Is four at the back too many in 9v9?

It can be, if nobody goes forward. A back four works in 9v9 when a fullback joins each attack. Then the team attacks with five or six players and still has three behind the ball.

How does a 4-3-1 get ready for 11v11?

It teaches the back four: two center backs and two fullbacks who share the space. In 11v11, the 4-3-3 keeps that back four and the three midfielders and adds two wide forwards.

How does the lone striker get help?

From the wide midfielders. When the ball is played up, they run close to the striker so there is a short pass. One fullback follows to keep the width.

4-3-1 soccer formation (9v9)

The 4-3-1 is a 9v9 soccer formation with four defenders, three midfielders and one striker. It suits teams that want to learn a back four before moving to 11v11, and teams that need to be hard to score against.

Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.

4-3-1 (9v9) diagram

Diagram of the 4-3-1 (9v9) formation on a 9v9 soccer field, seen from above, with 9 players attacking up the picture. Goalkeeper: GK (1). Defenders: LB (3), LCB (5), RCB (4) and RB (2). Midfielders: LM (11), CM (8) and RM (7). Striker: ST (9). Open this diagram as a picture.

Coaches write this shape in two ways. 4-3-1 counts the 8 outfield players, from the defense forward. U.S. Soccer counts the goalkeeper first and writes 1-4-3-1. Both mean the same formation. The numbers on the dots are a common coaching custom, not a rule: players can wear any shirt number.

Who plays where

Goalkeeper (1). Protects the goal and uses the two center backs to start attacks.
Two center backs (4 and 5). Protect the middle. One goes to the ball, the other covers.
Two fullbacks (2 and 3). Defend the sides and run forward along the sideline to support attacks.
Central midfielder (8). Links the defenders to the striker and helps protect the middle.
Wide midfielders (7 and 11). Attack along the sides and get close to the striker when the ball goes forward.
Striker (9). Holds the ball up until the midfielders arrive, then looks to score.

Strengths of the 4-3-1

Four defenders cover the whole width, so there is always cover.
Fullbacks learn to defend and to attack, a job they keep in 11v11.
The three midfielders and four defenders are hard to play through.

Weak spots and how to cover them

One striker has little help.
How to cover it: The wide midfielders run forward as soon as the striker has the ball.
Four defenders can all stay back, leaving too few players ahead of the ball.
How to cover it: One fullback goes forward at a time. The other three slide across. Lesson: One Presses, One Covers.
The team can sit too deep and invite pressure.
How to cover it: The back four moves up together when the ball moves up.

How the 4-3-1 moves

When your team has the ball

With the ball, the center backs move apart and one fullback goes forward. The wide midfielders move inside a little to get close to the striker.

When the other team has the ball

Without the ball, four defenders and three midfielders make two lines close together. The striker waits near the halfway line for a pass after the ball is won.

Who it suits

Teams in their last 9v9 season before 11v11, and teams playing a strong attacking opponent.

Questions about the 4-3-1

Is four at the back too many in 9v9?
It can be, if nobody goes forward. A back four works in 9v9 when a fullback joins each attack. Then the team attacks with five or six players and still has three behind the ball.
How does a 4-3-1 get ready for 11v11?
It teaches the back four: two center backs and two fullbacks who share the space. In 11v11, the 4-3-3 keeps that back four and the three midfielders and adds two wide forwards.
How does the lone striker get help?
From the wide midfielders. When the ball is played up, they run close to the striker so there is a short pass. One fullback follows to keep the width.

Lessons that teach this shape

Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.

Play it on the island