A grassroots football coaching publication

7v7 · Issue 02 · Chapter 2 · Principle four of four

Don't leave nine alone

Give our striker somebody to play with. One midfielder moves near enough to link with the striker, with another option behind and the defenders connected.

Fig. 4 · Don't leave nine alone7v7 · 3-2-1
If both midfielders stay deep, our striker can end up too far away to combine.Number 9 is alone near the opposition half while both midfielders, 11 and 7, remain much deeper, leaving a large distance for a pass into the forward.GK3521179TOO FAR

✕ WrongIf both midfielders stay deep, our striker can end up too far away to combine.

7 joins the attack to support 9; 11 stays available for the next pass and our back three remain connected.Number 7 arrives in a supporting position close enough to striker 9 to combine, while number 11 provides a shorter central passing option. The back three stay connected rather than all advancing with the attack.117GK3521179SUPPORT

✓ Right7 joins the attack to support 9; 11 stays available for the next pass and our back three remain connected.

How We Play illustration based on reviewed guidance. Pictures show ideas, not fixed moves.
Key
  • Us
  • Them
  • Ball
  • Gap
  • Run
  • Pass
  • Started here
  • Key space

Say it on the touchline

Who's close enough to help nine?

Sometimes our nine shows for the ball, sometimes they stretch the pitch. The team should offer support in either picture.

✓ Coaching reviewed · 22 October 2026

Written by Niall Walsh, grassroots football coach and founder of How We Play. Coaching reviewed by David Wilson on 22 October 2026.

What to look for

  1. Check whether our striker is too far from both midfielders to combine.
  2. One midfielder can move to support while the other remains a short or safe passing option.
  3. Players behind the ball keep enough balance to respond if possession is lost.

Positions that use this rule

  1. 11 · 7The two midfieldersDifferent angles, together
  2. 9StrikerShow short or stretch the pitch