Gafferbook
Patterns of play ยท U12 to adult

4-3-3: striker drops, midfielder runs beyond

The striker drops short to pull a centre-back out; an eight makes the run into the space left behind. A classic way to unlock a back line.

U12 to adultAges
6 to 9 plus a keeperPlayers
Half pitchArea
12 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Six, two eights, striker and two wingers.
  • Two centre-backs (passive, then live).

Equipment: Goal, cones, balls

How it works

  1. Six plays into the dropping striker.
  2. Striker sets back to an eight, who plays the other eight running beyond.
  3. Finish in the goal; wingers attack the far post.

Coaching points

  • Striker: check in sharply, play it simple.
  • Runner: go when the striker drops, not after.
  • Pass into the runner's path, not their feet.

Formations this drill suits

4-3-3 (11v11) drills4-2-3-1 (11v11) drills

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Defenders passive

Make it harder

  • Offside line held by the defenders

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.

More patterns of play drills

4-3-3 full-back overlap with the winger

The winger receives, drives inside and the full-back overlaps around the outside to cross. The core wide pattern of a 4-3-3, practised unopposed, then 2v1, then in a game.

See the drill โ†’

4-3-3 third-man run to the striker

Centre-back plays into the striker, who sets back to an 8 running forward, who slips the winger in behind. A third-man pattern that breaks lines in a 4-3-3.

See the drill โ†’

4-4-2 strike partnership: one short, one long

Two strikers work as a pair: one comes short for the ball, the other spins in behind. The partnership at the heart of 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and 9v9 3-3-2.

See the drill โ†’

4-4-2 wide 2v1: full-back and wide midfielder

Full-back and wide midfielder take on one defender down the flank, choosing between the overlap, the underlap and the give-and-go. Builds the wide partnership a 4-4-2 relies on.

See the drill โ†’

3-5-2 wing-back switch of play

Draw the opposition to one side, then switch to the far wing-back arriving unmarked. The signature attack of a 3-5-2, practised as a pattern then as a 7v5 game.

See the drill โ†’

4-2-3-1: finding the number 10 between the lines

A three-zone game where the ball must go from the back zone into the number 10 in the middle zone before it can go into the front. Teaches the double pivot to find the 10 and the 10 to turn.

See the drill โ†’