The Coaches' Room
9v9U12In Possession

Should an U13 number 6 ever drop between the centre-backs?

Asked by AfterWorkCoach
1565 views 2 replies
I see it in academy games and our deepest midfielder naturally does it when the centre-backs split. Sometimes it creates a nice three, other times it just leaves nobody in midfield. Is that a useful rotation to teach at 9v9 or unnecessary complexity?

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VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA B Coach

9v9 tactical • player development

Why don't we show coach names?
It can be a useful rotation, but I would not teach it as something the 6 should always do. If the centre-backs split and the opposition have left a player free to receive between them, the 6 dropping can create a useful overload. The question is what happens to midfield after they leave it. If nobody moves into that space, you may have four players building in your own third and nobody to connect with ahead. I’d train the picture by letting the 6 choose whether to drop or stay, then review what each decision created. At U13, players are ready to explore these relationships. I just would not copy a movement because it appears in academy or professional football. The rotation is useful when it solves the pressure in front of your players. If it creates a new problem, they need another answer.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 2 replies

D

DadOnTheSide7

Assistant Coach

If the 6 drops every time, opponents just leave them there and mark the other two midfielders. It needs to be a choice.
C

ColdMorning82

Coach

We let the 6 drop if it creates a spare, but somebody has to fill the next midfield space. The movement is not the problem; the empty middle is.