Mar 10 2025 68 mins 3
Episode 113,
Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek)
Episode 113 - Formations and Playing Positions, a conversation with Ray Power
Football formations mystify many coaches – are they essential blueprints or merely starting points for something more fluid? Ray Power, Head of Football at Bangladesh's National Academy (BKSP), masterfully deconstructs this question through the lens of both elite and grassroots football development.
Power introduces the refreshing concept of a "base formation" as simply your team's home – a familiar structure players return to when uncertain, rather than a rigid tactical straightjacket. This perspective immediately transforms how coaches might approach formations with their teams. "Your formation is like home," Power explains. "When you're struggling or not quite sure what to do next, you have home base."
The conversation illuminates crucial distinctions between formations and playing styles, using the example of Mourinho's Chelsea and Guardiola's Barcelona both using 4-3-3 formations but producing dramatically different football. This reveals why cookie-cutter approaches to tactical systems inevitably fall short – each team's unique player attributes create entirely different dynamics within the same numerical structure.
For youth coaches transitioning players to 11-a-side football, Power offers particularly valuable insights. Rather than being wedded to a single formation, he advocates cycling players through multiple tactical approaches throughout their development journey. This builds more versatile footballers with broader tactical understanding – like Michael Carrick who surprisingly admitted never playing center-back despite his physical and technical suitability for the position.
Power's analysis of in-game formation changes reveals the psychological component often overlooked in tactical discussions. When players are comfortable with multiple formations, they adjust more seamlessly during matches without the anxiety that typically accompanies positional shifts. This psychological comfort allows teams to adapt to opposition threats or exploit emerging opportunities with confidence.
Whether you're a grassroots coach seeking to navigate the complexities of formations or an experienced tactician looking for fresh perspectives, Ray's practical wisdom and accessible approach make this episode an essential tactical masterclass. By understanding formations as dynamic frameworks rather than rigid systems, coaches at all levels can develop more adaptable, tactically intelligent players ready for football's ever-evolving demands.
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Ray Power - @power_ray
Formations and Player Positions Webinar - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/raypowercoacheducation/1480696
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This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.
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