Playing out from the back in a 3-2-3 (9v9): animated board

Playing out from the back in a 9v9 3-2-3

The 3-2-3 is one of the best 9v9 shapes for playing out. Most teams press with two strikers, so your back three always has a spare player. The two central midfielders stagger so one is always open, and the wingers stay high and wide to stretch the pitch. The free centre-back carries it, and the wingers give the pass forward.

Step by step

Goal kick. Back three spread wide, midfield two staggered, wingers high and wide.
They press with two strikers. Keeper to the middle defender; their strikers have to choose.
Their strikers block the middle, so the left centre-back is free. Carry it forward.
Their wide midfielder has to step out. That leaves our winger free down the line.
Play past them to the winger, who drives forward while the striker and midfielder support.

When to use it

From goal kicks and whenever your keeper has it. Particularly against a 3-3-2 or any team pressing with two strikers.

Coaching points

The back three spread: wide centre-backs near the touchlines of the box, middle one in front of the keeper.
Against two strikers, one defender is always free. Find them early.
The two midfielders stagger: one short and one higher, on different sides.
Wingers stay high and wide. They're the pass that breaks the first line.
The wide centre-back carries it forward until their wide midfielder has to come out, then plays past them.

Who does what

Position	Their job
Back three	Spread wide, carry it forward when free, pass forward early.
Midfield two	Stagger: one shows short, one stays high. Swap roles as the ball moves.
Wingers	High and wide to pin their wide players and give the forward pass.
Striker	Pins their centre-back, drops as a wall pass when the ball is in midfield.
Keeper	Joins in as a fourth defender if they press with three.

When they change it

If they…	You…
They press with three forwards	The keeper makes it four against three. Play through the keeper to the far defender.
Their wide midfielder pushes onto our wide centre-back	Our winger is free: play down the line straight away.
They crowd the middle	Go round the outside with the wide centre-back and winger.

At 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11

7v7

At 7v7, a 3-2-1 works the same way with one striker.

9v9

The board: a 3-2-3 at 9v9 against a 3-3-2 with two strikers pressing.

11v11

At 11v11, the 3-4-3 is the grown-up version: back three, double pivot, wing-backs and front three.

See the full 9v9 3-2-3 formation guide for the shape, positions and drills.

Questions coaches ask

Why is the 3-2-3 good for playing out?

Three defenders against two strikers gives a spare player, and the wingers give width without the defenders having to bomb forward.

What should the wingers do when we play out?

Stay high and wide. Their position stretches the other team and gives the defenders a forward pass.

What if we keep losing the ball when we play out?

Expect it at first. Keep the shape, practise the same patterns in training under light pressure, and judge the decision rather than the result. If a game is getting away from you, it's fine to mix in a longer pass to the striker for a spell.

Playing out from the back in a 9v9 3-2-3

Step by step

When to use it

Coaching points

Who does what

When they change it

Common mistakes

At 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11

Drills to practise it

Back three against a two-striker press

9v9 3-2-3 winger isolation

9v9 3-2-3: overload one side, attack the other

Beat the first line (4v3 plus keeper)

Keeper to centre-back to the 6 (pivot turns)

Questions coaches ask

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