I’m coaching a U8 girls rec team. We play 7v7 (6 field players and a keeper). All season we have been playing a 3-2-1 formation (3 forwards, 2 defensive backs and 1 sweeper). This formation has worked well defensively, particularly since I coach the DBs to play at or behind the mid field line and the sweeper to play behind them. The 3 forwards basically run the whole field. I like this setup because the opponent rarely gets a clean shoot on our goal.
On offense the forwards can push the ball to the opponent’s goal reasonable well, but our offense is unorganized. Almost all of our scoring chances come from a forward winning a 1v1 matchup or making an entry pass to space where another forwards beats the DB to the ball. We haven’t scored a lot of goals, which has resulted in a four 1 to 1 or 2 to 2 ties this season.
Most of the teams we play against play a 2-2-2. Some have their girls move up and down the field depending on the ball position. Some keep 2 forwards in our defending zone the whole game. One well coached team we played ran 2-2 overlap plays the entire game. That was the only team to score more than 4 goals on us. I’ve had a few parents, some with more soccer experience than me, suggest we play a 2-2-2 system to generate more offense.
So my questions are: Which is the better system/formation for a U8 rec team? What are you using and why? Which formation prepares the girls better for the future as we add more field players? Does anyone know of books or websites with soccer formation or system information for youth soccer teams playing less than 11v11?
COACH THIS IS AN EXCELLENT TOPIC. PLEASE DON,T GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN SYSTEM FORMATIONS. THE IMPORTANT FACT IS WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR PLAYERS?
YOUR TEAM SOUNDS LIKE IT IS PLAYING A DEFENSIVE GAME. IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WISH TO ACHIEVE THEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL.
AT THIS AGE I PERSONALLY PROMOTE THAT THE BACKS ATTACK AND GET UP FIELD. DEFENSE IS EASY TO TEACH FOR 1V1 PURPOSES.
SCORING GOALS IN FUTEBOL IS THE HARD PART. I WOULD RATHER WIN A GAME OR LOSE 10-9 THAN 1-0 AT THE 8 LEVEL. WHY? BECUASE THAT MEANS BOTH TEAMS ARE COMMITTED TO ATTACKING SOCCER WHICH IS WHAT THE SPORT NEEDS. IT IS MORE FUN FOR THE PLAYERS. WHEN THE SPORT IS MORE FUN THE PLAYERS LEARN FASTER.
TURN YOUR BACKS LOOSE. LET THEM GET UP FIELD AND OVERLAP. SWITCH FIELDS THRU THE CMIDS.
MOST IMPORTANT TEACH YOUR FORWARD PLAYERS TO PASS BALL BACK OR TO DRIBBLE SQUARE OR BACK TO ALLOW YOUR MIDS AND BACKS TO GET UP IN THE ATTACK. COACH LESS FROM THE SIDES AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KIDS PLAY MORE FREELY. EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON SCORING, BALL CONTROL, DRIBBLING, AND PASSING.
REMEMBER COACHES: DEFENSE IS NOT A POSITION, IT IS A TIME IN THE GAME WHEN YOUR TEAM DOES NOT HAVE THE BALL.
LASTLY; SWEEPERS ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR THIS AGE AS THE PLAYERS SHOULD ALL BE FREE TO GET UP FIELD AND NOT BE HELD IN ARTIFICIAL POSITIONS THAT DO NOT LEAD TO COMPACTNESS OF YOUR TEAM.
YOU MAY ALSO GO ON USCLUBSOCCER.ORG OR USSOCCER.COM FOR GREAT COACHING INFO.
MYSA AND NSCAA ALSO OFFERS LICENSED COURSES THAT HELP WITH YOUR METHODS OF TEACHING THE GAME.
EMAIL ME OR CALL ME WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AIINGTII@HOTMAIL.COM OR SCOTT AT 636.294.2741.
COACH APOSTOLI
US SOCCER A LICENSE
NSCAA PREMIER BADGE
DIRECTOR OF FC ST LOUIS
