How to Coach a Flat Back Four in Soccer

The flat back four is the most popular defense in world soccer. Almost every country in the 2006 World Cup utilized a flat back four or a variation of it. It is a defensive formation based on zonal defending principles, and it allows for maximum coverage of the width of the field, while also allowing defenders to contribute to the attack.

Things You'll Need

  • Cones
  • Balls
  • Pinnies
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Instructions

  1. How to Coach a Flat Back Four in Soccer

    • 1

      Coach the shape of the defense according to where the ball is on the field. This means that the shape changes whether the ball is in the middle, or on the wings. Have two sets of 4 cones 20 yards apart. Have players on each cone, four cones in a line facing another four cones in a line at the opposite end. One end player starts with the ball, and dribbles forward one or two yards, and passes the ball to the next player in the line, who continues the process until all four players in the line have touched the ball, at which point they pass to the opposite end. Meanwhile, the defending players will use pressure cover and balance principles to position themselves according to the position of the ball. The first defender will pressure, although not attempt to win the ball, and the other players will cover behind, making sure that each subsequent player in the line is covering the player next to them that is nearest to the ball.

    • 2

      Play 4v4 line soccer. the attacking team must dribble the ball across the opposite endline in order to score. This provides ample opportunity for the defending team to work on defensive shape in a flat back four. It also works on the idea of the attacking team recovering into defensive positions quickly if the ball is lost.

    • 3

      Play an 8v8 conditioned game. Split the field into two halves, and play 4v3 in each half. This consists of four defenders against three attackers. This will provide competition enough to demand the proper defensive shapes in the flat back four set up, while also retaining the chance of success for the defense.

    • 4

      Go through the defensive positions of the flat back four in relation to the areas of the field that the ball might be in with an 11v0 shadow game. Emphasize that the flat back four must move left, right, up and down the field as a unit in relation to the movement of the ball.

    • 5

      Play an 11v11 scrimmage with both teams playing a flat back four. This will enable the players to see how the system operates in the over scheme of the formation being used, whether the formation is a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2, or even a 4-5-1.