Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 138

Hello! Hope you've had another fulfilling week of coaching.

In this issue, our consultant coach Carl Wild is back with another deep dive into a seven-a-side formation. 

This time, it’s the 2-2-2 and, as usual, he explores the pros and cons of the formation, from both an in-possession and out-of-possession perspective.

Carl then goes through the positions, what roles each player is required to carry out for this particular shape to work, and the skills that may need to be coached.

Rather than looking at formations through the lens of 'what is more likely to get results?', this is all explored through the angle of player development.

As part of it, Carl reflects on what formations can teach your players – both about the game as a whole and about themselves as individuals.

We're on to the third formation guide in the series - the other two appeared in our November 24 and December 22 magazines, which can be accessed from the issue library on our website.

I’m looking forward to reading Carl's formation guides across the formats in future issues.

The three-part session this week is from Mark Patterson, academy manager at Leyton Orient.

Mark, who has previously worked with Gillingham and Northern Ireland U21s, looks at passing with a purpose.

The session encourages players to be adventurous and pass forward while also working on movement to receive and creating angles.