Edge of Play: Defending in the 4-2-3-1 Formation

www.edgeofplay.com - the grassroots coaching website - brings you this Defending in the 4-2-3-1 Formation video. With audio commentary, this video features the following chapters:
1. Defensive Vocabulary 2. Back 4 Defensive Tracks 3. Leaving the back line 4. Midfield Screening & Cover 5. Midfield Support on the Wing 6. Whole Team Defensive Positioning 7. Pressing 8. Defensive Levels 1-5 9. Staying Compact 10. Passing Lanes & Traps 11. Basic Principles of 4-2-3-1 Defending.
Some of the ideas and concepts in this video were informed by Wayne Harrison's excellent Coaching the 4-2-3-1 book. I highly recommend it to you.
The diagrams in this video were created using SoccerTutor.com
For more coaching videos visit www.edgeofplay.com
Any queries? Contact me at [e-mail]

[@2Controllers1Sofa]

Probably the best defending video I have watched. Really in depth and well explained.

[@user-nb6pe7ct1m]

Probably the best defending video Ive ever watched

[@Nick40ghs]

Agreed! I wish more Americans would watch this. One of the biggest problems in developing soccer at the youth level is, not the fact we, Americans, call is 'soccer', it is we think of it more as a game and less of a sport; we have been equating it more to tether-ball or wall-ball rather than football, basketball, and baseball. I think if more Americans saw videos like this, they would be intrigued by the complexity and tactical ability one must possess to play this sport effectively. Great video!

[@rnyberg1522]

One of the best pedagogical and most comprehensive videos about defending in 4 2 3 1. Thanks ! 😊

[@sidski07]

Phenomenal presentation dude. Absolute next level. Thankful you've done this.

[@David-Paniashvili]

Many thanks for sharing your defensive perspectives, Sir. It did help me to better understand the concept of general defending and specifically using 4-2-3-1.

[@desybalmer1984]

Excellent presentation. Apart from a few difference in vocab this is superb for my u16s. thank you. Clear, concise and to the point.

[@coachbrenna9734]

One of the best explanations of team defending with practical points. Wonderful.

[@abandex]

Great work !!!! Im a football fan but recently i turn into more tactical approach of the game, and my vision( the way i see matches ) has changed a lot. Thanks to guy like you, beautiful piece of work !!! ( sorry for my bad english, not my mothern language ! )

[@paolodavinci7728]

This is one of the best & most simplified explaination of the defensive organization of the concept of tactical periodization i hv come across on youtube. Thanks for the video.

[@kamenstefanoff9950]

Wow, beautifuly done ! Thank you !

[@thanhhuuvu2617]

This is 100% what I talked to my JV team which has 90% players that are first time playing soccer. Thanks for such a great video and I would probably send this to my players so they can review this better.

[@isaacmicheals3241]

Great video for the basic principles and shape. Thanks!

[@jackpn21]

Thanks!

[@mhafner82]

This video is an excellent teaching tool. Well done!

[@mikaelladubato7723]

wow this is amazing i play soccer im just going into 11v11 so i needed this!

[@aquavonz3040]

Absolutely Awesome explanation. Will try this out. We have been coceeding goal lately. Just shifting players around will work well. Good defence leads to good attacking game.

[@michaelterrano2318]

Great video beautifully explained. Keep it up!!!

[@brynleythomas5525]

Brilliant mate, absolutely brilliant

[@pweeloco510]

Wow good job coach i will at this defensive drills on my u12 boys

[@natanku1]

Very good video and concepts. Difficult to convey and get rec teams to employ these various tactics. It takes a lot of awareness and coordination as a team. Apart from the man to man coverage, the defensive shape needs to stay consistent throughout whether sitting back or pressing, so that is the key.

[@fayazmallu8815]

This is excellent as you can use this whilst playing in any formation

[@trevoratkinson9816]

Excellent video so clear and easy to understand.

[@banitagardia1235]

Thank you sir for giving us knowledge

[@gecko221281]

A lot of info in a short time but well presented

[@eugineolwichi4387]

Awesome presentation. Keep up the good work.

[@bonypen2194]

I agreed with you. Nice defending.

[@manomayvaru4697]

Man this vedio is so good love your work

[@michaeldeleo2765]

Excellent video…. Thanks!

[@kwesberg]

Excellent video!

[@AvitHDGamer]

Fantastic vid im looking to apply this to my virtual football team (fifa18 pro clubs)

[@elgusto5329]

Great video. Had a practice with my boys U19 club last night and our issue is preventing through balls in the defending third. My boys are always marking and I am preaching a compact wall. How do I use my wingers effectively in a 4-4-2 for defensive posture? if you do another video may I suggest how to transition the shape from defensive to attacking in a 4-4-2. Keep them coming! thank you.

[@frosty6297]

Narrow the midfield? Block the passing lanes like Liverpool did against Spurs

[@moisendangama1332]

Bonjour je suis vraiment content pour votre vidéo maintenant j'ai compris on défendre en bloc

[@chenrayen]

Basketball had it's own triangle era with the Bulls and Lakers under Phil Jackson, but that has given way to the non-stop screens and pick and roll of today's game, it's it's interesting to see how soccer is always faithful to spacing in a disciplined way to be effective.

[@phutimohafe7667]

Good defensively but how quickly to transit and utilise wingers. How to deploy a full back and winger in a eve situation when defending ?

[@ltmelton907]

It is awesome skills

[@oziegbedickson5293]

Thank you

[@ezataskar5861]

حقيقة شرح ممتاز لعمل الدفاع

[@nicolauskanguramununga]

Awesome

[@darraghkidd5050]

Have too watch the for Homework 😂

[@benoitocazallo6841]

Thanks a lot for this. Soccer is cool. :D

[@itswalker9]

Football

[@MrDando87]

Class act mate. Do you have any tips on the transition?

[@braydenlobe6785]

Really love this video and the way it is presented. As a relatively in-experienced coach I am always looking to learn and better my coaching. Its put into terms that coaches of all levels can understand-so well done mate! What would you suggest the distance between the back four defenders should be when they are on the edge of the box -as a general guide? Keep it up and I look forward to watching the other videos you have made.

[@jackpn21]

Thanks for the feedback! Appreciated! In terms of distances, it's hard to give precise distances as there are many variables to consider - such as the strengths of your defenders, their ability to read the game and their mobility. Also, what the opponent is doing to attack - are they looking for gaps between CBs and FBs or are they playing wide early? One visual pointer can be when one FB is pressurising an opponent on the wing, the other FB would be tucked in to around the back post area. If your defence are on the edge of their box, it means the opponents are around shooting range - so when the ball is central for them, you'd likely have all your defenders well within the width of the penalty box. Like I say though, difficult to be hard and fast on this. Best wishes

[@benjaminruba5022]

now i can improve my defending skills and move as a team

[@jordenwangdi9637]

fantastic

[@russellmoxham5625]

Great

[@CoachKonstantinosFoundas]

Nice video 👍😊😊

[@coopermichaelis]

My coach wants us to watch it again

[@brunoagustinho9895]

Nice 👍

[@2002RM]

I don't know why some persist (this video included) calling it a 4-2-3-1 in the defensive phase when it is basically a 4-4-2 with 1 forward player pressing first and the other supporting the press. The '3' attacking midfielders never set up in that default position ahead of the 2 fixed DMF in the defensive phase. Your video pretty much shows this also. Called it 4-2-3-1 in the attacking phase if you want but there is no special characteristic in the defensive phase particular to this formation.

[@coopermichaelis]

So I am watching coach winn

[@user-xi4ln7ro2n]

bravoo

[@BornAgainFitness]

Any advice for the back line? I had my first scrimmage last night with my U14 girls and we are using the 4231. The back line was overwhelmed at times. Do you ever employ the use of a sweeper playing behind the line?

[@BornAgainFitness]

Great video, by the way. It is very helpful.

[@BornAgainFitness]

Thanks for the feedback. I know my 6 & 8 were often out of position.

[@xgame6625]

good

[@DaBossMan1000]

The video is done well although I don't agree with all of his concepts it was explained and illustrated well.

[@Hotforrealforreal79]

4-2-3-1

[@superfoxyfires]

What exactly is Episoketren System? How does this thing really work? I see many people keep on talking about this popular training program.

[@jackpn21]

I've heard poor things I'm afraid. Apparently they routinely get bots to post on other peoples' coaching videos pretending to ask what people think of it whilst also saying they've heard it's really good. If it was so good, they wouldn't be using other peoples' work to market it in this underhand way would they?

[@tatjanadimitrijevic9359]

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[@AliHussein-kh1vc]

نرجو من صاحب القناة يكون الشرح بلغه العربيه

[@ericscottstevens]

Thailand's women soccer should have ran this versus the US. Despite thinking they were going to trade goals with the US should have thought defense first and stymie up the zone. Their coach let them down and surrendered 13 in humiliating form.

[@pathand8485]

Boring

[@winstong7438]

Great

[@user-xi4ln7ro2n]

good