Gafferbook
Playing out from the back · 9v9 3-3-2

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

Against a team pressing with three forwards, your back three is matched one against one. That's where the keeper comes in: they're the spare player. A 3-3-2 then uses its central midfielder as the hinge and its wide midfielders to go forward, with the two strikers giving short and long options.

GKLCBCBRCBLMCMRMLSTRST
Step 1 of 5

They press our goal kick with a front three. The keeper is our spare player.

Drawn for 9v9 3-3-2. Pick your own format and shape and every step is redrawn for your players. Then present it or send it to your team.

Step by step

  1. They press our goal kick with a front three. The keeper is our spare player.
  2. Their forwards each mark a defender. So the keeper plays into the central midfielder, who has dropped between them.
  3. The central midfielder sets it out first time to the wide midfielder, who is facing forward.
  4. The wide midfielder drives forward. Our left striker comes short; the other runs.
  5. Into the striker's feet, set back, and away. Three passes and we're past their front three.

When to use it

When a 3-2-3 or any front three presses your goal kicks. Against two strikers, you'll have a spare defender anyway, which is easier.

Coaching points

  • The keeper is part of the build-up: four of you against their three.
  • If the forwards mark our back three, the keeper plays into the central midfielder, who drops to show.
  • The central midfielder sets it out to a wide midfielder facing forward.
  • Wide midfielders start wide and a little deep to receive, then drive forward.
  • One striker drops to receive, the other stays high. They swap jobs as the ball moves.

Who does what

PositionTheir job
KeeperThe spare player: receives back passes and plays forward into midfield or across.
Back threeSpread, offer passes to the keeper, carry it when free.
Central midfielderThe hinge: drops to receive between their forwards and bounces it wide.
Wide midfieldersReceive facing forward and drive at their full-backs.
StrikersOne short, one long: give a wall pass and a run in behind.

When they change it

If they…You…
They mark our central midfielderKeeper to the wide defender; the wide midfielder drops to receive inside.
Their forwards drop backOur back three is free: carry it forward.
They leave a striker on our keeperPlay into the free defender quickly before the press arrives.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the keeper out of it, so it's always three against three.
  • The central midfielder standing behind their forward instead of between them.
  • Wide midfielders standing too high to help, so the defenders have nobody to pass to.

At 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11

7v7
At 7v7 a 3-1-2 has the same front two and single central midfielder.
9v9
The board: a 3-3-2 at 9v9 against a front three.
11v11
At 11v11, a 3-5-2 uses the same ideas with wing-backs and three central midfielders.

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

Drills to practise it

9v9 3-3-2: midfield three into the front two

U12 to U13 · 8 to 12 plus a keeper

Open the drill →

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

U11 to adult · 6 to 10 plus a keeper

Open the drill →

Beat the first line (4v3 plus keeper)

U10 to adult · 8 plus a keeper

Open the drill →

Find the free player

U10 to adult · 9 to 13 plus a keeper

Open the drill →

Back-pass and play out

U9 to adult · Keeper plus 3 to 5

Open the drill →

🎽 Positions

Defensive midfielder (number 6) · home circuit

Questions coaches ask

How do you play out against a front three?

Use the keeper as the extra player so it's four against three, and play through the gaps between their forwards into midfield.

Is a 3-3-2 good for young teams?

Yes. It's balanced, gives two strikers to aim for, and the shape is easy to understand.

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.

More tactics boards

With the ball

Playing out from the back

How to play out from the back at grassroots level: the goal-kick shape, making the pitch big, the third player, and what to do when they press. Animated at 7v7.

Watch it →Without the ball

Pressing in a 3-3-2

How a 9v9 3-3-2 presses a back three: two strikers press, a wide midfielder jumps to the third centre-back, and the middle shuffles. Animated board.

Watch it →With the ball

Route one

Direct play on an animated board: the long ball to a target, the flick-on or knock-down, and the runners who win the second ball. When it works.

Watch it →

← All tactics boards · Formations · Drills