How to Play and Teach the 1-4-2-3-1

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How to Play and Teach the 1-4-2-3-1

Here we have a 6 part video series showcasing Wayne Harrison presenting the 1-4-2-3-1 at the NSCAA Annual Convention in front of over 1200 coaches from around the world.. The series begins with developing play out the back to ultimately fashioning attacking and finishing movements off the ball in the attacking third and the 5 phases of play as he creates it. Wayne goes through the thirds of attacking development for you from back to front.

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4-2-3-1 Defensive Pressurizing Game

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4-2-3-1 Defensive Pressurizing Game

The game is designed to work on pressurizing the player on the ball, prevent a forward pass and ultimately win the ball. Closest player has to pressure the ball. To score, a player has to make a pass from anywhere into the keepers hands. The ball can be played in the air to the targets hands (to practice quality long distance lofted passes) or on the ground to feet (driven passes). All over the field players must work hard to close people on the ball down quickly.

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Changing shape to counter the opponents who are playing a 4-3-3

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Changing shape to counter the opponents who are playing a 4-3-3

This is an excerpt from "Important alternative information on how to play the 4-2-3-1." We don’t like to change our team shape and way of playing. Rather; we like to force opponents to change their shape to accommodate us. Sometimes against top opponents who may dominate us it is necessary to do so. Here are some ideas we can use against a 4-3-3 which many teams play now. We wont come up against this too often.

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A Simple Explanation on How to Defend as a Team in 11 v 11

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A Simple Explanation on How to Defend as a Team in 11 v 11

Playing in 5 Corridors widthwise to help define the positioning of players. Also playing in 3 thirds from goal to goal lengthwise (lets call these ZONES FOR CLARITY). Here we have a good balance with players positioning at angles to each other. Must get the team into 2 thirds only, except for the keeper, both offensively and defensively.

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Free Coaching the 4-2-3-1 eBook

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Free Coaching the 4-2-3-1 eBook

Most of the coaches I know look at the trends at the highest level of the game for ideas of what might be effective for their teams. In the last 10 years the most popular system has been the 4-3-3. The Dutch have been using it for much longer it became used more widely by clubs like, Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto and later Chelsea FC as well as Barcelona FC, AS Roma, the US Women’s National Team and many others. As this shift occured at the top level we began to see more youth, high school and college teams move to this highly flexible system.

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