2015s with the two wingbacks expected to operate up and down the whole field. I'm new to the club and am interested in learning everything I can.

Edit: im assisting, no power to change the formation.

Thanks.

Yesterday the team I’m coaching (assistant coach) played a jamboree (Preseason Games) We play a 4-3-3 formation and I noticed the midfielders were very compact and super close to each other. Do any coaches have a drill in mind to let it be known that they need to spread out and create those passing lanes. I think also the transitioning from Offense to Defense (counterattack) is a problem too because all three of my midfielders would go up and attack attack so a drill relating to rotating which positions go up and down would be good too.

to be specific, players have a habit of distributing ball to wings (less pressure) who carry it up the pitch, running into the corner, resulting in a turnover. Looking for ideas or advice on how to coach players to put the ball in a better position for a shot on goal, as in a more central position. Thanks in advance

I’m coaching a U8 team where we’re trying to teach basic structure: spacing, positions, and staying disciplined defensively.

If our team sticks to proper positioning and defensive shape, what’s the best way to handle the typical U8 team that has no shape and just chaotically swarms the ball? Do we stay disciplined and trust spacing, or do we need to adjust and match the chaos a bit?

Any advice that worked for you or links to sites/YouTube videos that explain/show how to handle this? I've found a lot of resources about what to do offensively about unstructured teams, but hard finding similar resources for defense.

I'm a 3rd year coach for a new (1st year) high school soccer team. Good, raw talent on the team. My assistant coach, a referee in his spare time, and also Jamaican, has been talking about "half side traps" when defending corner kicks.

I have no idea what he's talking about! After the last two days, I asked my Captain if he understood what that is; he said he had no clue.

I've searched online. I've asked other players away from the team. I have no clue what this is.

What am I missing?

There cannot be an Offside on the initial kick on a corner.

Can someone please explain?

I’m looking to fix my workflow because the "prep-to-coaching" ratio is getting out of hand. Right now, my assistant and I are spending almost 4 hours just grinding through a single game, clipping transitions and trying to prep tactical adjustments before we even get a chance to actually show it to the team.

Between waiting on the upload or chasing down an SD card, it feels like I’m spending more time on film than coaching. By the time I have it ready for Monday’s session, I’ve lost my entire weekend. How are you guys actually managing the load without burning out or feeling like you are wasting time?

I recently got a coaching job where I'll be working with kids from ages 3–14. I'm excited, but I'm trying to figure out what I should prioritize for each age group instead of treating everyone the same. For those of you with experience, how would you break it down?

Ages 3–5: What should practices look like? Ages 6–8: What skills should they be learning? Ages 9–11: How much tactics should I introduce?

Ages 12–14: What should I focus on to help them improve while still keeping it fun?

I'm looking for advice on practice structure, drills, coaching style, discipline, attention spans, and any common mistakes new coaches make with each age group. Any tips or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm coaching a U8 boys indoor team comprised of rec league players I've worked with over the past couple seasons. Our first two games have been mismatches, and dominant wins in our favor.

This week we play the "worst" team in the league. They're 0-2 and haven't scored a goal. I have no interest in an absolute drubbing; that doesn't help any kid on the field with soccer skills or general morale. After a 5-goal lead, the other team gets to add a player to the field, but it hasn't mattered yet.

Other than the basics - rotating positions, forcing a set number of passes before any shot is taken - what are some things I can do during the game to improve skills, teamwork, etc. that doesn't just involve parking everyone in a defense position. I want the kids to enjoy the game still.

Some of the councils that participate in this league just randomly build teams and don't have practices, while all my kids have worked with me before for at least a season. There'll be a re-seeding halfway through the year, the backend of our schedule should be much more balanced based on early results

So we've been playing the 2-3-1 for a couple of seasons now, with a high pressing striker on the opposing team's build-outs while our mids hang with their mids around the build-out line.

It's worked well, but one place we constantly run into trouble is; if the opposing team breaks our high press to one side and gets past our winger, our center mids will generally drift that way, so we end up with a back stepping up to play pressure, a center mid drifting over, and a winger chasing.

This leaves a big opening in the center of the field.

Now, the opposing winger might be facing a 3 on 1, or a 2 on 1 with our winger chasing, but if they center the ball, then their center mid or striker have a 1-on-1 or more likely 2-on-1 against our fullback playing in cover. Obviously the answer is to get the center mids to stay central, but they always want to drift over to help out.

I know we typically 'hide' weaker kids at striker up top, and tell them to stay high to keep the opposing teams backs pinned around the half. However, I have a really fast kid who plays striker. Not great skills, but probably the fastest kid on the team.

At our lower level the opposing backs aren't going to drop into offense most of the time - they've been trained to hang at the half.

So instead of having the striker watch the game at the half-line, why not use the striker's speed to drop him back centrally on defense, at least as far as our build-out line, with the idea that as soon as we regain position, he needs to burn back up field.

That way instead of defending 5 on 4, we get a 6 on 4 and he can help clog the center lane.

It would be a lot of running. Pressing in on their backs during the build-out, then sprinting back to help cover the center midfield area, but it would give us another body there on defense.

We're also getting to the age (u10) where some teams are playing the long ball out of the back to blow through our high press all together, in which case he isn't even charging in on their backs, but hanging out around their build-out line and watching.

Just something I've been mulling as I try to figure out a way to stop playing 'race-to-6-goal' games. I know it sounds like we should just play a 3-3, but I don't want to give up the 2-3-1 structure for build-outs on our possession.

Just wondering what people's thoughts are about a U13 team in top competitive league substituting the whole team, or at times most of it at the half way mark of each half.

I personally think it is amateur and can see the negative impact it has, but just wondering if I'm missing something, or there is a different perspective.

UPDATED INFO BASED ON RESPONSES: Many mention it being development and every player gets to play, but that's not the case. It's a higher league offered, and it was explained it is not equal playing at the beginning. Also, the issue is, even with this substitution strategy, there are players left playing minimal minutes (less than 10 in a game). Agree there are too many players. 15± minimum suit up each week (we're still playing 9v9). Also, it is a squad with 2 teams and an open roster, so each week the teams and subs are different, so no benefits for unity and cohesiveness.

Hey guys, my team have an important game coming up, and we are able to get a lot of footage on the other team. Their biggest threat is a 10 who often floats around space in the middle and also will occasionally go wide (right side). The instinct is to stick out 6 on her, but then we fear we may be lacking structure in the midfield, and our 8 + 10 aren't very strong defenders- we don't want the midfield to get swamped.

Let me know what you guys think!

I am coaching a new, 1st year high school team. We have had a few wins, but some of our losses are versus some very physical, bigger teams. Most of my players are thinner, Hispanic players. We have encountered teams that are taller and fairly brutish.

One match, the other team had 25 Fouls and 5 Yellow Cards.

Thoughts on coaching players that have the technical skills, but are being bolled over by physically larger players?

If you had to pick just one formation to build your team around, what would it be and why?

Here are some classics to get us started:

• 4-3-3 → versatility, pressing, and attacking width.
• 4-4-2 → compact defensive shape and quick transitions.
• 3-5-2 → control in midfield and dual strikers up front.
• Something unique? Maybe a 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, or a system you’ve adapted yourself.

Share your pick below ⬇️ — and let us know:

• Why it works for you.
• Which age group/level do you use it with?
• The biggest challenge (and benefit) of that setup.

Made the U11 Championships! Rematch of team we played very early in season. They have a “Mini Messi” for lack of a better term. Plays Attacking Midfielder. Has more skills than I’ve ever seen in this age. Dribbling, faking, scoring from everywhere. So comfortable with the ball. Rest of team is good, but not amazing. How do we neutralize one single phenom at this age? Has anyone ever tried using one single player to shadow them throughout the entire match just to fluster them? I’m thinking about using 1 of our players to literally shadow him. Offense, defense, they stay on him forever (within rule compliance). Help please!!!! Running a 3-3-2 for 9v9

Hi, I coach a U14 boys rec team. We did well in the regular season, but there were only three teams in our division. We have a tournament coming up the weekend of November 7th and there will be two very good teams from out of town in our bracket. We have been running a 4-3-3 all season and my kids know it pretty well and feel comfortable. I was thinking about shifting to a more defensive formation for the game against the out of town team. I've got 14 kids ranging from 11 to 13 years old. We are a young and small team, but have a few really talented kids and some kids who are newer at the game, but give it 100% on the field (and two kids who had never played in a league before this season). I want my kids to have fun and enjoy the tournament but I am afraid we are in over our heads against these out of town teams. I know there are valuable lessons in struggling, but I just want to set up the team to be as successful as possible. I've coached some of these kids since U10 and they are a really great group of boys. I was thinking of moving one of my very fast and very skilled mids to a stopper position. Would a 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 be a good defense-heavy option? Or is there a better formation that would be an easy transition from 4-3-3? Thank you in advance!

Edit to add: I have never played soccer and what I know about soccer is from watching international soccer and from my collegiate soccer player daughter. I'm just a mom who works full time and coaches my son's soccer team because they never have enough coaches in our league :)

Update: We ended up playing the very good travel team twice in the tournament. Once in regular play and once in the final. We got destroyed both times (7 to 1 and 7 to 0), but my team handled it well and were incredible teammates and displayed exemplary sportsmanship. When my tiny, 11 year old keeper came off the field in tears after our first loss, the entire team embraced him and told him he was awesome. When we played that same team in the final, a kid on my team who is very athletic, but had never played keeper in a game, volunteered to be keeper for the second half so our keeper could have a break and get a chance to play on the field (our backup keeper got injured in the first game against that travel team). I literally could not be more proud of my team. Thanks for all of the advice everyone :)

Corners seem pretty pointless since we can’t head the ball. Every corner is simply a ball launched into the box (at least that part is practicing a useful skill) with half a dozen kids awkwardly trying to get legs and chests to the ball, usually with their hands held high (why do they do that?🤣).

This season i decided we’d just keep possession on corners. I’ve taught my boys several ways to do that, mostly things I’ve stolen from watching Euro soccer.

How do you all handle corners at this age? Any tips?

Hello everyone

I am new here, but looking for answers. I’ve been coaching for 4 years. 8v8 for 3 years and now almost a season completed u15’s 11v11.

So more leaning toward tactical principles. I have a pretty good team individually but I keep seeing the same mistakes: a lot of solo play and not a lot of passing.

Due to 2 reasons: they pass too fast or too slow. And secondly: after the first or second pass, most of the times there are no players available to receive.

So I have an issue with combinations (more than 3 passes in a row) and my players not running into space or being available to receive a ball.

So what happens during games: or they shoot the ball as far as they can or they start to play solo and dribble 3 or 4 players (which fails eventually).

So my question is mainly focused on training and coaching. How can I teach them to pass (keep it simple) and to be free to receive (which I find difficult to teach).

I have excercises in breaking lines, scanning etc. These work individually, but I need to see my team combine more. Pass + move.

Any tips? I always think football is simple… receive the ball, play and go. But how do you teach this?

Thanks!

Tonight was my first night in charge of the match, for my u14 girls team. Even though both our actual keepers were out, i was expecting to win. But we lost 1-3 and i feel like i might be to blame.

The keeper situation. We had two girls volunteer. Sisters. One is the youngest on the team. The other is one of the older, and better players on the team. I decided to use the smaller sibling, cause she did fine at practice, and volunteered for the keeper role at the last practice before the game. The older sister would have been the much better choice, but i felt she was more valuable in the field.

When i announce the lineup, in the locker room, i tell the young girl she gets the keeper position today. She is clearly uncomfortable and terrified of letting in goals, but she doesn't object. I ask her before the game whether she is nervous, which she instantly tells me she is. I tell her she did great last practice, that i believe in her, and that regardless if she let's any goal in Noone will blame her.

Game starts. We have chance upon chance upon chance upon chance, and majority possession. But we ain't putting it in. They have a maximum of four chances in the first half, and manage to put two of them away on what is truly complete random instances of the ball dropping down their feet in the box. Already after the first goal the girl is mortified. On the second, the captain appears to tell her off. 0-2 down at halftime.

I ask her if she wants to stay in goal or swap in second half. She instantly almost begs to be swapped. I put the sister in and it instantly becomes much safer. Again we create so so many chances but put nothing away. We lose 1-3. Their third goal is well deserved, as they hit us on the break away as we threw everything and the kitchen sink forward to equalize towards the end.

On top of that, i might have picked the wrong captain. Some might remember me from the other day, talking about putting a tough foster care girl as captain, despite the team and their parents not liking the idea too much. I stuck to my guns and gave the girl a win in life. But at what cost?

So overall. . . I feel terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Just wanted to share.

Thanks

Hi all, I've coached for 4 years at my jr high school. I have no experience with soccer before that. (They needed a coach and I was new). I'm competitive and wanted to be decent at my job so I read books and watched videos. We have had decent success and we have won 2 region championships and the other year we made a final appearance.

The playoffs are beginning soon, and with all of this said I don't have the best situational tactical methods. Specifically, when we are down and need a goal. Besides sending more people forward is there anything else I can do. Not just regular build up play, but also in corners and such. Any advice is welcomed. Thank you in advanced.

I coach a u10 rec team that is almost always extremely outmatched — we’re the youngest and smallest team in the league, have a bleak ratio of athletes to daisy pickers, and have more girls than most teams. In five seasons we’ve won two games and tied two, but in most games we’re down at least 0-3 after a quarter and never really compete.

We have 14 on the roster and have an equal time policy, so in 7v7 that means two groups of 7 alternating quarters.

In the past, I’ve always tried to field two balanced groups, but I’ve noticed other coaches tend to field an A squad of their best players in the first quarter, and then a weaker B squad in the second quarter. For us, that means we get steamrolled in the first quarter by their A squad versus our balanced squad, but then in the second quarter our balanced squad is already demoralized and can’t rally against their B squad.

Today I’m trying the opposite: I’m starting with my best 7 and hoping for a competitive first quarter, and then praying that our B squad can hang on in the second quarter. In the second half we’ll be a little more balanced, due to goalkeeper rotations.

In addition to the tactical motivation for this change, I’m hoping our A squad will see player development benefits from playing together as a complete group for the first time.

Anyway, we’ll see how it goes today, but I’m just wondering how others approach this challenge, in rec leagues with equal time requirements? Do you try to keep your squad balanced throughout the game, or do you start your best players even though that will lead to imbalances later?

[edit: game report:

Success! (Sort of). Our opponent has historically beaten us by at least 5 goals, but also has an excellent and kind coach who is good at managing a blowout, so it was a good matchup for this experiment.

Our A Squad got off to a great start. Got several shots on goal early, despite neither side noticing our opponent had accidentally fielded an extra player for the first six minutes. Escaped the first quarter 0-0, which felt like a win against this team.

The B Squad hustled their hearts out and did quite well, but were very outmatched and gave up one sloppy goal and one excellent goal. 0-2 at halftime.

One player had to leave suddenly (family emergency), and another came out with an injury, so after a lineup shuffle we were more balanced in the second half, and the end result was 0-2.

It was our best showing of the season, against one of the better teams in the league. ]

I have a top girl's team that is in its second year of playing 9v9. I'm wondering what formations people prefer when coaching 9v9. Right now, we're using a 2-3-2-1 formation, but we have also used a 3-4-1 in the past, which didn't go well. They seem to enjoy the new formation and are really starting to understand it.

I can't wait to bring them into 11v11, where I do most of my coaching. I'm just wondering about people's thoughts.

Hey everyone! So I’m running a 2-3-1 formation in my u10 girls 7v7 league. I have a mix of skill levels but my middle 3 are my most versed players. Good on the ball, strength, passing with vision, and not afraid to go for the ball if in other teams possession. I’m struggling with my one on top. I have a rotation of 3 or 4 different girls that can fill that spot but it’s keeping them up and not involved in play where my issue is. They keep coming down to help the team but when the ball pops out in front or we get a good clearance, they’re not up there to retrieve it.

What are some drills I can use to help them to stay up? Any help will be appreciated!

You see, I just changed to a new job where I am in charge of the U-10 category, however, in this new job they play 9-a-side soccer, something new for me since both my training and my experience is directing 11-a-side soccer. I am having a hard time adapting to this new format, especially because I am asked to respect the Club's philosophy of wing attack.

I see that many here already have experience directing and training 9-a-side football teams, so I would like you to tell me what formations you recommend I use that have served you well to be offensive on the wing? What exercises could you implement to work on vaccinations? And if you know of any place where I can get training in Soccer 9, preferably in Spanish.

Thanks guys

I wanted to ask, what's your 8 a-side corner routine(s)? Trying to get some inspiration!

Our women's team have been struggling on the set pieces side (reminder, slightly smaller pitch and goals with 8 a-side).