| If you are the youth soccer coach of a team that | | | | much more of a difference at Stopper than at Goalie - |
| plays 8v8, consider a 2-1-3-1 soccer formation | | | | a great Stopper can make a 2 or 3 goal difference. I |
| consisting of 2 Fullbacks (FB), a Stopper (ST), 3 | | | | wouldn't make anyone play Goalkeeper who doesn't |
| Midfielders (MF) and a Target Forward. Other 8v8 | | | | want to do it because there is too much chance they |
| soccer formations are discussed below. | | | | will resent it or be bored and not do a good job. If you |
| A 2-1-3-1 soccer formation has several advantages: | | | | don't have enough players who want to play Goalie, |
| - Four "layers" of players, which will help you on both | | | | try to find a way to motivate players to want to play |
| offense and defense by giving you more depth than a | | | | there. I see nothing wrong with one player playing |
| 3-2-2 soccer formation, a 2-3-2 soccer formation, or | | | | Goalie, but you will need a back-up. Here are 2 ideas |
| other three-layer formations. A 2-1-3-1 soccer | | | | for encouraging players to want to play Goalkeeper: 1. |
| formation is strong in the Center (between the 2 | | | | After every game thank the Goalie(s) in front of the |
| goals), which is critical for recreational soccer teams, | | | | team and parents and praise them. Most goals are not |
| and the extra depth will reduce the number of easy | | | | the Goalie's fault - if defenders did a good job the ball |
| goals and breakaways that your team gives up. You | | | | would never get to the Goalie. 2. Designate a special |
| should give up fewer goals by using this soccer | | | | iron-on "Goalie" incentive patch from Soccer Help or |
| formation. | | | | other sources. |
| - A dedicated "Target Forward" who stays Pushed | | | | - Use the "Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race" |
| Up toward the Halfway Line when your goal is under | | | | soccer drill to teach One-Touch play and Aggressive |
| attack and shifts from side-to-side with the ball so he | | | | Receiving. |
| or she is in position to win cleared balls. This also has | | | | - Try the "Shoulder Tackle & Strength on the Ball" |
| the advantage of keep opposing Fullbacks from | | | | soccer drill at your next few practices, it makes a |
| pushing onto your half of the field and give you a | | | | difference and is fast and easy. It will teach your |
| breakaway threat for fast counterattacks. | | | | players how to shoulder tackle and how to withstand |
| - If you put a very strong player at Center Midfield | | | | a shoulder tackle. |
| (CMF) and a very strong player at Stopper it will help | | | | - Try the "Win the 50/50 Ball or be the First Defender |
| you control the Center of the Field, which is critical. | | | | One v One Attacking & Defending" soccer drill. |
| - You can put your weakest players at Right Midfield | | | | - Try" Dribble Across a Square" soccer drill at the first |
| and Left Midfield and even weak players there might | | | | of every practice as a warm-up, twice with a square |
| be able to help slow down attacks by the opposing | | | | 10 steps wide (to teach Control Dribbling) and twice |
| team. | | | | with the square 17 steps wide to teach recognition of |
| - A Recreational soccer team that has strong players | | | | Open Space and acceleration into Open Space, which |
| at Stopper, CMF and Forward should be competitive. | | | | teaches "breakaways". |
| If you are a youth soccer coach, in any of the 8v8 | | | | - Spend about 15 minutes before or after practice |
| soccer formations you should consider: | | | | teaching your Goalies the basics. What you should |
| - It is very important for you to have brave Fullbacks. | | | | teach is described in other articles I have written. |
| You can play a slow and unskilled player at FB as long | | | | Other 8v8 soccer formations that you might consider |
| as he or she is brave and can clear the ball and you | | | | are a 2-1-2-2 (2 Fullbacks, a Stopper, 2 Midfielders and |
| don't Push Up your FBs past the Penalty Box line. If | | | | 2 Forwards), a 1-2-2-2 (a Sweeper, 2 Fullbacks, 2 |
| you Push Up your FBs to the Halfway Line they need | | | | Midfielders and 2 Forwards), and a 1-2-3-1 (a Sweeper, |
| to be fast. | | | | 2 Fullbacks, 3 Midfielders and a Target Forward). The |
| - Who to play in goal involves trade-offs - In Rec | | | | formation you choose should be based on the abilities, |
| soccer it usually is better to play a great athlete or a | | | | speed and endurance of your players and the speed |
| great field player in the field than at Goalie. Coaches | | | | and ability of the opposing team. |
| have tested this and found that a great athlete makes | | | | |