WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
The following presentation is designed to
simplify all the potential Patterns of Play of
young players at 8 v 8.
This is done by showing a two player rotation
per slide.
Eventually we will show several movements
but coaches need to build up to these slowly
and with patience.
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
 Patterns of Play are designed to be practiced to
help players identify common situations in the
game itself.
 When these situations occur the players involved
will think about the movements within a pattern of
play (that they practiced in training) and will reenact them in the game.
 Our goal is to make this an unconscious decision
where the players don’t even have to think about it;
they just do it naturally / instinctively.
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
Phase One
3-3-1
3
1
6
11
10
2
9
Zone
14
7
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
Using Cones as reference points for team shape defensively then team shape offensively. This is the team
shape start position of a 3-3-1 Double Diamond
3
Phase Two
1
3-1-3
11
9
6
10
2
Zone 14
7
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
Attacking shape is now a 3-1-3.
Zone 14 is the area between the opponents back players and their midfield.
Phase
Three
3
1-3-3
11
1
6
10
9
7
2
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
This is the attacking team shape now a 1-3-3. The attacking team shape we change to when we are chasing a
game; perhaps losing 1-0 and wanting to be more positive in attack. So this now would be the start position.
 The previous slides show simple and distinctive
patterns of play for the team to follow; from a
basic defending shape; to a basic attacking shape.
 The Third slide shows a more advanced pattern of
play for the attacking phase.
 The next slides break down these Patterns of Play
to smaller numbers involved to create an idea
that could easily become an instinctive
movement between two players.
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013
 Next we have a very simple “unit” pattern of play
involving our 2 wide players working together and
creating space for each other on one side of the
field.
 (3) knows when (11) cuts inside that is the “cue” for
(3) to overlap; call it a “condition” if you like.
 Likewise with (2) and (7) on the other side.
 This encourages / conditions our Fullbacks (2) and
(3) to attack.
 This is a “two player rotation”
WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness (c)2013