Futbol Island

9v9 lesson · Intermediate

3-1-3-1: Help the Single Holder

Three-one-three-one has one holder behind three attacking midfielders and a striker. When the ball is lost, the central attacking midfielder can help that single holder.

What the coach says

  1. Three-one-three-one has one holding midfielder.
  2. Three attacking midfielders play behind the striker.
  3. After losing the ball, the central attacking midfielder can help the single holder.
  4. Our left midfielder delays the carrier. Two opposing midfielders threaten the holder, while all three backs already have forwards to account for.
  5. The left midfielder delays the ball and the back three face three forwards. Which recovery shares the holder’s central job?
  6. The attacking midfielder recovers beside the holder. The back three retain their forward assignments as the wide midfielders recover on separate sides.
  7. Blue connects to its second midfielder, who now faces the temporary midfield pair rather than the holder alone.
  8. Our centre back controls the next pass. The holder offers the lower connection and the wide midfielders spread, leaving the higher central link to be restored.
  9. We have the ball again. Where should the attacking midfielder go?
  10. The attacking midfielder moves higher while the holder stays available to the centre back. Both wide midfielders restore the outer lanes.
  11. The centre back connects with the holder, with the higher midfielder now available as the next central link.
  12. The attacking midfielder can create a temporary pair with the holder after loss. Once the ball is secured, restore the higher link instead of keeping both midfielders low.

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

    The left midfielder delays the ball and the back three face three forwards. Which recovery shares the holder’s central job?

    • Press beside the left midfielder
    • Recover beside the holder

    Coach’s explanation: Recovering beside the holder shares the central threats while all three backs remain available for their forwards.

  2. Question 2

    We have the ball again. Where should the attacking midfielder go?

    • Keep the lower position
    • Offer the higher central link

    Coach’s explanation: The higher position reconnects the striker and wide attacking midfielders while the holder keeps the lower building job.

  3. Question 3

    Which picture shows the three-one-three-one shape, with a single holder?

    • Holder level with the midfielders
    • One holder behind three midfielders
    • Two players sit deep

    Coach’s explanation: One holder sits behind three attacking midfielders, with the striker ahead.

  4. Question 4

    We lose the ball. Put what happens next in order.

    • Attacking midfielder drops beside the holder
    • Attacking midfielder moves higher again
    • Centre back wins the ball
    • We lose the ball

    Coach’s explanation: We lose it, pair up in the middle, win it back, then restore the higher link.

  5. Question 5

    Our right midfielder now delays the ball. Where should the attacking midfielder recover?

    • Beside the holder in the middle
    • Press next to the right midfielder
    • Stay high near the striker

    Coach’s explanation: Their other midfielder threatens the holder, so the attacking midfielder makes a pair in the middle.

Play it on the island