Teaching Shape and Formation

[a.nelson124@btinternet.co]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Can anybody offer some practical help regarding teaching shape and formation. I am relatively new to training and have recently passed my level 1 FA but this doesn't really cover the above topic. We recently visited a local championship club and the youth development officer gave the team a quick 10 minute overview about working in pairs and field position. [/font]
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[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Our team understand the basic technical aspects of the game but when it comes to match day they seem to lose all sense of their field position and how to support to each other. This is something I am finding really difficult to incorporate into training sessions - should I invest in a tactics board to show them what I am talking about - but before I can even consider this I need to understand the basic aspects of shape and formation - is there anywhere I can go for help.[/font]

[Val]

How old are your kids, Nelson? How big a field do they play on and how many play on the pitch at the same time on game day?

[a.nelson124@btinternet.co]

Hi Val

They are 12 years old and play on a full size pitch 11 v 11. I have 19 in the squad with various skills and techniques from good to not so good - we work on personal technique and skill development every week, but I am little unsure how to approach the teaching of positioning and formation and which is the best to start with. Looking at some of the threads people say 3-5-2 or 4-4-2?? I have been using 4-4-2 but I am not confident that I am doing and saying the right things. I really am a beginner on this topic. Are there any good DVD's or books people can recommend or drills etc.

Regards

Tony.

[jm2209]

I find 442 easiest to coach... however it is a variable formation, it really depends on how you want your team to play, For example you may want your players to keep narrow others may look to play with width, again some want there full backs overlapping others dont...

Look at the strengths of your players and try to make a decision on what will suit them best...

You can also look at things such as "the line of confrontation", is your squad suited to play counter attack or are the players in defense not too confident on the ball, there are lots of things to consider!

[mcolwell]

I think that the advice about having a formation that suits your players is spot on. If you have players who like to attack and have the skills to do so go 4-3-3 ot 3-4-3. If they are solid but unspectacular go 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. My under 11's are just going to 11 a side and so will try 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 and swop the boys over in terms of position at half time etc. It is always good to experiment as if it does not work then change it. Pitch size also matters. On a big pitch i like 4 in midfield but on a smaller pitch maybe go 3 in midfield and 3 up top with 2 players wide to stretch the other team? I do like to see width.