9v9 2-3-2-1 lineup sheet

The 9v9 2-3-2-1 formation

The 2-3-2-1 stacks nine-a-side players in a tree: two defenders, three midfielders, two attacking midfielders and one striker. The pair behind the striker play in the pockets between the opponent's lines.

Strengths

• Two attacking midfielders close to the striker for quick combinations
• Layers of players make passing forward easy
• Compact through the middle

Weaknesses

• Narrow at the top of the pitch
• Only two true defenders at the back

Best for

Technical teams with clever attacking midfielders rather than out-and-out wingers.

Coaching tip

Let the wide players in the midfield three provide the width so the attacking pair can stay inside.

Positions in a 9v9 2-3-2-1

The lineup sheet has a box for each of these 9 positions in every quarter: Goalkeeper, Left Back, Right Back, Left Mid, Center Mid, Right Mid, Left Attacking Mid, Right Attacking Mid, Striker.

Other 9v9 formations

Want it filled in for you?

The free SOXY app does the parts a web page cannot. It keeps your roster, knows which players have said they are coming, and fills all four quarters so playing time comes out even. It rotates the goalkeeper, lets you drag players between positions, saves a lineup for every game, and prints this same sheet with the field, both coaches and the referees already on it.