Observations at the Start of New 7v7 Format

Discussion in 'Youth & HS Soccer' started by Mr Martin, Sep 21, 2016.

  1. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was curious how the US 7v7 field size compared to what a top nation like Germany was doing. Took me a while to find something official from the DFB, but here is an image and a link to what they recommend for their youth in 7v7 play.

    35 meters x 55 meters = approximately 38 yards x 60 yards. That's almost exactly the midpoint of the updated US 7v7 range.

    Germany's E-juniors are ages 8-10.

    [​IMG]

    http://www.dfb.de/trainer/e-juniori...nungen-in-kleinen-gruppen-auf-kreisebene-261/
     
  2. dcole

    dcole Member+

    May 27, 2005
    That's kind of hilarious that the newly recommended size ranges do not even include the laughably small sized field (47x35) they originally tried to mandate for 7v7 U9 and U10. Supports my original hypothesis that they never even tried out a field that small before mandating its use. Even funnier that they don't appear to have even acknowledged their own error and made the change in a way that was so buried that it seems (from this thread) that the originally mandated too-small field is actually being used in some places and, of course, is not working well at all.
     
  3. dcole

    dcole Member+

    May 27, 2005
    I've now spoken to three executive directors of local clubs and not a single one of them knew that USSF had changed the field size requirements from a single mandated size to a range of sizes.
     
  4. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's been about 6 months since the prior discussion from the Fall 2016 season. Now, in April of 2017, my U9 boys have played 3 matches so far this spring: 2 at home on our 40x60 yard field (a 4-4 draw and a 2-4 loss against a good undefeated opponent); and 1 away on a postage stamp 36x48 yard field based on the original recommendations.

    The tiny-field away match was wild. We took a 5-1 halftime lead, although that was flattering to us as the opposing team was good but we hit on nearly every shot while they had several close misses. The second half totally swung against our team as the opposing team increased its fore-checking pressure in our defensive third. Every goal kick and every keeper possession became a 50-50 ball as our boys tried to play out of the back rather than kick it long past the play-out line. Since the small field is only 24 yards from center line to end line and the build-out line must be midway between the center line and the top of the penalty box, the build-out line was very near (about 6 yards from) the top of the penalty box. Obviously, the ball must leave the penalty area before anyone can touch it. At the moment that our keeper would strike a goal kick to a teammate, one or two opposing players would charge in from the build-out line at our receiving player and more times than not overwhelm him at the moment he first touched the ball. We allowed 2 goals directly off lost possession on our goal kicks and were pinned in our end for most of the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Final score was a 6-8 loss.

    Losing was fine. The league does not keep public standings at U9 (or U10), so I'm not worried about results. The other team was good, and we used it as a learning experience for dealing with pressure and making quick decisions.

    But it did point out additional pitfalls of the really small field size. The opposing team never used the build-out line to play the ball out of the back. Every goal kick was taken long, landing between the build-out line and the center line. Their boys were well trained in striking the ball with power, which helped on goal kicks and also in shooting -- they had several boys who were regularly shooting once inside the build-out line in the attacking third (4 of their 8 goals were scored from outside the penalty box, about 15 yards away from net, and they also hit the crossbar on such a longer shot. It was a fast game played with intensity and a lot of goals. But there really was no opportunity (and/or interest) in trying to play the ball out of the back, which the field size made essentially impossible for two reasonably athletic/fast teams.

    The next time we play on one of these very small fields, we will be ready to abandon building out from the back if the opposing team uses high pressure on goal kicks or keeper possessions, or at least mix it up with some long balls so that the opposing players cannot simply tee-off on our goal kicks to force turnovers. Not sure that US Soccer wanted teams to abandon building out from the back in 7v7, but that is what I've seen on the very small original field size. I'm glad they did increase the field size options, as we have been much better able to build out from the back on our larger home field.
     
  5. lncolnpk

    lncolnpk Member+

    Mar 5, 2012
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My youngest daughter played for a club that had a rule no long kicks from goalies for anyone under u10. Teams took advantage but our girls learned how to deal with pressure and how to get out of those situation by playing it back to the goalie. Overall, they became better soccer players and trusted themselves to play the ball back when needed.
     
  6. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Keeper punting isn't allowed in 7v7 play, but there is no league or club rule against keepers (or defenders) kicking long balls. We have kept to the spirit of the build-out line by teaching passing to a defender or midfielder just outside the penalty box. Even against aggressive opponents we do OK on our bigger 40x60 yard field. It will be interesting to have a rematch with this particular opponent in a few weeks on our field. On their tiny field, our ability to play out crumbled.

    Playing a first touch ball back to the keeper is certainly an option we can work on.
     
  7. dcole

    dcole Member+

    May 27, 2005
    I've been following the build out line very closely but just learned at a coaches meeting last night that the build out line also serves as a line denoting when you can be offside, as the midfield line does in full sided soccer. Can someone explain to me how that helps promote player development? Seems to me that we want our defense pushing up to midfield when our offense has the ball to allow the defenders to support the attack. But now an opposing forward can sneak in behind them between the midline and the buildout line and cherry pick, forcing the defenders to mark him and destroying their ability to push up in support. What am I missing?
     
  8. illinisoccer

    illinisoccer Member

    Aug 15, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    My experience last year is that the league has done a poor job emphasizing the build out line serving as the offside line. Most of the time at least one of the coaches or the referee have no clue that this is the new standard and everyone agrees to ignore the new standard and just uses the halfway line.
     
  9. Slc813

    Slc813 New Member

    Sep 12, 2017
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I love the no-heading until older and the playout lines. The only problem is inconsistent use of the lines and rules. Some refs know it, enforce it. Some fields don't even have the lines painted. It is confusing for our girls who are ALL new at the Academy U10 level.
     
  10. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Follow-up to my comments from April. We had lost 6-8 to a very aggressive opponent that attacked every goal kick on their small (35 yards x 50 yards) 7v7 field. Three (I think) of their goals came directly or indirectly off pressing our goal kicks or creating chaos off those kicks.

    In May on our bigger 40 yards x 60 yards field (37% more square yardage), we had just a bit more time and space and reversed the result with a solid 7-2 win. The other team couldn't press as successfully in the larger space. We could play the ball out on the ground from the back.
     
  11. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I suppose this won't be a surprise, but I've noticed that when a single referee with no assistants works a 7v7 game, he will sometimes mess up the offsides from the play-out line rule. When there are assistant refs along the sideline they almost always are paying attention to the play-out line for offsides.

    Still not sure I like using that line for offsides, but I can live with it for 2 years. It's not like the kids actually get offsides at that young age, especially in the excitement of the game. :D ;)
     
  12. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am very pleased with the no heading rule. It hasn't changed the flow of the game at this age, which tends to be a lot of 1v1s anyway, and it may be helping to promote keeping the ball on the ground more. We've also moved to trying short-corner plays most of the time, rather than just lumping the ball into the box on corner kicks (something that can easily be taught to players in their teens).
     
  13. Practicemakesperfect

    Liverpool
    United States
    Sep 8, 2017
    The goalkeeper should be taught to step up in any player who is cheating. If 2 players are cheating then. Drop a defender back and have the goalie mark the more central attacker. Hope this helps.


    Www.instagram.com/jjsoccerdrills
     
  14. TheKraken

    TheKraken Member

    United States
    Jun 21, 2017
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is a horrible rule. Having the build-out line denote offsides does more damage than the benefit of helping the players build out from the back. The small field means a lot of players can simply camp and shoot from that line and have a good chance of it going in. It actually promotes less build up and more long balls over the top from what I've seen.
     
  15. illinisoccer

    illinisoccer Member

    Aug 15, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    If the goalie is marking the striker than who is covering the goal?
     
  16. ppierce34

    ppierce34 Member

    Aug 29, 2016
    Fort Wayne, IN
    My Daughter is a U10 playing up with U11 girls on a bigger field 9v9. We have a "no punting" club rule as our new DOC wants the team to learn to play out of the back. Its been pretty ugly so far as the other team basically knows we aren't punting and lines up like dogs for our goalie to roll the ball to our defenders.
     
  17. illinisoccer

    illinisoccer Member

    Aug 15, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    Our club has put the same rule in place but with common sense application. If the team is doing that then you tell the goalie to throw or punt a few times. Or you have the goalie put at thier feet to draw the defender in and then play it short. To never do anything different under those circumstances is bad coaching.
     
  18. Practicemakesperfect

    Liverpool
    United States
    Sep 8, 2017
    I'm taking about when the ball is on the opposing side of the field. When the ball get to the defensive side every player should be back in their original positions.

    Www.instagram.com/jjsoccerdrills
     
  19. illinisoccer

    illinisoccer Member

    Aug 15, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    If your team has the ball then none of your players should be guarding anyone. The goalie should be available for a pass. If their forward is standing way up the field then you should have a 6v5 advantage in the attacking half anyways
     
  20. Practicemakesperfect

    Liverpool
    United States
    Sep 8, 2017
    I would love to see how that works out for you :)
     
  21. illinisoccer

    illinisoccer Member

    Aug 15, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    Which part of it? The forward cherry picking or the other team keeping possession because they are a man up when they have the ball?
     
  22. Kevin Redding

    Kevin Redding New Member

    Manchester United
    United States
    Sep 18, 2017
    I hate offsides for kids, almost as much as I hate accidental handballs being called. Let the kids play!
     
  23. nysoccerdad

    nysoccerdad Member

    Apr 18, 2016
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    I disagree. The Rule of Offside when used well is part of the defense strategy. Clubs in my area teach Total Soccer style of game at earlier age. The entire defense line pushes up to the midfield when attacking. Without Offside, this is not feasible.
     
    mwulf67 and dcole repped this.
  24. dcole

    dcole Member+

    May 27, 2005
    Exactly. Defense cannot properly support the attack if the opposing team is allowed to cherry pick behind them. A cynical coach can ruin the game by instructing players to cherry pick and creating chasms of space between each team’s defense and attack. And it’s only exasperated in small-sided soccer.
     
  25. Mr Martin

    Mr Martin Member+

    Jun 12, 2002
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have no problem with enforcing offside at the U10 and U9 ages. It isn't called often and hasn't impacted the flow of our 7v7 games. I'm just not sure I like using the play-out line as the offside line, as it may encourage some bad habits by holding defenders back too far and messing with good team shape.

    Many teams we face keep 1 or 2 backs in their defensive third to defend the play-out line, even when that team has the ball in its offensive third. I encourage my backs to stay connected with the midfielders and push up to or past the center line as needed. My only rule is to keep track of where the opposing forward(s) are. I'm not going to teach poor shape in order to focus on defending the rare opponent who wanders offside near the play-out line.

    But overall offside is more a problem for the coaches and referees, as the kids tend to be pretty clueless and forgetful about the offside rule, regardless of how often we try and teach it. ;)
     

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