11-P13 · Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11
Compress the Midfield to Win Possession
This advanced lead practice develops the midfield three’s ability to regain possession centrally in a 433.
Formation
4-3-3 formation drills. Width up front. A midfield three.
The 4-3-3 is four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards: two wide forwards either side of a central striker. These practices are tagged for the 4-3-3 in the Touchtight Club library, each with the setup and key coaching points.
Touchtight Club has 285 practices for this page (as of October 2026). Below: 5 with a free full video and 34 practice outlines.
Age
Topic
Formation4-3-3
Practices
4-3-3 drills and practices
39 of 39 shown
51-P13 · Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11
Possession Rondos (433)
This advanced lead practice is designed to enhance your team's ability to maintain possession in a 4-3-3 formation.
88-P14 · 11 v 11
Press to Win Possession (11 v 11)
Develop your team’s ability to press aggressively and win the ball in dangerous areas with this full-pitch 11v11 game.
80-P4 · Technical practice
Penetrating Passes Between the Lines
Develop your team’s ability to break lines with purpose in this technical attacking practice focused on penetrating passes and intelligent.
68-P5 · Skill practice
Exploit the Overload to Finish
This attacking practice develops a team’s ability to recognise and exploit overloads to create clear finishing opportunities.
66-P6 · Small-sided game
3rd Man Breakout Runs-SSG
Unlock the attacking potential of your team with this SSG, designed to create and exploit space behind defensive lines through 3rd man runs.
66-P8 · Wave of play
3rd Man Run Attacking Play
Unlock attacking creativity with this third-man run wave practice, designed to develop technical patterns that break defensive lines.
48-P12 · Pattern of play
3rd Man Runs in Behind
This pattern of play develops fullbacks making third-man runs to break in behind the defence, starting from the midfield.
61-P11 · Opposed practice
4 v 4 + 3 Possession Transfer Rondo
This practice reinforces key principles of the 433 formation, focusing on controlled build-up play and quick transitions.
31-P10 · Phase of play
Beat The Press to Attack (433)
This phase of play practice focuses on breaking through a press with structured build-up play and quick combinations to finish.
02-P4 · Technical practice
Counter Attacking: Technical
Practice 4 of theme 2 is played in a 30 by 30 yard square, with a GK at each end and 2 groups of players at the side of each goal..
27-P13 · Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11
Defend and Break out to Counter
This practice focuses on developing defensive organisation and quick counters after turnovers of possession.
78-P10 · Phase of play
Defend as a Back 4-Phase of Play
This practice challenges the back four to work as a unit, limiting space and forcing play into less dangerous areas.
78-P7 · Pattern of play
Defend as a Compact Back 4
This practice sharpens our back 4's defensive organisation, teaching players to stay tight, shift as a unit, and force play wide.
78-P3 · Skill practice
Defend the Edge of the Box (Back 4)
This defensive practice challenges your team to maintain organisation in the final third while facing an attacking front four.
69-P10 · Phase of play
Defending as a Midfield Three
This phase of play sharpens the defensive awareness of a midfield three, focusing on staying compact and protecting central spaces.
10-P1 · Rondo
Defensive Pressure: Rondo Based
This 7 v 2 rondo is aimed at recognising moments to press as a pair.
51-P8 · Wave of play
False 9 Link Up Play to Attack
This wave practice develops the false 9’s ability to link play in the final third and combine with wingers to attack at speed.
57-P9 · Functional practice
FB's Creating and Exploiting Wide Overloads
This practice challenges your full back's to recognise when to drive forward, overlap, or underlap based on available space.
46-P6 · Small-sided game
Final Third Game-The City Way
This small-sided game has a 5 v 4 outfield attacking overload and is focused on penetrating passes in the final 3rd, linked to The City Way
50-P5 · Small-sided game
Finishing Game & Switching Play
This SSG takes place in a 25 by 35-yard area and focuses on developing players decision making in possession and ability to finish.
10-P11 · Medium-sided game
High Press to Win Possession
This medium sided game takes place on half of a pitch and develops attackers ability to press high and win possession in the final 3rd.
25-P8 · Wave of play
High Press Wave Game
This wave practice takes place in a 20 by 25-yard area and focuses on developing teams ability to press as a unit, win possession & counter.
80-P9 · Functional practice
How to Penetrate the Low Block
Looking to break through a low block? This practice helps teams craft creative solutions to unlock compact defences & create opportunities.
89-P7 · Pattern of play
Midfield Shape to Stop Penetration (CDM)
This practice takes place in a 24 by 30-yard area and focuses on developing a compact midfield to stop penetrating passes.
82-P1 · Technical practice
Movement in Behind to Finish
This practice takes place in a 40 by 45-yard area and focuses on developing passing combinations to create opportunities to finish.
02-P5 · Opposed practice
Overload Skill: Counter Attacking
With a 30 x 30 yard area in which to work, as well as a 15 x 15 area at the top of the pitch for players to keep possession.
46-P9 · Functional practice
Overloads in Advanced Areas
This Functional practice illustrates how players can develop and use attacking overloads to break down opposition defences.
87-P3 · Technical practice
Passing in a Diamond
This technical practice takes place in a 20 by 20-yard area and focuses on developing passing when playing in a diamond setup.
43-P8 · Wave of play
Playing through the Thirds
This practice is a small sided game that focuses on developing players ability to progress through the thirds of the field.
87-P8 · Opposed practice
Possession in a Diamond Setup
Take your team's possession play to the next level with this dynamic diamond-shaped drill!
89-P12 · Lead-in to 11 v 11
Protect the Back Line-CDM
Develop your central defensive midfielder’s ability to block forward passes and transition effectively in this breakout possession practice.
37-P9 · Functional practice
Quick Transitions to Defend
This functional practice takes place in a full half of a pitch and focuses on developing quick defensive transitions.
43-P6 · Small-sided game
Support The Attack! (SSG)
This SSG takes place in a 25 by 35-yard area and focuses on developing players penetrating passing & movement to support the attack.
01-P4 · Technical practice
Technical Passing: Attacking Centrally
Practice 4 of theme 1 Attacking Centrally, is a technical passing practice that develops player combinations to finish.
83-P4 · Technical practice
Technical Switches of Play
This technical practice is focused on switching play and challenges player's timing of movement, and ability to execute that long diagonal.
78-P4 · Skill practice
The Compact Back 4 Unit
Keep your defensive unit compact and organised in this practice designed to limit gaps and prevent the attackers from playing through.
48-P3 · Technical practice
Third Man Run Combination Play
This Technical passing soccer drill is focused on developing third-man runs and challenges players to time their forward runs & passes well
11-P12 · Lead-in to 11 v 11
Win Possession Centrally and Counter
Train your midfielders to regain, scan, and strike fast in this high-intensity transition practice built for game-changing counter-attacks.
These are 39 of the 285 practices in Club for this page. Start a free trial to see them all ↗
Coaching it
How to get more from these practices.
What the shape gives you
Wide forwards and full-backs stretch the pitch, and the midfield three forms a triangle that gives the player on the ball several passing options.
What to coach
Spacing between the lines, the movement of the wide forwards inside and outside, and how the midfield three supports the ball and covers behind it.
Out of possession
The front three set the first line of the press, so coach them to press together with the midfield three close behind to keep the team compact.
Questions
What coaches ask.
- What is the 4-3-3 formation?
- The 4-3-3 is a formation with four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, plus the goalkeeper. The forwards are usually two wide players and a central striker.
- Which age group should use the 4-3-3?
- Formations like this are 11 v 11 shapes. Most leagues move to 11-a-side at U13 or U14 (U14 in England from 2026/27, U13 under U.S. Soccer formats), and younger teams use smaller-sided shapes. Check your league’s rules for your age group.
- Are these practices free?
- The practice outlines on this page are free to read, with the setup and key coaching points for each practice. The full coaching videos, progressions and player questions are in the Touchtight Club library, which you can try free for 14 days (card required).