8v8 – Goal Kicks Set Up

[Niels Bruckner]

That sounds like a reasonable adaption. We tend to play 2-3-2 for our U10/U11G teams with the 2 center backs split wide and the center mid (CM) at the top of the box. On our team, we don’t have a specialized goalie so we just rotate field players in the goal. Our goalies are comfortable with the ball at their feet, so we actually prefer to NOT drop the CM back for cover, and instead just use the goalie in that slot. This tends to work better for us as we found that the opposing team would often have a player that would follow the CM back in the box, making it more difficult for us to work the ball out of danger. By keeping the CM high, the goalie has more room to operate. Of course, this depends on how much the other team presses, and in general, most of our competition will give us some space once we have demonstrated that our goalie can hit a long enough ball.

[Ryan Otten]

Throughout the last two years, I have done the following with a 2-3-1-1 (two centerbacks, one holding mid, two wide defenders/mids, one attacking mid, and one striker)…

1.  Two Centerback split outside the penalty area… 5 yards dropped from the corner, so they can see the whole field and receive across their body

2. Holding Mid checks into the space on top of the penalty area… checking their shoulder, looking to get a half/full turn to go forward (if marked out, DO NOT play this ball). If marked out, Attacking Mid checks in and Holding Mid checks out.

3. Wide Defenders/Mids – play all the way wide to the touch and they get high near midfield line (will create space for themselves by checking away, then checking to Centerback on touchline)

4. Lone Striker – will stretch the field as high as possible (within range of GK longest kick). If receives, is looking to hold the ball to get others forward

 

 

**Once ball goes out for Goal kick, all players are already moving to spots… GK is looking to play quick

**GK places ball near middle of six yard box (ability to play either Centerback easily). If GK plays to CB, then are moving to support/find an angle to receive back if necessary

**If these options are not available, it is PARAMOUNT that all players tuck in and move up

 

 

Hope this helps!

[Michael Sprano]

We do something similar, with a 2-3-1 at 7v7, then adding an attacking mid to make it 2-3-1-1 at 8v8.  The outside mids play dual roles – like fullbacks on defense and when building, then like forwards in the attack.

On GKs I have the outside mids immediately get wide and push up to long for a long diagonal ball and quick counter if we can catch the other team sleeping and not getting back, but when that’s not on they quickly lose their man and drop quickly along the touchline, so they can provide a good option for the CBs.  So basically we still play out with a “back 5”, even in 7v7 or 8v8.  This allows us to work tactically using the same play out of the back exercises as shown in the clinic.

Here’s a good video I found of Barelona’s U11 team playing this way at 7v7 – you can start to see their shape playing out of the back at about 1 min in:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJlH4_GEluY

[Bret Anderson]

Thanks Michael, Ryan and Niels for your thoughts.

 

Michael – thanks for sharing the video of Bracelona – always helps to be able to watch it done.

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