8 a side soccer

If we say that the game is the best teacher, then in my opinion the 8 a side game in the best format to use to let the game teach the players.  During the spring we took a close look at the programs that we offered through Lower Island and embarked on a revitalisation plan. As part of that plan we produced a coaching syllabus for our BCSPL teams, but more importantly with the support of the University of Victoria’s School of Exercise Science we developed a document for the coaches within our district to use as an extra resource to help them with their teams.

As part of that document we offered up some different schemes to use when playing 8v8 soccer. Although this document is aimed at the coaches within our district the information is available to everyone via our website and here is a link to the document http://www.lowerislandsoccer.com/Coaches/CoachingTheCoachesLISA.pdf

In this blog I would like to go into more detail about my favourite scheme in 8v8 soccer which I used at Sheffield United as an academy coach before I moved to Canada: which was two in the back, four across the middle in a diamond and one player up top as a target, in layman’s terms 2-4-1.

The idea behind this particular formations is not to win games or to stop the other team playing, its set up to challenge the players and put them in situations in the game where they have to make decisions based on the situation in front of them. These ‘learning moments’ are few and far between in the game and I think this formation increases the learning moments and in turn helps develop the decision making of the players.

Two in the back constantly challenges the defenders. If we want to produce defenders then they need to be able to mark an opponent and be able to take responsibility for dealing with players in 1v1 situations. They must also be able to communicate with their defensive partner and know when to mark and when to release from their player to offer cover or support to their defensive partner. Winning games is not the driving factor so don’t worry about playing man for man , or even a man down, in the back at the younger ages.  In time your defenders will become better as they are faced with multiple learning moments. They will make mistakes along the way but that is how they learn. Two in the back will also challenge the keeper and give them opportunities to use their feet if they are encourage to play as defender when you have the ball.

Across the middle the four players offer width and depth in a diamond formation. The holding player links the defenders to the team and should be encouraged to drop into deeper positions to help out the two defenders when needed. In time they will figure out that its better to start a little deeper and move forward as opposed to starting higher up the field and having to run back and help out. The two wide players should be encouraged to move up and down the field and keep the diamond shape as often as possible.  They will encounter numerous learning moments, do they stay wide or come inside, should they take their opponent on or look for a pass. All key decisions that they need to start to make on their own.

The player at the top of the diamond is the linking player to the lone striker. They should be encouraged to offer support to the wide players when they are in possession and to get close to the striker when the ball is played forward. Four across the middle also introduces the players to playing in a group and working together. The chances are they will play in a four, whether in the back or in the midfield as they get older so why not introduce them to it as early as possible.

Up top, our lone striker must learn to play with their back to the opponent and look to play with a supporting player. Decisions for this player are many; can I get turned, can I go forward and create a scoring opportunity, should I connect with a supporting player. Multiple learning moments that will be difficult to replicate in a practice session.

In youth soccer the game should act as an extension of the week’s practices sessions, and far too often the game becomes the biggest factor during the week. The 8v8 format gives us an element of control that is lost as players move to the 11 a side game. The field is smaller so the players are, in theory less fatigued, and the smaller field can be more forgiving of individual errors as in the smaller space the players are closer together. The smaller space also encourages the player’s to pass the ball rather than just kick it away as there is less space to kick it into.

The key to the big game, 11v11, is controlling the space, make it big when you have the ball and make it small when they have it. You control the space through the shape and movement of your team. My experience has been that this formation provides more learning moments as it is challenging for the defenders and the single attacking player. It encourages the midfielders to drop down and help the defenders out and it demands that they move forward to support the striker. 

Once your players have a basic understanding of the shape you want them to make on the field then you can start enjoying watching them play and learn.

Remember, the important thing is challenging your players and putting them in situations where they have to make a decision.  Our players need to learn how to play the game and to read the game.

I hope that makes some sense.

To finish, the next Lower Island Soccer Coaches Association meeting will take place at the Lakehill Soccer Associations facility at Braefoot Park on Friday 26^th August from 6pm. Our guest presenter will be Matt Fisher from the Pacific Sports Institute for Sports Excellence. The session will cover warm and injury prevention techniques and I hope to see as many of you there as possible. As always don’t forget to bring your boots….