The 3-3-3-1-1 system provides for a lot of strength down the middle of the field as the diagram shows.  But, the real benefit of the system is that it allows a team to choose to be an attacking team for part of a game and or choose to be a defensive team in other parts of the game.

Attacking Play

The attack is based on good position play and the speed of the ball moving into the attacking half of the field.

The attack usually starts in our own half of the field, so the primary object of our Defenders and the Sweeper is to hit the ball wide to a winger or a Link.  Hitting the ball into the middle of the field is to be strongly discouraged because losing possession in our own half in the middle of the field will always give the opponent a very good attacking opportunity. So, HIT THE BALL OUT WIDE TOWARDS THE SIDELINE. 

The first task of the Links is to pass the ball quickly to the Forwards, preferably the wings, again stressing that we must attack down the sidelines.  A pass to the centre Forward near the 25-yard area is a very good pass to make as well.  If the Links cannot make a pass to one of the Forwards, the next option is a square pass to one of the other Links.  Finally, the Links must not try to run with the ball often. 

The two wingers have to STAY OUT WIDE NEAR THE SIDELINES as nearly all of our attacking passes are to be made out wide.  The wingers have to learn to be patient and be disciplined in their positioning.  When the winger receives a pass there are three options, (i) a cross pass to the centre Forward, (ii) a backward square pass to the closest Link and (iii) run with ball towards the opponent's goal. 

The Centre Forward will lead for passes from the wingers and will always get into the circle to take a shot on goal or to get a rebound.  The Centre Forward must be very aggressive about scoring goals and must try very hard even if the situation looks desperate.

Defensive Play

The three Forwards will apply full-court pressure on the ball even it is deep in the opponent's half. They must always harass the ball carrier and try to make a tackle.  Also, they must come back into our own half and face the ball whenever possible especially on free hits against us.

The Links will also apply full-court pressure on the ball carrier once the opponent has gone past our forwards.  Secondly, the links will come back well into our half and cover the opponent's mid-field players if they have created a successful attack into our half.

The two outside defenders pressure the opponent's wing forwards whenever the other team obtains possession of the ball.  Remember the ball could be fifty metres away but you must cover your winger.

The centre defender will cover the central area of the field where the opponent's centre forward could receive a pass whenever the other team gets the ball.

The Sweeper will intercept passes made by the opponent's forwards and will tackle any forward who has broken away from our defenders. The Sweeper must read the play properly and be very aggressive in intercepting the forwards or their passes.

When a defender has been beaten and the sweeper is coming up to tackle, the defender must sprint back to cover the space behind the sweeper.

The Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper does not only stop shots on goal but makes a contribution by:

• making clearance kicks out to the side-lines and not into the middle of the field
• calling out to the defenders and sweeper if any of the opponent's forwards are open