Our Football Tactics Board helps coaches and players create formations, plan strategies, and organize player positions. Design football tactics easily with this free online tool.
Football Tactics Board
Plan formations, set pieces and attacking moves on a free online football tactics board. Drag players, draw runs, passes and zones, then animate your move step by step. Share it with your team as a link, an image or a PDF with line-ups and notes.
- Setup
- Board
- Save & Share
Set Up Your Tactics Board
Choose the format, formations and colours. You can change everything later.
Your Team
Opposition
Drag players and the ball. Tap a player to edit their number or name. Pick Run, Pass or Zone and drag to draw.
Edit Player
Your board is saved in this browser. Use the share link or PDF to open it on another device or send it to your players.
What You Can Plan On A Football Tactics Board
Runs, passes and spaces, all on one clear pitch.
How To Use The Football Tactics Board
Four quick steps from formation to shared plan.
Set Up
Pick 11, 7 or 5-a-side, formations and kit colours.
Move Players
Drag players and the ball. Tap a player to add a name.
Draw And Animate
Draw runs, passes and zones, and add steps to animate the move.
Share
Send the football tactics board as a link, image or PDF.
What Is A Football Tactics Board?
A football tactics board is the coach’s whiteboard: a pitch with player markers that you move around to explain formations, pressing, set pieces and attacking patterns. Players understand a plan much faster when they can see where to run and where the ball goes.
This online football tactics board does everything a magnetic board does, and more. Drag players into place, draw solid arrows for runs and dashed arrows for passes, and shade the zones you want to attack or protect. Add steps to build a move, then press Play to animate it. Your football tactics board saves automatically and you can share it with a single link.
Popular Football Formations Explained
All of these are ready to load on the football tactics board.
| Formation | Shape | Strengths | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-4-2 | Two banks of four, two strikers | Simple, compact, strong partnership up front | Can be outnumbered in central midfield |
| 4-3-3 | Back four, midfield three, front three | Width in attack, pressing high | Full-backs must cover wide areas |
| 4-2-3-1 | Two holding mids behind a No. 10 | Balanced, protects the defence | Lone striker can be isolated |
| 3-5-2 | Three centre-backs and wing-backs | Strong in midfield and through the middle | Space behind wing-backs |
| 5-3-2 | Five defenders, three in midfield | Very solid when defending a lead | Fewer players in attack |
| 3-4-3 | Back three, flat four, front three | Lots of attackers and width | Can be exposed on the counter-attack |
For grassroots football, the board also includes 7-a-side formations (2-3-1, 3-2-1, 2-1-2-1, 3-1-2) and 5-a-side formations (2-2, 1-2-1, 2-1-1).
Tactics Board Tools And Symbols
Simple symbols every player understands.
Run
Solid arrowShows where a player moves without the ball, like an overlap or a run in behind.
- Tip: start the arrow on a player to snap it
Pass
Dashed arrowShows where the ball goes. Use one colour for passes and another for runs.
- Tip: number your passes with steps
Zone
Shaded areaMarks space to attack, a pressing trap or an area each player must protect.
- Tip: use a light colour so players stay visible
Steps
Animated movesAdd up to 10 steps and press Play to show a move unfolding, ideal for set pieces.
- Tip: move only a few players per step
Coaching Tips For Using A Tactics Board
- Keep each board to one idea, like a corner routine or a pressing trigger.
- Use names or roles on players so everyone knows their job.
- Show the opposition only when it helps explain the plan.
- Build moves in small steps, then press Play before the team talk.
- Send the share link to your team chat before training.
- Print the PDF and pin it in the changing room.
- Use the same colours for runs and passes every time.
- Save a football tactics board for each set piece you practise.
Football Tactics Board FAQ
What Is A Football Tactics Board?
A football tactics board is a pitch where you place players and draw runs, passes and zones to plan formations and set pieces. This online football tactics board works in your browser, so you can plan on a phone, tablet or laptop and share the result.
Is The Football Tactics Board Free?
Yes. The football tactics board is completely free, needs no sign-up and works on phones, tablets and computers.
How Do I Move Players?
Choose the Move tool, then press and drag any player or the ball. Tap a player without dragging to change their shirt number or add a name.
How Do I Draw Runs And Passes?
Choose Run for a solid arrow or Pass for a dashed arrow, pick a colour, then drag across the pitch. Start the arrow on a player and it snaps to them.
Can I Animate A Move?
Yes. Tap “+ Add Step”, move players to where they go next, and repeat. Press Play to watch the players move smoothly from step to step, up to 10 steps.
Which Formations Are Included?
For 11-a-side: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 5-3-2 and the 4-4-2 diamond. There are also 7-a-side and 5-a-side formations for grassroots and youth football.
Can I Share My Tactics With My Team?
Yes. Copy Share Link creates a link that opens your exact board, including every step. You can also download a PNG image or a PDF with line-ups and notes.
Is My Board Saved?
Your football tactics board is saved automatically in your browser, so it’s still there when you come back on the same device. Use the share link or PDF to move it to another device.
Can I Use It On A Phone?
Yes. On phones the pitch turns vertical so players are bigger and easier to drag. You can switch between horizontal and vertical in step 1.
Can I Show Just My Own Team?
Yes. In step 1, choose “My Team Only” to hide the opposition, which is useful for explaining your own shape and roles.
Related GlobeHour Football Tools
More free tools to use with the football tactics board.
Ready To Plan Your Next Match?
Open the football tactics board and draw your game plan in minutes.
Open Tactics Board
