Drills to Build the Dynamic 4-1-4-1 Formation

Butch Lauffer teaches the dynamic and adaptable 4-1-4-1 formation using a whole-part-whole teaching method.

By incorporating the 4-1-4-1, you will gain more flexibility of the shape. The 4-1-4-1 also allows you to play with a holding midfielder, which gives your midfield players more freedom to play between the lines.

Before each on-field demonstration Lauffer gives an in-depth, computer animated explanation illustrating the tactics, soccer principles and key coaching points that should be employed with the 4-1-4-1.

Coach Lauffer begins by distinguishing between the roles and responsibilities of the two most important positions in this formation: the holding midfielder and the striker. The holding midfielder acts as a windshield wiper that runs back and forth applying defensive pressure in front of the defensive line by shielding and intercepting passes. The lone striker needs to be strong and mobile and be able to hold the ball until supporting players build an attack from the midfield and fullback positions.

Defensively, Lauffer illustrates the 4-1-4-1's flexibility in matching up against the most common formations, the 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 3-5-2. He follows with an on-field demonstration against a 4-4-2 with athletes. Lauffer implements the 4-1-4-1 with three drills that focus on the movements and responsibilities of the back line, midfield line and strikers. He ends the defensive segment by covering defensive tactics and responsibilities for the team as a whole.

Offensively, Lauffer illustrates how simple it is for the 4-1-4-1 to be adjusted to a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 depending on game situations. Along with its adaptability, another attacking advantage of the 4-1-4-1 is the space it creates for supporting players to make deep, penetrating runs between and behind the defense. Additionally, Lauffer presents a drill he uses for the central players to increase their vision and awareness in order to better utilize the up-back-through passing pattern and movement off of the ball.

Finally, he brings it back to the whole picture again and identifies ideal scenarios that should be developed in a game, like creating 2v1 opportunities in wide areas with overlapping runs and attacking from deep positions.

82 minutes. 2010.