Dear SoccerHelp:

I am coaching a 7-8 year old group of kids who will be playing 11 on 11. Their first game is September 14 and we have had one practice with one more to go before their first game. I will be playing a 3-2-2-3. Some of the kids have played organized soccer (i.e. 11 on 11) last spring but many haven't, just 6 on 6 swarming to ball. I'll have a 1.5 hour practice this week and need the best way to organize them to learn positional play. I have 15 kids. Please advise on the best teaching method for this. I am very concerned that they will be all over the field. Also, with 15 kids, what is the best scrimmage method to get them ready to play, i.e. have my starting offense against the starting defense (5 on 5 plus goalie) and what about the other 5? Please help!!

Thanks,
Matt
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Dear SoccerHelp,

We just had our first soccer game and we were the only team from our town who won. (6th grade girls). I used the 3-2-2-3 formation. I chose girls who were more aggressive and more skilled at the forward position, the next best players who are also good kickers I put in at fullback, the next best players I put in at offensive mid and the least skilled at defensive mid. ( some of our girls have not played before or only have one year experience) I then kept rotating in our four subs at the offensive and defensive mid positions. The one problem we had was with only two people at each mid position our opponent kept beating us down the center. In practice the next week I began having the mids box up towards the center trying to force the opponent to the outside. It still seems that a 3-2-2-3 formation is more vulnerable than a 3-3-3-1 formation. What are your thoughts? Also, where do you suggest the slower less skilled players play? Do you agree with how I assigned positions?

Thanks,
Dave

Dear SoccerHelp,

I coach a rec U14 boys team that is probably my weakest ever (a new travel team scooped up 80% of the best players in town.) I have played a 4-4-2 in the past, but it's becoming clear that possession soccer isn't working for this team.

My question is about attackers coming down the wings. Do I understand that we are to allow crosses into the box and depend on numbers between the posts to clear the ball? It doesn't seem like the DMFs or outside defenders are "allowed" to pressure the ball that far outside.

I think this scheme is a good fit for this team, but not contesting the ball on the outside goes against the grain. Am I understanding this system correctly?

Don

Dear SoccerHelp,

Hope all is well with you! Our first game this season is this Saturday. We already had two practices, but I was only able to attend one of them. I'm not as prepared as I want to be, primarily because of a demanding new job that involves a long commute. I hope to be a good coach to the girls (rec team, 4th & 5th graders), but I'm playing catch up right now. We have two new girls (which we are obligated to play for at least half of the game): one has never played before. I'll reread all your material within the week. Here is a miscellany of question, though. My apologies if some of them are too repetitive.

1. We are now playing in a much larger field (a regular size field with a regular size goal) and will be playing 11v11. Any special suggestions? I assume that your deep 3-2-2-3 formation is ideally suited for this, so that's how I'm planning to play them. My guess is that because of the size of the field the games will be more high scoring (both ways, goals for and goals against).
2. Since I have willing but slow fullbacks, I'll keep them within the penalty area and discourage pushing-up, and ignore the temptation to set up offside traps. Is this okay by you?
3. As a way to encourage toughness I will institute your "blood patches" prizes. Do you give them out right after the game? How many do you hand out per game? One? More than one? Are there games when you don't hand them out? That is, how strict is your criteria?
4. To encourage more goals we are also going to keep track of goals scored and assists. Two points for a goal, one point for an assist. The girls seemed excited about this. My question, though, do you know of a system that also rewards good defense work? Any suggestions?

Kevin
(Our reply to this letter is on SoccerHelp Premium. Premium contains over 250 pages about formations, positions and Styles of Play, over 700 pages total, and over 3,000 internal links so you can easily navigate. There is a 30-day, no questions asked unconditional refund policy. The first year subscription is only $29.95 and re-subscriptions are less. Sign-up for Premium ).

Dear SoccerHelp,

We had a great game today thanks to your help. The parents couldn't believe how well our boys played even though we lost to the best team in the league. We still had a tough time getting enough boys to attack their goal. I think I know what to do based on your material but I did want to ask you about formations. We play 9 to a side including the goalie. We have been using a 3-3-2 formation but I'm thinking we might want to try 3-2-3 in an attempt to generate more offense. However, I don't won't to get beat in the midfield. What do you think?

Best, Bill
(Our reply to this letter is on SoccerHelp Premium. Premium contains over 250 pages about formations, positions and Styles of Play, over 700 pages total, and over 3,000 internal links so you can easily navigate. There is a 30-day, no questions asked unconditional refund policy. The first year subscription is only $29.95 and re-subscriptions are less. Sign-up for Premium ).

Dear SoccerHelp,

I am dropping down to coach a group of 8 year olds for the first time in years. We are only allowed 8 players to a side (7 field and 1 goalie). I can't decide what is the best formation to use. It appears the other coaches will use 3 forwards, 2 midfielders and 2 fullbacks. I find this hard with only 2 fullbacks because it is difficult to play zone and help defense with only 2 kids back.

What do you think the best formation should be for this age group. I am almost tempted to go to a 3 - 1 - 3 but am afraid I would lose the middle of the field.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Tony
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Dear SoccerHelp,

I'm coaching 8 & 9 year olds. Some are new at the game. How do we teach them to not bunch up around the ball?

Daryl

Dear SoccerHelp,

Great information here.....very insightful.

I'm coaching a Girls U-14 Rec. team. I'm considering going to the 3-2-2-3 you recommend.

Here's the make up of my team:

2	good finishers who can also dribble and pass
2	good halfbacks/fullbacks who can dribble and pass and are fast
2	big, slow, non-aggressive players but they will block the ball with their body. One of them plays goalie.
2	big players who have good field presence and can move reasonably fast for short distances. One has reasonable endurance. They will both block the ball with their body. They both play goalie.
2	aggressive players with great legs but not good dribblers
4	players that are good dribblers, good positioners, pretty fast, but have weak legs and are not domineering
1	player with a great leg, a great throw in but is not domineering
1	player has a great leg but otherwise is just out of it.

If I understand the 3-2-2-3 concept, it allows me to play the slower, less aggressive players at fullback (what about sweeper (MFB))?

Can the 3-2-2-3 work for this team? I think it can work for my starters but what happens when I sub in, and who would be the best to sub in at stopper?. It's a Rec. league everybody is supposed to play for at least a ˝.

When using 2 stoppers who should take the throw in? If the OMF takes it who should be receiving it?

Would it work to go with a 3-3-4. Put my 2 good halfbacks at fullback, move one of the stoppers to sweeper and push them up? Keep my midfield strong by pulling my 2 finishers back and then hope that my less domineering players get so many opportunities to score that we win 1 to 0?

Thanks,
Bobby
(Our reply to this letter is on SoccerHelp Premium. Premium contains over 250 pages about formations, positions and Styles of Play, over 700 pages total, and over 3,000 internal links so you can easily navigate. There is a 30-day, no questions asked unconditional refund policy. The first year subscription is only $29.95 and re-subscriptions are less. Sign-up for Premium ).

Dear SoccerHelp,

Can you tell me where I might find info on soccer formations for 6 player teams (5 plus a goalie). We play U-8 and need formation help.

Dear SoccerHelp,

Thanks,
Coach Rion, SC, USA