Here are some tips for coaching a youth soccer team successfully: Coaching at this level requires a combination of soccer knowledge, effective communication skills, and the ability to develop a positive team culture. Coaching 9v9 TeamsĬoaching a 9v9 is much different than a 7v7 or 11v11 team. Both attackers need to be prepared to drop deep to assist the midfield in maintaining possession and making intelligent, well-timed runs to take advantage of any spaces created by opponents who are caught out of position. In this formation, you’ll want your strikers to be able to work well together. Since there are only two central defenders in front of the goalie, the wide players may have to make defensive runs back to deal with threats from the wings. The two wide midfielders need to keep an eye on the defensive line even if controlling the ball is their top priority. The midfielders work to force the defense to throw a player out of position, opening up space for the attack. This center-focused formation allows for simple one-touch passing and dribbling. The midfielders in this formation need to be patient and confident on the ball. Maintaining possession in the middle of the field and attempting to shorten attacking plays further up the pitch are both aided by overloading the midfield with four players on either side of two attackers/defenders. Teams that wish to control the ball more should consider the 2-4-2 formation. The 3-1-3-1 formation allows a coach to exploit offensive skills even more than the 4-3-1 does, especially if a holding man is comfortable on the ball and ready to disrupt opposing attacks. The center midfielder is free to press forward during attacks since a holding player is protecting the back line. The 3-1-3-1 formation gives the midfield three more offensive options than the 4-3-1 since the holding midfielder may provide back-line coverage from the center of the field. The 3-1-3-1 formation is an alternative to the more common 4-3-1 that utilizes a back three with a defensive midfielder (DM) in the middle. With the full-backs protecting the wide defensive zones, the wide midfielders can concentrate on attacking plays during the transition. With two central defenders protecting their backs, they can direct their attention toward creating passing channels for the wingers and lone striker. This formation is ideal if you are up in the game or if your opposition has a good attacking game.Ĭompared to the 3-3-2 formation, the center midfielder (CM) player has more flexibility in this formation. The 4-3-1 enables a back four to be used, which is the norm for professional soccer teams. If you are just starting your season, I recommend rolling with this formation and adjusting as you see fit. This lineup doesn’t overload any third line and keeps each layer of the team well-balanced. Youth coaches who don’t want to overcomplicate things can often find success with a 3-3-2 formation. With a smaller field, players can recover quickly. This is especially true in the younger age groups.įor example, central defenders should focus on defending the middle of the field rather than racing to the sides in search of the ball.Īt the same time, give them the freedom to track back or attack when necessary. With this said, the lines of a soccer formation should be used as a guide and not the end-all. Teaching the significance of positions and their roles in young players is critical for their development. The goalie stands between the goalposts as the final line of defense.Defensive Midfielder (DM) or Central Midfielder (CM)ĩv9 soccer formations often have four lines of players, just like 11v11 formations.Center Back (CB) or Right/Left Backs (RB, LB).What Are the 9v9 Positions in Soccer?Īs we’ll address the different formations, it’s important to keep these positions in mind: In this article, we’ll address the most common formations for 9v9 soccer positions and some of the strategies for team success. I would love to see a couple more years on the smaller field so players can work more on their technical skills. Players at 14 years old are much more developed and don’t need to put everything they have behind the ball. The consensus is that they should start on a full field at age 14 and not 12. I agree with this logic. As a coach, you want to make sure you put kids in the best possible position to succeed.Īs a side note – I’ve heard many coaches share their opinion on when players should transition to a full field and many think players in the U.S.For example, in a standard 3-3-2 formation, there are (3) defenders, (3) midfielders, and (2) strikers. Specific formations require different positions.There are four lines of players in a 9v9 format.
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