U13 team having difficulty with 4-2-3-1

U13 boys club team first season at 11v11 and the club has us using a 4-2-3-1. It has been a very difficult transition for the team. Outscored 13-1 in the 3 games this season. We struggle completing passes (inaccurate passes) and keeping possession. We consistently look overmatched against teams we were beating last season (in 9v9).

Insight, tips, drills, suggestions, experience of any and all kind appreciated. I'm struggling to figure out where to start.

Top replies, most upvoted first

• (+14) It’s never the formation. It’s what came before 11v11 - how did they learn to play? Was it boot and chase? Did they work on possession in 7v7 and 9v9? 12 year olds in 11v11 on the big field is a huge adjustment - it’s why the rest of the world is starting to delay that transition for at least another year. Keep working the fundamentals of pass, scan, receive, and move.
• (+3) 4231 struggles against teams that build through the middle from my experience. I don't think you should be locked to one formation at the 11v11
• (+2) The change to 11v11 is difficult, and I found quite a few of our local teams moved to 11v11 the spring of U12 - so had an advantage in the fall at U13 (I did something similar with putting my team in a end of U12 tourney at U13 so they could get a headstart). I would suggest it may be less of a formation issue than you think. It's best to play a formation that fits the players best - unless its a school team or a feeder team for a higher level club that mandates specific formations. In this case, they may just need more time. I play a 4-2-3-1 with my U13/14 girls - it fits them best, and...
• (+2) This is not an uncommon frustration for coaches in my area at U13. The coaches that coach building out from the back at U11 and U12 and possession oriented play at 9v9 tend to have the most success during the transition to 11v11 at U13. You may want to look a formation that's a little more simple...or unclog the middle of the field a bit.
• (+2) Since you're not sure where to start, it might help to go back through the 13 goals and sort them by how each one began. The jump to 11v11 tends to produce a few kinds of goal that were less common at 9v9, and each one needs a different fix. One is the ball over the top into all the new space behind the back four. A slightly deeper line and a keeper who starts further off the goal line, ready to sweep, usually help there. Another is the shot from distance, because the goal is now the full 8 by 24 feet and a 12 or 13 year old keeper hasn't grown into it yet. The third is turnovers in the...
• (+2) For defense, have the team contract into a narrow block that is centered on the point of the attack.Make them play through you or switch the field. Everyone defends in the block except the target forward who should be seeking space. The weak side fullbacks and wingers watch for the switching balls. If your problem is missed or over tackles, practice 1-on-1 marking drills mark until the dribbler makes a loose touch, then have them poke the ball away. This makes your team very hard to break down. In attack, if your kids don’t have ball skills yet, play it long and counter or move the ball up...
• (+2) It's not the formation or the fundamentals that you should look at first. It's the athleticism and composure. A misplaced pass that can be reached and managed on a smaller field might be outside of the range on an 11v11 field. Passes that slip through a 9v9 midfield run into interceptions on a 11v11 midfield. At 11v11, kids need a lot more composure and patience. Patience to not force passes, just to make passes. Patience to wait for the right passing lane and if it doesn't open to play it back. Patience to maintain their dribble while their teammates gets open. And then they need the...
• (+2) I’m going to be honest I tried a 4231 but then moved over to a 433 with the lowest level team. Every practice I do technical ball work and then we get into whatever I want to work on that week, making it game scenario. You could play any formation in the world, but like others said if they don’t understand the fundamentals it won’t matter. I would worry less about the formation and more on passing and moving, defending as a unit, possession and building out the back. I feel like as coaches we like to get too drawn into the tactical side and while still important, for U13s it’s more about...
• (+2) Id say you need to address the team shape and organization first if you are giving away that many goals. Look at something like Arrigo Sacchi coaching the 4-4-2 and adjust it to a ACM and FWD and give them and idea of how to move together off the ball. You can always build possession patterns/combinations in the same framework.
• (+1) I’d consider maybe a 3-2-3-2. 4-2-3-1 is very defensive and if your wings and attacking mids arent getting all the way up to attack you are going to struggle to score. 3-2-3-2 gives you natural triangles and 2 up high
• (+1) Pivots and width. The double pivots is difficult and requires very strong players and then since they are comfortable with the fullback roles already you are almost there. Positional rondos, if you don’t have the numbers keep your core and put them under high intensity. 9 ( 4-2-2) v 4 defenders. Obviously the closer to 11 the better but I know that’s not always a reality. This gives you a chance to coach the double pivot piece of those midfielders, primarily positionally and then to coach the switches and that wide players/runs. Good luck!
• (+1) Lots of passing and moving activities. We spend a lot of time on technical skills, passing and receiving properly, body shape, first touch, scanning, play simple and quick. There’s no magical drill that overcomes weak technical skills. Fitness is important too, so people are in the right spots when they need to be for 70 minutes