidity.”
-Jonathan Wilson
Inverting the Pyramid

18. • “Systems of play are like a poor man’s blanket…”
–Anson Dorrance
• Do the players fit the system or does the system
fit the players?
• Coaches must know the structural strengths and
weaknesses of each system.
• Coaches must know how to train teams in each
system.
• No matter what system you choose, you must
always account for the principles of the game!

19. Shaping the three lines- backs, midfielders and forwards. Players are in natural
pairs. Flank play. Can be overrun in the central midfield. Easy to stay
organized defensively- block of 8.

20. Back four can play against 1,2 or 3 forwards. Wingbacks can get forward. Shape
and roles of central midfield. Front three can press high up the field and
counter quickly. Forwards can get isolated. Space given up on the flanks. Can
easily drop into a 1-4-1-4-1 when defending.

21. Playing with 4 lines of players instead of 3. Roles of holding midfield players.
Roles of the #11,#10 and #7 positions. Role of the #9. Very flexible shape
which allows for many different combinations of players and tactics.

22. Ideal for a counter-attacking team. Roles and responsibilities of wingbacks-
handling 2v1s. Shape and roles of CMF. May be difficult to get numbers
forward at times. Forwards must play with one another. Central midfield and
wing backs must support the attack.

23. SYMMETRICAL (shape) BALANCED (players)

25. • Zonal back four/three
• Defending the ball instead
of man-to-man
• Pressure, cover, balance
• Use of offside space
• Compaction and
concentration
• Variations in thirds of the
field
• The use of
sweeper/stopper systems
is virtually non-existent in
the modern game.

26. C
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P
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I
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N
CONCENTRATION

28. • Being used more often due to development and
understanding of athletes- speed, fitness, agility,
nutrition, sport science.
• FULL PRESS- “GEGGENPRESSING”
– Entire team attempting to win the ball back
immediately following loss of possession.
• ¾ press
– Line of confrontation
• HALF PRESS/Delayed high pressure
– Line of confrontation
– Creating space to counter

30. • Protection against rapid
counter-attacks.
• Speed and athleticism of
athletes.
• 17 of the 34 first goals
scored in the 2010 World
Cup were executed within
10 seconds after
regaining possession.
• A back 3.5…
• Not just a “stopper”
anymore!

32. • Ability to get forward
and assist with the
attack.
• Combine with partners.
• Playmakers.
• Attack the 18 with
dribbling or variety of
service.
• More room to run?

33. • “Wrong-
footed/Inverted”
wingers coming inside.
• Playmakers underneath
striker(s), on the flank
or in deep-lying
positions.

34. • The relationship
between the #9 (center
forward) and #10
(withdrawn
forward/attacking
midfielder)
• Implications for
opposition centerbacks
• Use of a false #9
• No forwards at all?

35. “The perfect tactical system doesn’t exist: it’s the
players who make the system look perfect. I don’t
want to rely on a system to win a game; I want to rely
on a player to win a game. I want him/them to
express himself/themselves. I love open play
goals…The system is there to enable the player to be
as good as he can be. There is no absolute truth in
terms of systems. 4-6-0 works because it is Spain, who
are the best at possession football; and when you’re
so good at possession football, you need players
around the ball; it wouldn’t work as well- for them-
with a traditional target man in the box. An ability to
be flexible is more important than sticking to a
system.”

36. PHILOSOPHY:
“We want to be a team that takes control of the
ball, a team that imposes itself in possession,
that is going to be brave, will defend from the
front, and will take risks. But that’s a
philosophy, not a tactical system. In tactical
terms, we must be flexible. And we must have
players who are committed to suffering for the
team.”
Q: What is your coaching philosophy?

38. • Must expose players to a variety of modern
systems that incorporate zonal defending or
combination of zonal and man-marking.
• Systems that are flexible, not rigid.
• Systems with 3, 4 and 5 backs.
• Systems with 3, 2, 1 and no forwards.
• VARIETY!
• Q: Are we really developing our young players
if we only teach them one system?

39. • Direct
• Indirect
• “Style of no style”
• Changes based on opponents, field and
weather.
• Changes based on game
situations/”scenarios”:
– Up/down a goal
– Up/down a player
– Need a win

41. • Zonal backlines
• Use of holding/screening midfielders
• Pressing
• Many players entering college have very little
knowledge of how to defend- individually, in a unit and
as a team.
– limited experience playing zonal systems.
• Limited experience playing with three in the back.
• Coaches must prepare players for the next level of the
game!

42. • Building from the back (indirect football) is essential for
development.
• Players must be encouraged and have confidence to
beat opponents in 1v1 situations.
• Positional relationships/partnerships (groups and pairs)
• Technical development is essential!
– Crossing, passing, receiving and finishing.
• Framing the goal/runs in the penalty area
• Reading opponents and solving problems on the field.

43. Q: How has the game changed?
“Firstly, everything is so much quicker. Not in
the sense of running or moving quicker, no.
Quicker in the head. There’s no longer space,
which means there’s less time to think, analyze
and control the ball. You have to find the
solution before the ball arrives at your feet.
Secondly, we no longer defend to protect the
goalkeeper, we defend high to try to win back
the ball as quickly as possible.”

44. “A few years ago, if a coach asked his star
forward to defend, he’d have said, ‘Go f***
yourself, that’s not my job!’ There’s no longer
room for lazy players. If a player doesn’t help
out defensively, the opposition has so much
quality they’ll always find a teammate in space.”

45. • Teambuilding- Rinus Michels
• Inverting the Pyramid- Jonathan Wilson
• NSCAA Soccer Journal
• Elite Soccer Coaching-
• Zonal Marking-
• NSCAA-
• US Youth Soccer/ State association

46. “Players lose you
games, not tactics.
There’s so much crap
talked about tactics
by people who barely
know how to win at
dominoes.”
- Brian Clough

47. • Know your players.
– Warriors, artists, etc.
• Know the different systems and tactics-
educate yourself.
• Know the opposition.
• Be flexible and teach your players to do the
same.
• Develop your philosophy on how your team
should play- it’s a process!
• Always have a Plan B, and make sure your
players know what that is.

48. And sometimes… even Plan Z!

49. The English Plan
Depending on the wind, the striker’s position may vary…

50. The Italian Plan
Iron defense, small ideas in midfield, pass to striker…and…Penalty!

51. The Brazilian Plan
… no comment!

52. The French Plan
They manage to lose the game by themselves, no help needed.

53. The Dutch Plan
In their plan, they try all possible hypnosis.
They forgot the goal!

54. The Scottish Plan
Note: the red dot is not the ball, it’s the
referee.

55. • Rob Herringer
• Thank you for your time, attention and
participation.