Socccer Videos: Coaching the 4-2-3-1 (including E-Book)

Soccer Videos:

Discover How to Harness the Exciting 4-2-3-1 Formation and Replicate the Devastating Attacking Power of the World’s Most Successful Teams.

Wow! If you’ve been looking for a way to coach your team how to play the 4-2-3-1, you’ve just found it. Coaching the 4-2-3-1 is a special 12-part video series which provides a comprehensive tactical and training guide to this exciting formation. Utilized by Real Madrid, Chelsea and the most successful sides in the Euro 2012 tournament,  the 4-2-3-1’s flexibility and attacking power is fast becoming the formation of choice for leading coaches all over the world.

(Includes a FREE companion eBook with easy-to-read
descriptions and diagrams of what is shown in the videos.)

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In our profession you can’t afford to stand still. New tactics and formations are emerging all the time that seek to improve on existing setups and exploit the weaknesses of teams clinging on to old styles of play. The 4-2-3-1 is one such formation you need to know about. While relatively new, the 4-2-3-1 is rapidly replacing the traditional 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 as the formation of choice for leading teams all over the world.

The 4-2-3-1 has been harnessed by Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich to devastating effect to win their respective league championships and Chelsea to win the European Champions League thanks to its incredible flexibility and variety of attacking options. It’s no coincidence that three of the teams in the Euro 2012’s semifinals, Spain, Germany and Portugal, all play the 4-2-3-1.  Get instant access when you place your order and you can be watching these videos within minutes.

In the Coaching the 4-2-3-1 video series you will discover how to coach your teams in the tactics and techniques of this innovative formation. This includes attacking, counterattacking and transitions between 4-2-3-1 and other formations. From the insights and drills will gain from this video series you will discover how you can use it to improve your team’s flexibility, counter attacking ability and the number of goals you can get on the score sheet.

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“Discover how you can harness one of the most flexible formations in modern soccer”

The 4-2-3-1 is now widely used in the Spanish and French top divisions to counter attack and swamp opposition defenses. Whilst appearing defensive in setup, the formation is exceptionally flexible as it enables wide players and fullbacks to join attacks, creating more attacking options and better service to the lone striker.

The 4-2-3-1 can be described as a variation of the 4-3-3 but with more flexibility.  So it’s no surprise that coaches of all levels all over the world are moving from the 4-3-3 to the 4-2-3-1 including the master tactician Jose Mourinho who won the Spanish La Liga with Real Madrid beating Barcelona in the process and reached the semi finals of the Champions League with the 4-2-3-1.  He made this change after favoring the 4-3-3 when he was the manager at Chelsea and Inter Milan.  So if Mourinho has made the change, then you should definitely give it a look.

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But in order to play the 4-2-3-1 effectively, it’s key that your team is able to maintain possession, you’re able to control the midfield area and your fullbacks understand what their responsibilities are, both in attack and defense. In addition, you have different options in attack depending on whether you have a strong lone forward able to hold up the ball or a nimble striker able to latch onto balls and finish.

The Coaching the 4-2-3-1 video series shows you how to train your team in the formation’s mindset and how to develop the situational awareness and positioning your players will need to take advantage of arguably the most flexible formation in  modern soccer.

“Gain insights from a bestselling author of 12 coaching books and the Academy Director of a pro club that has won 7 National Championships in 2 years playing the 4-2-3-1”

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What’s covered in Coaching the 4-2-3-1

Coaching the 4-2-3-1 features was filmed at the Nebraska WORLD CLASS COACHING International Coaching Seminar.  The sessions have been edited into 12 separate videos that highlight specific aspects of coaching the 4-2-3-1. The first coaching session focuses on tactics whereas the second provides practical drills for counterattacking and transitions.

Coaching the 4-2-3-1 Attacking

Part 1 – Developing play from the back three ways using the 4-2-1 of the 4-2-3-1

Harrison begins the session by explaining how the 4-2-3-1 enables three ways for attacks to be built from the back. Using Real Madrid as his blueprint, Harrison demonstrates how to spread the defensive players out wide when in attack, how to practice changing shape to get the ball out and how to get the ball up the pitch quickly.

Part 2 – Working in the midfield area with 6, 8 & 10 as a lop-sided triangle

In this video, Harrison highlights the importance of positioning and how the opposition could try to counter a lop-sided triangle utilizing a 3v3 exercise.

Part 3 – Attacking between the opponents back four and midfield area focusing on the diamond of support and including the fullbacks

One of the 4-2-3-1’s great advantages is that the weight of numbers can force opposition defenses to fall back early and leave space for the offensive central midfield. This video demonstrates a possession drill for training players to get in the right positions, in particular the fullbacks that will need to be involved in attacks to swamp the opposition’s defense.

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Part 4 – An attacking phase of play playing in front of the opponents back four

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is renowned for his silky ball skills and for always working the opposition defenders. This video demonstrates how to work the wide player to disrupt the opposition’s back four by creating 2v1 situations.

Part 5 – An attacking phase of play playing in front of the opponent’s back four with fullbacks added

In this video Harrison demonstrates how to create good positions around the box for feeding the ball to the central forward. This includes harnessing fullbacks for added flexibility and less predictability and exploiting space with triangles of support.

Part 6 – 11v0 shadow play to teach four distinct phases of play

The final attacking video summaries the different phases that a 4-2-3-1 enables and how teams can smoothly transition into a 4-3-3.

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Harrison with the National Championships he won while the Academy Director at Al Ain, one of the top pro clubs in the Middle East.

Coaching the 4-2-3-1 Counter-Attacking and Transition

Part 1 – Quick passing and attacking with width with the positional shape of 4-2-3-1

The second series of videos moves away from tactics to focus on drills for developing rapid play. The first drill can be used as a warm-up session in which the focus is on getting the ball to the striker quickly through swift counter attacking. Players will also learn how to spread wide and take advantage of the additional numbers in attack.

Part 2 – Solo running with the ball from midfield

Real Madrid’s Ronaldo is again used as the perfect example for how midfielders in the 4-2-3-1 can pick the ball up from deep. This drill aims to train players to run with the ball out wide. Harrison adds two more defenders to create a 4v4 situation to demonstrate how the numbers can be changed to suit the level of your players and how much you want to push them.

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Part 3 – 5v5 to 5v2 counter attacking

Players must maintain possession in this drill in a tighter area. The ball is played from the middle to speed up the rotation from attack to defense, in a drill that is as much a test of stamina as it is technique.

Part 4 – Quick transition  attacks

The whole pitch is now used with the emphasis on distribution to the wide players in a 4-2-3-1 to enable fast counter attacks. Harrison imposes a two touch limit, which can be adjusted to suit the level of your own players.

Part 5 – Direct attacking from back to front and regain possession in the attacking third

Players now need to drop further back to begin the counter attack. This approach replicates Barcelona’s high pressing game where they always try to win the ball higher up the pitch and in dangerous attacking positions.

Part 6 – Organize the 4-2-3-1 shape to 3-1-3-3 or 2-3-2-3

One of the biggest benefits of the 4-2-3-1 is its flexibility. Harrison finishes the session by highlighting how the number six can be utilized to rapidly change the team’s shape along with fullbacks pushing up the pitch and wide players tucking in.

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What you will gain from Coaching the 4-2-3-1

Wayne Harrison’s academy teams have won 7 national championships in 2 years playing the 4-2-3-1; it’s no coincidence that Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have all won their respective league championships with the same formation. Its adoption is increasing all over the world as teams abandon traditional 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 for the greater flexibility and superior attacking options of the 4-2-3-1.

In this video series you gain two complete coaching sessions in which Harrison demonstrates how he trains teams in the tactics and techniques needed to play 4-2-3-1 effectively.

From Coaching the 4-2-3-1 you will gain:

• A deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities of players in the 4-2-3-1
• How to utilize attacking flankers and wide players to swamp the opposition’s defense and exploit the area between their defense and midfield
• How to utilize a strong forward to hold up the ball or whether to use a nimble forward to run onto passes
• How to develop attacks from the back and to get the ball to your forwards as quickly as possible
• Your players will develop both a deeper tactical and technical understanding of how to play in a 4-2-3-1 and where to play the ball in a variety of scenarios utilsiing this formation
• Your players will enjoy the challenge of playing a formation favoured by the world’s top sides to win league titles and cup tournaments
• The drills are excellent tests of stamina and will improve yours players’ fitness
• Your teams will know how to play the 4-2-3-1 effectively and how to transition from a 4-3-3 quickly

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In these videos Harrison explains how you can progress the drills to suit your players’ skill level or to increase the challenge. This enables the drills to be used to coach youth teams, college squads and players at an elite level in the exceptional flexibility and attacking prowess of the 4-2-3-1.