How We Set Our Teams Up At 8 v 8

The following is an excerpt from The Ultimate Youth Coaches Training Guide; A Complete 6 to 10 Year Old Developmental Coaching and Training Program.

This program is perfect for youth coaches wanting practices to start their soccer coaching education and it is also for those more advanced and experienced coaches wanting to train their players as best they can at these wonderful open minded ages for development and education of both the mind and body. Our plan is to help all coaches at whatever level of experience they are at. Find Out More

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To relate the field positions of the 8 v 8 players in the 3-3-1 to the 4-2-3-1 formation for the 11 v 11 we do the following:

We do not include center backs 4 or 5.

Number 10 in 8 v 8 can be represented as EITHER a number 8 or a number 10 in 11 v 11. 

Both types of player work for this.

The rest of the players mirror the positions of the same numbered players in 11 v 11 that being: the keeper 1, fullbacks / wing backs 2 and 3.

Central defensive midfielder 6 (who can play center back or center midfield)

7 being wide right (midfielder / winger / wide striker), 

11 wide left (midfielder / winger / wide striker) and 

9 is the central striker.

So using this method, we are creating really consistent and relevant developmental training that can be easily transferred from the 8 v 8 model to the 11 v 11 model.

This means the movements and types of plays technically and tactically we want to teach at U11 and 11 v 11 are already being established at U7, U8; U9 and U10

Using Cones as reference points for team shape defensively then team shape offensively. This is the team shape start.

Attacking shape is now a 3-1-3. Zone 14 is the area between the opponents.

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