#62 Formations - FIFA Training Centre

In this session, Angelo Schirinzi, FIFA Beach Soccer Technical Expert, outlines various match tactics and formations. Starting with a 1-3-1 formation, the coach then goes through the tactical set‑ups deployed by several top teams.

Attacking in a 1-3-1 formation

Attacking in a 1-2-1-1 formation

Attacking in a 1-2-2 formation

Attacking in a 1-2-1-1 formation

Attacking in a 1-1-3 formation

Organisation

Using a full-size pitch, two teams of five compete against each other and organise themselves tactically based on the coach’s instructions.

Explanation

The exercise always starts from one of the two goalkeepers and aims to work on building attacks in the specific formation set by the coach. Here, Schirinzi starts with a 1‑3‑1 formation (attacking team).
The coach asks the out‑of‑possession team to defend passively to allow the in‑possession team to grasp all aspects of the formation and work on different passing combinations.

Variations

Organise the in‑possession team in a 1‑2‑1‑1 formation.
Organise the in‑possession team in a 1‑2‑2 formation.
Organise the in‑possession team in a 1‑1‑2‑1 formation.
Organise the in‑possession team in a 1‑1‑3 formation.

Coaching points

Ask the out‑of‑possession team to defend passively to allow the in‑possession team to work on their tactical organisation.
Vary the direction of the attacks.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the formations

Advantages

Players are distributed across the defensive zone in an ideal way and can form a compact unit
A suitable formation when the team are dominant and the opposing team have pressed too hard
Allows teams to retain possession for long periods and build up slowly from the back

Disadvantages

Considerable distances between the wide defenders and attacker make it difficult for players to support each other
The attacker is often isolated
Few attacking options if players fail to progress up the pitch

Advantages

Players are well distributed across the length of the pitchm the back

Disadvantages

The team fail to use the full width of the pitch The defenders’ positioning is not clearly defined
Attacks become very predictable, with the majority involving a long ball played up to the attacker

Advantages

Players are well distributed across the length and width of the pitch
Allows adventurous wingers to attack frequentlyat pace

Disadvantages

Demands sound tactical understanding of players to take up good defensive positions and regularly switch to mark zonally
The central defender is likely to face many one on one situations

Advantages

A clear distinction between attack and defence
Players are well distributed across the width of the pitch

Disadvantages

Attackers tend to neglect their defensive duties
A lot of space between the lines
Defensive positioning means that there is no one player tasked with marking the opposing attacker