Help with 2-1-3-1 (U-10)

[strike]

We started with the 2-1-3-1 to firm up the middle. I had a strong stopper, CM and F. I had my weaker players play the wings and I had two fullbacks in the penalty box. We lost 4-1. Granted, it was our first match but it didn't go well. The kids had amazing heart and gave their best so all in all it was a success. That's what we walked away with. But as far as ther formation, I'm at a loss.

I did notice my kids weren't moving inside on the wings when needed, they wouldn't leave that touchline, and I think my kids in the PB felt so constricted that they weren't crossing over the middle in fear of "impeding" the other back's area. It was as if everyone took their position so literally that they wouldn't move outside their positions.

My forward was all alone in attacks, my midfielders would simply give up on the attack, I couldn't figure out why. They simply wouldn't push up, no matter how hard I tried to get them too. So the forward had no options and was challenged every time. You have to walk a fine line in U-10, keep them motivated and having fun. We did walk away with that, so it was a win in that area. But we'd love a win next week.

What adjustments do you guys recommend for the next match?

Thanks!

[JoseP]

Some coaches aren't going to react as nicely as I will.

First, just play two lines. Play a 3-4 or a 4-3. Don't even give them left, right, or center positions. They don't need it. Working on tactics at this age is a waste of time. And, don't put defenders in the penalty box. They came to play soccer, not pick their noses and wait for the ball to get to them.

As hard as it may be, the scoreline is totally unimportant.

[manutd02]

We started with the 2-1-3-1 to firm up the middle. I had a strong stopper, CM and F. I had my weaker players play the wings and I had two fullbacks in the penalty box. We lost 4-1. Granted, it was our first match but it didn't go well. The kids had amazing heart and gave their best so all in all it was a success. That's what we walked away with. But as far as ther formation, I'm at a loss.

I did notice my kids weren't moving inside on the wings when needed, they wouldn't leave that touchline, and I think my kids in the PB felt so constricted that they weren't crossing over the middle in fear of "impeding" the other back's area. It was as if everyone took their position so literally that they wouldn't move outside their positions.

My forward was all alone in attacks, my midfielders would simply give up on the attack, I couldn't figure out why. They simply wouldn't push up, no matter how hard I tried to get them too. So the forward had no options and was challenged every time. You have to walk a fine line in U-10, keep them motivated and having fun. We did walk away with that, so it was a win in that area. But we'd love a win next week.

What adjustments do you guys recommend for the next match?

Thanks!


Play a simpler formation. Holy cow a 2-1-3-1 at U10?? I'm confused how that formation would work exactly, and I'm significantly older than 10. Play a 3-3-1 or 2-3-2. It's simple, defining roles is easy and it mirrors what they will more than likely play in 11 v 11. Remember these kids are 10. Understanding anything outside of themselves and the ball is difficult. Formations should really be the last thing on your mind or their mind for that matter at this age. There still trying to figure the ball out. Make the "team" part easy and let them figure the rest of the game out on their own. The occasional prodding to push up is fine, but if your micro-managing everything, which I'd have to assume you may be based on such a complicated formation the kids really aren't learning anything more than to be robots and it seems very confused robots

[rca2]

Good advice above. Even without an offsides rule, you don't want to leave kids uninvolved in the game. Either on attack or defense. I don't even like using the words "position" and "formation" in talking to the kids. Good soccer is dynamic. Use dynamic words. I prefer the 331, but your kids sound clueless about movement at this point. A lecture won't get you far. They have to learn by doing. I give a simple short explanation of how to play and then use small sided games to teach about space. At practice use small sided keep-away games. Start simple to ensure success and then gradually make it harder by introducing more pressure (more opponents and smaller space). No goals to start. Start with 3v1 or 5v2 if you have to. Use positive reinforcement for good movement, footskills, etc. Do not criticize negatively poor execution. Poor execution of a good idea is halfway to where you want to go. Praise the attempt. After a few practices you can introduce even sides and goals.

Finally, don't measure success by the result. Measure success by how much the kid's foot skills improve.

[Rebaño_Sagrado]

If you are playing 7v7 with goalies have you considered making two diamonds side by side? (Basically a 232)

Would look like this

x x

x x x

x x
GOALIE

Would give you depth and width. Its simple enough for the kids to remember and you won't spend too much time explaining tactics other than telling the outside mids to run up and down the wings.

[superdave]

In CASL, at U-10, we play 6v6, so there are 5 field players per team. Our coach started out in a 2-2-1, but it didn't work; the gap between the defense and the midfield was too large. He shifted us to a 1-1-2-1, basically separating the defenders as stopper/sweeper rather than left/right.

The team won 7 and had one draw in the spring, and has 3 wins this fall. So I don't think it's too complicated to play 4 lines.

I do think that having left/right defenders may be an issue. Consider inverting the back two lines into a 1-2.

Also, tactics are difficult to adjust to in one week for pros. You had, what 2 practices before your first game? It's not easy.

[Twenty26Six]

In CASL, at U-10, we play 6v6, so there are 5 field players per team. Our coach started out in a 2-2-1, but it didn't work; the gap between the defense and the midfield was too large. He shifted us to a 1-1-2-1, basically separating the defenders as stopper/sweeper rather than left/right.

The team won 7 and had one draw in the spring, and has 3 wins this fall. So I don't think it's too complicated to play 4 lines

Your coach ever hear of pressure and cover? :rolleyes:

This isn't American football. In soccer, formations are secondary to principles of play. Teach the kids _how_ to play instead of trying to implement tactics to cover up for bad play.

[ranova]

In CASL, at U-10, we play 6v6, so there are 5 field players per team. Our coach started out in a 2-2-1, but it didn't work; the gap between the defense and the midfield was too large. He shifted us to a 1-1-2-1, basically separating the defenders as stopper/sweeper rather than left/right....

Superdave, I am not picking on you. Its just this is a good example of how coaching vocabulary can send unintended messages to kids. Describing two players as "the defense" or "the defenders" infers that those two field players are the only defenders and that their only role is to defend. At that age and with those sides, every player should be supporting both offense and defense. The message that a coach should be sending is that "Everyone is an attacker and everyone is a defender." Otherwise the vocabulary is going to create a mindset that leads to the gap between the fullbacks and everyone else, because the team is not thinking of attacking as a unit and defending as a unit. They think that they are two separate units--defenders and attackers.

As for your tactical advice, using a sweeper is so effective on defense that some leagues and clubs prohibit the use of sweepers in U-Little small sided games in order to promote dribbling. In this particular situation (7v7 U10 developmental) I would use the keeper as a sweeper rather than one of the field players, despite knowing that this would concede more goals.

[superdave]

Superdave, I am not picking on you.
I'm not the coach. I'm just pointing out that 4 lines is NOT too complicated for kids that age. Everyone DOES defend, and everyone except the sweeper DOES attack.

It's a rec team. At U-10, CASL already has an advanced level, and they have challenge as intermediate. These kids are the dregs. There are 3 kids on the team who have a CHANCE to be on their junior high teams. A CHANCE. The rest of 'em, it's just for fun. They're not athletes. Simplify the game for them so that they can be successful. It works. The kids are happy. They move around the field and get to play different roles.

It's kiddie soccer, not open heart surgery. It shouldn't be overthought. It shouldn't be too serious.

[Twenty26Six]

Simplify the game for them so that they can be successful. It works. The kids are happy. They move around the field and get to play different roles.

It's kiddie soccer, not open heart surgery. It shouldn't be overthought. It shouldn't be too serious.

So, if we want to simplify, why don't we NOT overcoach them by putting them in a formation with four lines?

So, if we want to make them better, why don't we TEACH THEM pressure/cover instead of just changing the formation.

Writing off a kid at U10 is absolutely absurd. I've seen crap U10 players go to D1 programs.

Stop making excuses for bad coaching...