U10-U12 Coaching Manuel Part VII TACTICAL TRAINING FOR U-9 THROUGH U-12

E. TACTICAL TRAINING FOR U-9 THROUGH U-12

Team Formations for U-10 and U-12 Play

The recommended formation for 6v6 play at U-10 is a 2-line formation of 3 defenders

and 2 forwards. The reasons are numerous:

- Players entering the U-10 Academy need to spend time learning how 2 lines

interact before they learn how to play in a 3 line system.

- Five field players are not enough to make 3 lines viable. If 3 lines are used, play

becomes too narrow. Players are constantly scrambling to get wide and tend to

receive the ball while still running towards the sidelines, thus facing the wrong

way. Impossible to have both width and balance at the same time.

- The 3-2 formation closely replicates all the passing patterns and movement of the

11v11 game. Hence a better transfer of learning to the big game.

- The 3-2 formation replicates the modern style of play that starts with numbers up

in the back and requires timely and intelligent runs from the back to create

numbers upfront.

- The 3-2 system has width and depth. The team will attack with at least 3 players

with one of the defenders joining the attack. Either a wide defender overlaps or

the central defender steps up. If a wide defender overlaps, the other defenders

shift laterally to cover. If the central defender steps up, the remaining defenders

pinch in to close the gap. These are exactly the type of movements that players

need to learn in the modern game. And everyone is receiving the ball while

facing the right way.

- In the back, we have a numbers up situation of 3 defenders versus 2 forwards.

This makes it easier to play out of the back. It also makes it possible to introduce

zonal defending concepts.

- There is a dearth of players in the U.S. who are comfortable playing wide,

especially wide defenders with the ability to overlap. Playing with 3 defenders

who are encouraged to overlap and attack will produce more flank play and result

with more players equipped with the skill and tactical awareness for flank play.

Coaches who insist on playing the 6v6 game with 3 lines (i.e. 2-1-2 or 2-2-1) should

make the field as narrow as possible. If the field is too wide for 2 defenders, it is virtually

impossible to build up from the back or switch sides around the back unless the keeper is

used extensively as a sweeper-keeper, which is a bit unrealistic if the keeper needs to

venture a long way from goal. Another disadvantage to only 2 players in the back is that

they can’t join the attack if they are playing against 2 forwards.

The 3-2 concept is carried over to the 8v8 game played at U-12 with a 3-2-2 formation

that requires defenders to join the attack and replicates the technical and tactical demands

of the 11v11 game. Some coaches like to use a 3-3-1 formation at U-12. On the face of

it, a 3-3-1 formation encourages flank play and involves 4 players in wide positions. But

observations of 3-3-1 play reveal that the wide defenders are stuck behind the wide

midfielders, with no room to overlap and hardly ever cross the half way line.

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Developing Versatile Players

We all agree that versatility is very important. However, young players who are exposed

to tactical formations for the first time need to learn one system at a time and must be

given the time to learn their roles before throwing them into new situations. Switching

players around from one position to another in a single game is not recommended. Each

position has its own passing and movement options, its own ‘geometry’ of angles and

distances and each player needs to learn how to contribute towards his/her team’s shape

from that position. It takes a while to learn this and constant changes are

counterproductive and retard their tactical development. They need to spend at least one

season and preferably one year learning one formation before switching to another

formation. Versatility is the ultimate goal for the modern player. But versatility is easier

to develop by allowing players to grow into a role, one role at a time.

Secondly, the 3-2 formation (and 3-2-2) presents the functional demands and situations of

all the 11-a-side positions and there is no need to change formation in order to develop

versatility. Positions O1 and O3 will train all the future wide defenders and wide

midfielders. Position O2 will be relevant to all the future central defenders and defensive

midfielders. And positions O5 and O6 will be the training ground for all the future

forwards and attacking midfielders. Furthermore, all the passing patterns and movement

of the 11-a-side game can be learned and duplicated within the 3-2 formation

O5 O6

O1 O3

O2

K

The 3-2 and 3-2-2 formations allow the introduction of twin forwards and all its related

tactical nuances. It also can be used to introduce players to zonal defending in a

‘numbers-up’ environment. Attacking wise, the 3-2 is ideal for teaching ‘playing out of

the back’. The players in positions O1 and O3 have the freedom and the opportunities to

overlap constantly and enter into the ‘attacking third’ scenarios a lot more often than

within the limited 2-2-1 or 2-1-2 environment.

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Key Tactical Coaching Points

Earlier in the manual, the need to focus on support play around the ball at the U-10 and

U-12 stage was emphasized. Coaches need to break the game down for the players and

address each of the key coaching points in a clear and methodical fashion and allow

learning by repetition. The coaching points listed below are presented in a logical

sequence and can be used as a ‘road map’. It means that the points are taught in

progression and that learning coaching point 1 will better prepare the player to learn point

2, and so on. Conversely, if a player doesn’t understand how to apply a coaching point,

he would struggle with the ones that follow it and build on it.

The following key coaching points form the foundation for support play and can be

addressed in 2v2 to 4v4 games:

1. Open Body. Players must learn to position themselves so they can see the

whole field and assess all their options.

2. Support Angle. Players need to make it easy for the player on the ball to find

them with a pass. Players need to ‘read the pressure’ on the ball and adjust their

position accordingly.

3. Find Space. Players also need to ‘read the pressure’ on themselves and make

quick adjustments to get away from pressure so they have time and space when

they receive the ball. It’s about learning the relationship between distance from

the ball and distance from immediate opponent.

4. Support behind the Ball. Players have to provide support behind the ball in

case a forward pass is not possible or in case player with the ball is under pressure

and forced to face own goal.

5. Team Shape. Players need to understand how to create width and depth and

which of those they should provide in each scenario.

The following key coaching points apply to decisions on the ball:

6. Hold it or Pass it. Players need to read pressure to decide when to control and

hold on to the ball and when to pass it first time.

7. Combination Play. Players need to learn which combination play is best for

each situation. Should it be a wall pass, a double pass, an overlap, or a split pass?

8. Deception. Players need to learn how to keep defenders guessing, using body

movement, fakes and fast footwork.

These coaching points can be taught progressively in a curriculum approach, with

seasonal objectives, and spread over the U-10/U-12 period at a rate of absorption

commensurate with these young minds. The tactical portion of practice should target

support play around the ball by using appropriate activities that bring out these key

points. The program’s goal should be for players to instinctively adopt good support

positions and make good decisions by the time they graduate into the 11v11 world of U-

13 soccer. To aid coaches in visualizing the key points, an illustration of all the points is

made via diagrams in the next few pages.

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Coaching Point 1: Open Body

Objective is to see the whole field.

wrong right

wrong right

•

•

•

•

34

Coaching Point 1: Open Body (cont’d)

wrong right

wrong right

•

•

•

•

35

Coaching Point 2: Support Angle

Objective to give player with the ball safe passing options

wrong right

wrong to stay in same right to pass and move to

spot after passing give good support angle

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 2: Support Angle (cont’d)

good angle since must adjust position when

pressure is low pressure is tighter

Coaching Point 3: Find Space

Objective is to get away from tight marking

wrong – too close to right – more space and

the marker time on the ball

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 3: Find Space (cont’d)

wrong to pass and right to pass and quickly

remain in the corner move away from pressure

wrong to pass and stay right to pass and quickly

in the same place move away from pressure

can then pass forward

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 4: Support Behind the Ball

Objective to help teammates in trouble who cannot go forward

wrong to leave player right to stay behind the

alone under pressure ball and provide support

wrong right

•

•

•

•

39

Coaching Point 4: Support Behind the Ball (cont’d)

wrong – too flat right

wrong – teammate left right – teammate has easy

stranded safe option to pass back

•

•

•

•

40

Coaching Point 5: Team Shape in 3v3

Objective to create width and depth

wrong right

wrong right

•

•

•

•

41

Coaching Point 5: Team Shape in 3v3 (cont’d)

wrong right

Coaching Point 5: Team Shape in 4v4

wrong right

•

•

•

•

42

Coaching Point 5: Team Shape in 4v4 (cont’d)

wrong right

wrong right

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 6: Hold it or Pass it

Objective to teach players to read pressure and make good decisions on the ball

pass first time since hold it since there is no

pressure is coming immediate pressure

hold it if there is no first time passes to

immediate pressure escape pressure

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 7: Combination Plays

Objective to learn when and how to combine

wall pass is on wall pass is not onsplit pass is on split pass is not on

•

•

•

•

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Coaching Point 7: Combination Plays (cont’d)

through ball is on through ball is on into

space created

•

•

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The following scenarios reinforce the coaching points in a 3v3 game environment.

Coaches observe the players’ responses to the stimuli and see if they read the cues and

understand how, where, and when to move to provide good support and good team shape.

No depth good depth

passing lane

X3 caught behind defender O1. X2 finds more space

X2 gives good support angle split might be on.

but will be under immediate wall pass might be on.

pressure if he gets the ball.

O

O X3

X2

O

●X1

O

X3

O

X2

O

• X1

O

O X3

X2

O1

• X1

O

O X3

X2 O

•X1

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X1 passes and doesn’t X1 passes and moves to

move, putting X2 under find more space and support X2.

pressure.

X1 passes to X3 and X2 moves quickly to

X2 doesn’t move to support X3.

support receiver.

O

X3

O

X2

O

•X1

O

X3

O

X2

O

• X1

O

X3

O

X2

O

●X1

O

X3

O

X2

O

● X1

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X1 passes to X2 and runs up X1 passes and adjusts

X2 is under pressure and to provide support

left alone. behind the ball.

X2 passes to X1 and runs X2 passes to X1 and adjusts

upfront. X1 is in trouble to provide support angle

unless X3 helps by getting for X1.

wide