Indoor 7v7 Soccer Formations & Tactics
1-2-1-2 Soccer Formation
How to Avoid Giving Up Goals on Transitions
Teaching Soccer Positions

Note From David: Below is a letter from a U8 coach that discusses 8v8 soccer formations. He had tried a 2-1-3-1 soccer formation and Defending Deep with average results (a 1-0-2 record, scoring 7 goals & gave up 5), but then changed to a 2-3-2 formation, put 2 fast and brave players at Fullback, pushed them up on attack and had spectacular results (scored 17 goals & gave up only 2 in two games). IF you have fast Fullbacks, you are probably better off to have them Push Up on attack. ALSO, if your team is U8, your Fullbacks can probably safely Push Up when you attack until U10 even if you have slow Fullbacks because the opposing teams usually aren't good enough to have a good attack. On SoccerHelp Premium there are 44 letters from coaches like the one below about 8v8 formations, tactics and Styles of Play.

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Hi SoccerHelp,

I have a question about 7v7 soccer formations for indoor soccer. I'm starting indoor U10 boys soccer next week, playing 7v7. I'm struggling whether to play a 1-2-1-2 soccer formation or a 2-1-2-1 or even a 1-1-2-2. Even though this is rec, the talent is pretty strong. No offsides indoors.

We just finished playing outdoor, which was 6v6. I played a 1-1-1-2 soccer formation. We controlled the center of the field and were very successful.

For this session, I'm losing a couple of players to premier. I have enough good players to fill in. The problem is with the lost of those boys, I feel we will struggle to score goals.

What do you recommend?

Thanks

Ed, MA

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Hi Ed,

Thanks for being our customer.

I think you have good instincts. I would start with a 1-2-1-2 formation and see how that works. I would tell my 2 attackers to try to stay in the Attacking Half and the Sweeper/Fullback to stay in the Defensive Third to stop any breakaways and when you attack I designate one of my 2 Pushed Up FB's (or Defensive Mids) to stop at the Halfway Line and tell the other to stay a long kick away from the ball and STRAIGHT out from it - that way he will be in position to stop cleared balls and to fill that area of the field. That will give you good spacing and prevent you from having 4 players get too close to the goal you are attacking - it is important to fill that space on the field (the space between the Penalty Box you are attacking and the Halfway Line).

Your single Sweeper/Fullback needs to have a defensive mindset (to know how to position to defend) and be brave, but doesn't need to be fast.

My experience with indoor is that it is important to the other team from scoring quick goals on transitions - they can happen so fast.

Please let me know how it works.

David at SoccerHelp

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Thanks Dave,

When we are attacking, it almost sounds like a 1-1-1-1-2.

How close does the attacking mid get to the penalty area? Would you recommend near the PK area and the two forwards near the left and right far posts.

Thanks

Ed

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Hi Ed,

Yes, - when you are attacking it would be like a 1-1-1-1-2 or a 1-1-1-3. You want to let your Attacking Mid/Recessed Forward (the Attacking "1") come into the attack and that player could end up on either side of the goal you are attacking, he can't just stay in the center. You will still have 3 players between the ball and your goal - your Sweeper/Fullback and the 2 Pushed Up FBs (who play like Defensive Mids on your attack). That should be enough to slow down any counterattacks while your Attacking Mid drops back to help, so you end up with 4 defending. If you need 5 to defend, leave one of your Forwards at the Halfway line when you are on defense and let the other one come to within a long kick from the ball to be in position to win cleared balls.

David at SoccerHelp

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