How does one create width during a match?

Football CoachCoach

I'd say the keys to creating space are%3A *having speed on your flanks (this may vary according to your formation eg. in an attacking 4-4-2, you'd like to have quick wingers and quick wing backs). This allows the space to be expanded quicker- which is vital to creating width. *Playing your wings more centrally in defence (obviously depending on what formation the other team is using), sucking the opposition in and then in attack pushing the wings wide into the vacant space to create that extra width- which is why, again, having quick wings would make this much more effective. Hope that helps

Football CoachCoach

Also, of vital importance to creating width is making sure the ball can get there in some way. It is no good relying on one player of Rooney-esque abilities to distribute that ball either. It's great to have wide players but they're useless when standing with chalk under their boots for a long time without a ball. During junior matches you will find that the balls travel less through the air and most across the ground. This increases accuracy and makes it easier for the receiving player to control the ball. This means that, for the game to have any kind of width, you need players in midfield to get the balls to the wide players. Whether you're operating a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 (my favourite for junior teams), you should aim to free up a person midfield to distribute across the floor. In a 4-4-2 this could be a more defensive-minded midfield player. In 4-3-3 this should be a centre back who steps in. You should aim for these people as they would not be sucked into the attack too much. Any pass back from either wing could be redistributed via these players towards the opposite wing. Speed of passing is crucial here too. Once your players develop their long-range passing techniques, you can try and skip certain members of the team to increase the speed of distribution.