2-5-3 System

Explanation: When explaining a formation in hockey the first number represents the number of attacks, the second is the midfielder's, the third is the defense, and sometimes a fourth number is used if the system involves a sweeper.

Description: The 2-5-3 system is adapted from the 3-3-4 formation to pack the midfield to provide a more solid defensive unit. Having five players in the midfield area reduces the space for opponents to play in making it harder for them to pass the ball, and easier to intercept.

When attacking in this formation both of the wide midfielder's may join up with the forwards to increase the attacking options, whilst still leaving a solid base of midfield and defense to deal with a break from opponents. A variation of this would be to have one wide midfield player and one of the central midfield players join up with the attack, and getting the other midfield players to shift along to cover the void left by the attacking midfielder's.

As long as there is some cover for the defense, and the midfield players are prepared to work up and down it doesn't matter which midfielder's attack, but play to the teams and individual players strengths.

Learn More About:

Hockey Coaching

Other Related Areas:

3-3-3-1

3-3-4

2-4-4

2-5-3