Futbol Island

9v9 lesson · Find your unit and receive · Beginner

3-2-3: Know Your Unit

Understand nine players, three outfield units, and cover behind an advancing defender.

What the coach says

  1. Gold attacks the far goal and protects the goal behind our goalkeeper.
  2. Nine players means one goalkeeper and eight outfield players.
  3. These three defenders protect behind.
  4. These two midfielders connect the team.
  5. These three forwards stretch the field ahead.
  6. Three defenders, two midfielders, three forwards: three-two-three. The goalkeeper is counted separately.
  7. The goalkeeper passes left. The outside defender has room to advance.
  8. The left defender carries forward. Watch the space left behind.
  9. Where should the center defender move to support this advance?
  10. Slide left, staying behind the ball instead of joining the same run.
  11. Reset the shape. The left defender returns with the ball.
  12. The ball goes back through the goalkeeper.
  13. Now the right defender receives.
  14. The right defender advances this time. The center defender reads the new side.
  15. Where does the center defender help in this changed picture?
  16. Shift right and keep a return option behind the ball.
  17. The formation gives starting jobs. Support changes with the ball, rather than locking players to spots.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Where can the center defender support and protect behind?

    • Alongside the ball near the touchline
    • Left of center, behind the ball

    Coach’s explanation: Shift left while staying behind. This gives a return option and protects the space toward our goal.

  2. Question 2

    Which position supports the right defender now?

    • Shift right of center, behind the ball
    • Stay left of center

    Coach’s explanation: The ball moved right. Shift behind that side while keeping protection in the middle.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Our shape is three defenders, two midfielders and three forwards, plus the goalkeeper.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's true. Three-two-three counts the eight outfield players, and the goalkeeper is counted separately.

  4. Question 4

    Put the left defender's advance in order.

    • Center defender slides left, behind the ball
    • Goalkeeper passes to the left defender
    • Left defender carries the ball forward
    • Left defender returns to reset the shape

    Coach’s explanation: The pass comes first, then the carry, then cover slides behind, then the shape resets.

  5. Question 5

    The left defender carries even further forward. Drag the center defender to support.

    • Shift toward the right side
    • Slide left, behind the ball
    • Up alongside the left defender

    Coach’s explanation: Sliding left behind the ball covers the space and gives a safe pass back.

Play it on the island