SOCCER STUDY GUIDE

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Soccer Formations

Kids Sports >> Soccer >> Soccer Strategy

How the players are set up on the field and the roles they have in the game is called the formation. There are a lot of different formations possible depending on the team strategy. If your youth team has less than 11 players, your formations will be different that those we discuss below. However, many of the same concepts will be the same.

Which soccer formation is the best?

There is no single best formation. Coaches may choose a formation for a number of reasons. Reasons could include the type of players and their strengths as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent.

What do the numbers in formations mean?

Formations are usually referred to by numbers. An example of this is the 4-4-2 formation. This refers to 4 defensemen, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards. The 11th player is the goalie. The goalie isn't mentioned in the numbers because it's assumed there is always a goalie guarding the goal.

4-4-2

You can see how the players are set up for the 4-4-2 on the field below:

The 4-4-2 formation is the most popular today in soccer. It's used by a lot of professional teams as their main formation and is likely one of the first you will learn when you start playing for an 11 player team.

4-3-3

Another example of a formation is the 4-3-3 formation. In this formation there are only three midfielders, but also three forwards. This can be a popular formation in youth leagues as it is a fairly easy formation to learn. See the diagram below:

The 4-3-3 soccer formation

4-2-3-1

This is a popular formation used by professional and World Cup teams today. It is complex and is built for a team with a strong offensive lineup, especially one with strong midfielders.

Offensive or Defensive Focus (3-5-2 and 4-5-1)

Two other common soccer formations are the 3-5-2 and the 4-5-1. The 3-5-2 has more of an offensive focus than the 4-4-2 having an additional midfielder to assist with the forwards. The 4-5-1 is a strong defensive formation and is often used by weaker teams to keep the score close and then hope for a quick strike goal.

Other Formations

There are a number of other soccer formations. Some teams use flexible formations and change throughout the game depending on whether they want to focus on offense or defense. Formations also go in and out of style over time. What is a popular formation today may not be tomorrow.

Coverage Area

The general idea of the formation is held as the ball moves up and down the field. Players should move around in the area assigned to them keeping good spacing to allow for passing and defense.

Soccer Positions

According to the rules of soccer, there are only two types of players, the goalkeeper and everyone else. However, in actual play, different players will need to have different skills and play different roles or positions. Below we will discuss some of those roles. Click here to learn more about thegoalkeeper.

Different teams and formations have different positions, but most soccer positions can be divided up into three categories: forwards, midfielders, and defenders.

Forwards

Forwards play closest to the opponent's goal. Sometimes they are called strikers or attackers. Their main job is offense and to score goals. In general, forwards must be fast and able to dribble the ball well.

Wing Forward

A wing forward plays to the right or the left of the field. Their primary job is to dribble the ball quickly up the sidelines and then center the ball with a pass to the center forward. Wing forwards can also shoot on goal if they get a break away or get a clean shot when coming up the sidelines.

Wing forwards should practice their speed and learn how to get an accurate pass to the center of the field with a defender on them. Left wing forwards need to be able to make a center pass with their left foot. Practicing speed dribbling and then passing the ball to the center will help you in playing this position.

A key skill for a defender is holding ground. This is where the defender stays between the player with the ball and the goal and slows them up disrupting the opponent's offense.

Sweeper

Some soccer teams have a sweeper position on defense. This player is often the last line of defense behind the fullbacks. It's the sweepers responsibility to pick up any undefended or unmarked player that enters into the penalty area.

Right, Left, or Center

For many soccer positions there is a right, left, and center version. Generally a left footed player will play the left position and a right footed player the right. A player that can play and dribble in traffic is usually good for the center position.

(taken in part from www.ducksters.com)

General Rules

The Kickoff

• Ball must move forward; otherwise it’s a rekick
• Kicker cannot touch it twice, otherwise it’s an indirect kick to the other team
• In U-10, this is a Direct Free Kick. Therefore, a ball kicked into the goal is a goal.

Goals

• All of the Ball must legally travel across all of the goal line and between the posts and under the crossbar.

Throw-ins

• When: ball goes completely over the touchline. Throw-in to opposing team of player that last touched the ball.
• Both feet on the ground and on or behind the touchline.
• Ball must be held in both hands equally; ball must move from behind the head and over the head.
• If ball does not enter playing field: Re-throw.
• Foul throw: One extra chance at U-9, then other team gets throw-in.
• Defenders: Can stand six feet away in front of thrower, but cannot distract or try to interfere.
• There is no offside on a throw-in.
• Keeper cannot handle ball thrown directly to them from their own player.

Goal kicks

• When: ball is last touched by attacking team and travels completely over the goal line.
• How: ball may be placed anywhere in goalie box or roughly 6 yds out from goal line
• Opposing players must be outside the penalty area.
• Ball becomes live when it completely crosses out of the penalty area. If touched beforehand, rekick.
• There is no offside on a goal kick.

Direct kick

. A free kick from which the kicker may immediately score from that initial contact. The kick is taken from the

spot of the infraction, and is rewarded either after a handball or body contact.

Indirect kick

. A free kick from which a a player other than the kicker must contact the ball before a goal can result. The kick is

taken on the on the same spot as the infraction. An indirect kick is a reward after a kick-off, offsides, dangerous

play, and from kicking the ball higher than the goal.

Corner kick

• When: Ball is last touched by defending team and travels completely over the goal line.
• How: Ball is placed inside corner flag within 1 yard of corner; flag cannot be moved.
• Defending team must give 6 yard distance.
• There is no offside on a corner kick.

What is offside?

• An attacking player is offside only if the player is at the moment the ball is last touched by a teammate:
• in the opponents half of the field
• in front of the ball
• closer to the goal than the second to last defender
• in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by
  • playing the ball
  • interfering with an opponent
  • gaining an advantage by being in an offside position
• There is NO offside on 1/ throw-ins, 2/ goal kicks and 3/ corner kicks

The Ten Major Fouls (Careless, reckless or using excessive force)

(Note: players at different age levels have differing levels of skill)

1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
3. Jumps at an opponent
4. Charges at an opponent
5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
6. Pushes an opponent
7. Holds an opponent
8. Spits at an opponent (mandatory red card)
9. Deliberately handles the ball
10. Makes contact with an opponent before touching the ball while tackling an opponent for possession of the ball

The punishment for a major foul is a Direct Free Kick from the point of the infraction (In U-9’s, all Free Kicks are Indirect!)

Penalty Kicks

Penalty kicks are awarded for Major Fouls committed in a player’s own penalty area.

There are no penalty kicks awarded in the U-9 House Division.

The Minor Fouls

1. Dangerous Play
2. Obstruction
3. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball
4. Any other infraction not covered elsewhere
5. Goalkeeper taking more than six seconds to release ball
6. Touches the ball a second time after releasing it
7. Handling the ball if kicked back by teammate
8. Wasting time

The punishment for a minor foul is an Indirect Free Kick from the point of the infraction

(Taken in part from www.tibronsoccer.org)

Terms:

· Header - directing the ball with the use of the head.

· Dribbling -use of the feet to advance the ball down the field.

· Volleying - directing the ball with the chest, shoulder, knee, or hip.

· Blocking - Stopping the progress of the ball with some part of the body.

Hand Ball-No use of the hands is permitted.

· Trapping – stopping or slowing the ball with the feet.

· Offensive team – team in possession of the ball.

· Defensive Team - team defending the goal