Re: Indoor

An active keeper indoor allows your defenders to position far more aggressively. An active keeper is really a benefit (almost required) with a flat 4 outdoors.

As for indoor formations, I've written often here about the problems with a 2-1-2. If you don't substitute early and often, it will be a disaster. The midfield and forwards will get whip-sawed to death. I like a 2-2-1 a lot. As you've indicated, the key is for the high man to use the whole *width of the) field. The second skill is their decision making to determine whether to attack goal, play to a runner, or knock it back to set up a possession attack.

As for the blocker, no elbows are required. Just play through then to the ball hard. If you bump them a few times going to a ball they will get the idea to give you some space. They will move to a higher position to get touch.