Soccer's 4-3-2-1 Formation

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Birmingham resident Ramon Arias has served as president of the pizza franchise Bravo Corporation since 2002. An avid follower of Alabama collegiate sports, Ramon Arias has also spent time coaching his children in Birmingham youth soccer.

There are numerous ways for a coach to organize the 10 players he or she is allowed to have on the field. The most common - and basic - is the 4-4-2 with four defenders, four midfielders, and two attackers. Another variation is the 4-3-2-1, appropriately dubbed the Christmas tree formation.

Like the 4-4-2, the Christmas tree formation employs four defenders (two fullbacks and two center-backs) who rarely cross the half line, but that is the only way in which the two are similar. Two of the three central midfielders are expected to play attacking roles, while one is expected to hang back and focus on defending. Having just one dedicated striker presents challenges in creating offense on the run, but the formation is best used when protecting a lead.

Alabama Alumni Playing in the NFL

Ramon Arias is a Birmingham resident and graduate of the University of Alabama, where he studied economics. When he's not busy managing the successful pizza franchise Bravo Corporation, Ramon Arias enjoys following the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team, which plays an hour outside of Birmingham at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama has been one of the most successful college football teams in recent years, winning four national championships in the last seven years. That success has led to an influx of former Crimson Tide players competing in the National Football League (NFL). At the start of the 2016 season, there were 35 Alabama alumni on NFL rosters.

Fifteen of those 35 players are offensive or defensive linemen, while five are either top-tier running backs or up-and-coming backs. Eddie Lacy and T.J Yeldon, for example, have been starting backs with their respective teams for at least two seasons, while recently drafted Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake are thought to have promising futures. 

The most dominant former Crimson Tide in the NFL has to be Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who finished second in total yards among all receivers in 2016. Other prominent former Alabama players in the NFL include Amari Cooper, Landon Collins, Dont'a Hightower, and C.J. Mosley.

Soccer’s Growing Popularity in America

Birmingham, Alabama, resident Ramon Arias serves as president of a successful pizza franchise. Outside of work, Ramon Arias engages in soccer as both a participant and supporter of youth programs. 

Considered the world’s most popular sport, soccer (more popularly known as football outside of the United States) does not have the same status in the United States. However, the game’s popularity has been growing. Data from US Youth Soccer shows that in 1974 there were only 103,432 registered US youth soccer players. Since then the general trend has been on the rise, with 3,055,148 registered US youth soccer players in 2014. 

A 2014 ESPN poll showed that professional soccer ranked only behind professional football as the most popular sport among youths aged 12 to 17. Yet this popularity is not only confined to youth. Nielsen reported that 24.3 million US television viewers watched the 2010 World Cup Final between the Netherlands and Spain, a higher total than for either the NCAA men’s championship or the Rose Bowl. 

Close to folding in 2001, Major League Soccer (MLS), the professional soccer league in the US, now has 20 teams and is planning to expand to 28 teams. While still having its struggles, another positive sign is its 2015 TV deal with various networks valued at $720 million for eight years. MLS is now broadcast in 140 countries, indicating a growth for American soccer both at home and abroad.

Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program

Ramon Arias serves as the president of Bravo Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, and achieved recognition as the 2009 Franchise of the Year. Beyond his professional obligations, Ramon Arias also maintains an interest in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which directs interscholastic athletic competitions. The SEC Academic Initiative also hosts the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP).

Created in 2008, the ALDP identifies, prepares, and advances academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions, using a proactive approach that enhances understanding of the challenges and complexities of academic leadership. Goals of the program include coaching academic leaders to think critically and increasing knowledges related to academic leadership in the 21st century. 

The ALDP consists of two components: a university-level development program and a series of SEC-wide workshops. University-level development programs are individually designed by each participating academic institution for its own fellows and other participants. The workshop component includes two three-day workshops held on specific campuses. They welcomes all participants in the ALDP. 

For additional information on the program, visit www.thesecu.com/programs/sec-academic-leadership-development-program.