BRAZILIAN FORMATION THEORY
Important information:
1) The logic of football functionality can best be described via formations (ex. Triangular play, diamond play, square/right angle play, etc.)
2) Football based on style as starting point = formation football (Dr. Ferenc Kovács: Formation or system, 1945)
3) Objective while attacking:
– the build up and breakdown of the formational network = ATTACK CREATION (CONSTRUCTION)
4) What is the principle of play organization based on formation?
– formation build up – breakdown
5) What is the objective of the formation function?
– Establishing a decisive advantage at a decisive moment, at a decisive place! (Gyula Szűcs: Attacking play in football, 1961)
6) The player positions himself with respect to the ball, and NOT to the position/post assigned by the system of play.
Why?
„3:3 play is a a component of teamwork which contains almost all of the opportunities in teamwork. Within the framework of a given action, essentially, at the most, THREE players participate:
1) the one who possesses the ball, ie. who passes the ball, (named: A1 ie. primary attacker)
2) the one who receives the ball, (named: A2 ie. secondary attacker)
3) the one who will receive the ball. (named: A3 ie. third attacker)
The „roles” do change and the situation does not change, even if a new player gets involved in this circle, for until that time he was not involved.” (János Páder: Playing Basketball, 1981)
obs: the thought process above is valid also for defenders ie. In other words
- D1: primary defender
- D2: secondary defender
- D3: third defender
The previous thought process in detail:
In Brazil, during the course of play, the players are taught three role scenarios.
– Primary attacker’s role (Symbol: A1): who possesses the ball.
– Secondary attacker’s role (Symbol: A2): he who is closest to A1. This could be more than one player too.
– Third attacker’s role (Symbol: A3): he who is closest to A2.
The designated players (A1, A2, A3) position themselves diagonally with respect to each other !!
Because of the Brazilian concept of play, and for the purpose of better understanding, we introduce here the concept of „role of fourth attacker” (Symbol: A4).
Who is A4?
- The player who is responsible for breaking through the defense on the wing, and initiates the attack from deep back. This is usually the left or right back. („B” passing)
- Or, the player who outside of the formation, drives into, or moves back from a deep position. („A” passing)
According to the Brazilian concept, the player, while attacking, must know three roles, the A1, A2 and the A3 role or function. We expanded this by including the A4 role scenario.
Designations with respect to A1:
How does the formation build up and breakdown play work?
The player passing the ball (A1), after making the pass, immediately positions to DIAGONALLY attacking mode. The others players move to a pass receiving or pass giving position.
The Brazilians organize their defense on the same circulating/rotating principle. That is, they use three kinds of defenders while defending:
– Primary defender’s role (Symbol: D1): the player closest to the ball carrying opponent, ie. A1.
– Secondary defender’s role (Symbol: D2): the player closest to D1.
– Third defender’s role (Symbol: D3): the player closest to D2.
In Brazil, the players and coaches think in terms of formations, that is, functional roles (A1, A2, A3, A4 or D1, D2, D3), which create the formations.
This thought process simplifies the learning of creative football; because the players must master three/four roles.
It is not a coincidence that futsal is the foundation of Brazilian football, because here too, there are no fixed positions; the players learn, by the time they are 12 years old, this type of „positioning to the ball” play, which is essential to the mastering of the „Brazilian style”.
From this approach, the continuous circulation of the ball forces the players also to circulate, for, they have to place themselves always in relation to the position of the ball.
According to the Brazilian school of thought, the most important thing is to master playing without the ball!!! Because, the route/course of the ball is always determined by the players without the ball!!!!!
ATTACKING ROLES
DEFENDING ROLES
THE SEQUENCE (ORDER) OF LOOKING UP (FOCUS OF EYES)
The player receiving the ball, as a result of the logic of the organization of play, looks up from the ball in a determined sequence.
Direction of first „looking up”:
- In attacking diagonal (in direction of A2)
Direction of second „looking up”:
- Deep, forward (in direction of A3)
Direction of third „looking up”:
- To the sides, towards the starting point of the new formation (in direction of A4)
Direction of fourth „looking up”:
- On a defensive diagonal (in direction of A2)
In the diagram below, we demonstrate the order (sequence) of looking up!
For the standpoint of accelerating the play, the following is very important:
- Does the player possessing the ball (A1) know whereto his surroundings position?
- Does the player without the ball (A2, A3, A4) know how the possessing player (A1) thinks; in which direction and in what order he looks for the solution to the existing situation of play?