8-a-side

[goru_no_ura]

In my State there is a "great divide" between coach who play 8-a-side, depending upon the tactical disposition of the teams:

3-3-1

or

2-3-2.

Anybody interested in discussion the pros and cons?

[Kevin8833]

In my State there is a "great divide" between coach who play 8-a-side, depending upon the tactical disposition of the teams:

3-3-1

or

2-3-2.

Anybody interested in discussion the pros and cons?I think I would use a 2-3-2 with my centermid highly skilled and a bundle of energy. I feel it relates well to the full field, with lots of balance and options to interchange and work off of eachother, the 3-3-1 is nice but will frustrate when your team can not score, and your forward is consistently up top by himself. but that is just my opinion.

[rca2]

...the 3-3-1 is nice but will frustrate when your team can not score, and your forward is consistently up top by himself....

Kevin on the attack the shape is going to look like a 133. The system works like a downsized 442.

[Norsk Troll]

what, no 3-2-2 with wingbacks?

[Kevin8833]

Kevin on the attack the shape is going to look like a 133. The system works like a downsized 442.
Thats if you can teach 8 and 9 year olds transition which I imagine would be hard to do, but maybe not, for older players if they were to ever play 8 vs 8, yes that would be a great formation, but younger kids even if you could get them to understand it I believe in putting a formation that doesn't require to much tactical play, just let them play freely and learn the game without worrying about positioning to much yet.

[goru_no_ura]

I do 3-3-1, with the two outside midfielder pushing up when we attack and a very mobile center-mid.

Problem I have with the 2-3-2: outside players must run up and down the field and get exhausted. No good. My son was right wing in a 2-3-2 team,a nd he hated it.

It is VERY hard to teach defensive balance, as two defenders can't cover the two sides and the center at the same time.


Re: teaching positions, I see no problem with beginning at 7yo. For random soccer there is always AYSO (my son plays both and likes them both), but for boys and girls who want to learn the game early, good positioning is something that helps them to have more fun, as they do not run as a wild herd over the field and everybody get to touch the ball more.

What it is important, I believe is to make sure kid do not learn only ONE position, but they rotate and experience playing in every part of the field, including goalie.

In the league we play, a team coming in with the coach just saying "go and play for fun, run for the ball and kick it" would be buried. That is not an option. parents as well would complain, and move to another club.

[ranova]

....Thats if you can teach 8 and 9 year olds transition which I imagine would be hard to do....

My experience has been that novices of all ages instinctively transition on a turnover. Fatigue is the limiting factor. What you have to teach is supporting play rather than simply everyone chasing the ball.

[Kevin8833]

My experience has been that novices of all ages instinctively transition on a turnover. Fatigue is the limiting factor. What you have to teach is supporting play rather than simply everyone chasing the ball.
Thanks for the input, I am still in high school and just starting my coaching career, any good advice I can get will be well taken, I am far from arrogant any advice that will make me a better coach I will take any day. Thanks again.

[goru_no_ura]

My experience has been that novices of all ages instinctively transition on a turnover. Fatigue is the limiting factor. What you have to teach is supporting play rather than simply everyone chasing the ball.

Indeed