Goals of a Formation

• Width
• Depth/Length
• Set up passing options
  
  6v6 Formations
  2-1-2:
  
  +  More natural passing options
  
  +  3 layers of players links forwards and backs more effectively
  
  6v6 Formations
  2-3:
  
  +  3 forwards can make a triangle; teach the center forward to drop back a bit
  
  -  2 defenders outnumbered if opposition attacks with 3; try to teach the center forward to help defensively
  
  6v6 Formations
  Anything But 1-1-3
  
  Violates most know principles of balance
  No width in midfield or at the back
  Few youth coaches coach the sweeper knowledgeably
  Tends to leave one player out of the game, fails to teach moving up and back as a unit
  
  8v8 Formations
  3-2-2:
  
  +  Solid at the back
  +  Good depth
    Tough to get width in attack
  
  Have your midfield pair play centrally and your forwards play as wings
  
  8v8 Formations
  2-3-2:
  
  +  Dominant in midfield
  +  Lots of attacking firepower in the middle
  -   Looks a bit thin at the back
  
  Have your 2 backs stay central when possible; if they need to slide wide, have the off wing cover
  
  8v8 Formations
  3-3-1 or 2-4-1
  
  We're reluctant to suggest formations that play a single forward; young players need to learn to work with other players in attack, and isolating a player up top makes it much more difficult to teach this skill.trolling the midfield; the middle of the park can be a lot of ground to cover for young players!
  
  Issue: play central midfielders next to each other or attacking/holding (up and back, in a diamond)?
  
  Tactics - Keep it Simple
  
  There's a temptation to try to overcomplicate the game tactically for our young players.  Limit your tactical thoughts to these 3 simple ideas that young minds can handle.
  
  Offense
• Get Wide - as soon as your team wins the ball, your wide midfielders and/or wingers (aw well as your wide backs) should head for the sideline where there is space (there's ALWAYS space there, as players are sucked into the middle of the field).  In space you have time; with time, you have options.  Establishing width will enable you to get around and behind the defense, and when they come out to cover you wide, they leave space in the middle.
• 1 Back Supports the Ball - don't have your backs stay in a flat line behind the midfielders when you have the ball.  When the ball goes wide to your midfielders or wingers, have the back step up on that side and present him/herself as a passing option to the wide player.  Then, you won't have to force the ball forward into pressure if there's no opening.  You'll have a nearby option to play it back to, and all kinds of options open up from there.  So if you're playing 2 at the back in 6v6, you teach "1 up, 1 back".  With 3 at the back (usually in 8v8), your motto is "1 up, 2 back".  You get the picture...

Defense

• Clog the Middle - this one's simple.  Nobody ever scores from over by the sideline!  So take away "Route 1" by telling your team to clog the middle and force the ball wide.  With 6v6 teams, tell your 2 backs that they should never be more than the width of the center circle apart.  As they get older, continue to stress the value of staying compact in the middle.  Never give the opposition an easy path up the middle to your goal.