Formations

A team’s formation is the combination of its positional structures in all positional areas. It provides the structural basis of the team’s playing system.

Naming Formations

Formations are typically named with reference to the number of playing positions included in each of the following groups:

  • The defender playing positions.
  • The defensive midfielder playing positions.
  • The centre midfielder and wide midfielder playing positions.
  • The attacking midfielder and wing forward playing positions (if the attacking midfielder playing position is used).
  • The centre forward playing positions (if the attacking midfielder playing position is used).
  • The centre forward and wing forward playing positions (if the attacking midfielder playing position is not used).

The goalkeeper playing position is ignored because it is a requirement of all formations.

For example, a formation that includes two centre back, two full back, two centre midfielder, two wing midfielder and two centre forward playing positions can be referred to as a 4-4-2 formation.

Types of Formation

Formations can be grouped according to the number of defender, midfielder and attacker playing positions that are used. For example, a formation that uses four defender, three midfielder and three attacker playing positions can be considered to be a type of 4-3-3 formation.

As detailed in the Positional Structures guide, the number of playing positions typically used in each of defence, midfield and attack is:

  • Defence – 3 to 4
  • Midfield – 2 to 5
  • Attack – 1 to 4

Using these numbers, types of formation can include:

  • 4-5-1
  • 4-4-2
  • 4-3-3
  • 4-2-4
  • 3-5-2
  • 3-4-3
  • 3-3-4

However, when attacking structures and responsibility distribution are taken into account, the use of 3-3-4 formations can make it difficult to achieve tactical balance. Therefore, such formations are not typically used.

Attacking and Defensive Formations

An attacking formation is a formation that includes relatively more advanced playing positions and relatively fewer deep playing positions, while a defensive formation is a formation that includes relatively more deep playing positions and relatively fewer advanced playing positions.

The extent to which a formation is attacking or defensive can be assessed by calculating its ‘formation score‘. This can be done by summing the following playing position scores for each playing position included in the formation and then dividing the result by 3.75.

  • 1.00 – centre forwards.
  • 0.75 – attacking midfielders and wing forwards.
  • 0.50 – centre midfielders and wing midfielders.
  • 0.25 – defensive midfielders and wing backs.

3.75 is chosen as the divisor because it gives a score of 1.00 for formations that are considered to be neither particularly attacking nor particularly defensive, such as 4-4-1-1 (with no defensive midfielders) and 4-1-2-3.

The further above 1.00 a formation score is the more attacking the formation is, while the further below 1.00 a formation score is the more defensive the formation is.

Choice of Formation

All of the types of formation listed above (except 3-3-4) can provide a good structural basis for a team’s playing system, regardless of the system specialisation level, system fluidity level, mentality systems and playing style it intends to implement.

However, a team’s choice of formation does have a significant effect on the way its playing system operates, especially in the defensive phases and during its attacking transition.

In addition, a team’s choice of formation has a large bearing on its attacking structures, as explained in the Attacking Structures guide.

Defensive Phases

In the defensive phases a team’s formation affects which positional areas its pressing intensity and marking coverage in particular are more concentrated in.

Using a more attacking formation results in a team’s pressing intensity and marking coverage being more concentrated in more advanced positional areas. Therefore, more players are involved when the team is closing down or sitting off, and man marking or zonal marking, opposition team players who play in deeper positional areas. This makes it more difficult for the opposition team’s deeper players to cycle possession among themselves or move the ball to their more advanced teammates. However, it makes it easier for the opposition team’s more advanced players to stretch play and create chances.

Using a more defensive formation results in a team’s pressing intensity and marking coverage being more concentrated in deeper positional areas. Therefore, more players are involved when the team is closing down or sitting off, and man marking or zonal marking, opposition team players who play in more advanced positional areas. This makes it easier for the opposition team’s deeper players to cycle possession among themselves or move the ball to their more advanced teammates. However, it makes it more difficult for the opposition team’s more advanced players to stretch play and create chances.

Attacking Transition

During a team’s attacking transition the number of playing positions it uses in a particular positional area is particularly important if it wants to focus play to a greater extent into that positional area. The more playing positions there are in a positional area, the more effectively attacking support can be provided in that positional area during the team’s attacking transition.

For example:

  • A team that focuses play to a particular flank typically uses a wide partnership on that flank.