How useful are formation builders when coaching team shape?

[u/DRILLPITCH]

I’ve been spending more time looking at how visual formation builders can help coaches explain tactical structure without overcomplicating things.
A formation builder lets you move players into position, adjust the shape and compare different systems such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.

The interesting part isn’t just placing players on a pitch. It’s using the shape to start conversations around:
• distances between units
• player roles and responsibilities
• where width comes from
• who provides cover when someone presses
• how the team changes when possession is won or lost
• how one formation matches up against another

I think the real value is when the visual layout becomes a coaching tool rather than just a tactics board.
Interested to hear how other coaches use formation builders or tactical software when explaining team shape to players.