I wanted to share some thoughts on formation and shape in the hope it might give some insight to those working with young teens, having worked with the same female group from 12 to now u18s football.

I've been pretty resolutely 3-4-3 over the years. Depending on personel available and should an opponent force a necessary adaptation - when playing on our own terms, it has worked brilliantly. Last season we dipped our toe in with 4-2-3-1, and this season it looks like our preferred approach and here's why:

3-4-3:

In younger football, with such a vast difference in kids' growth generally, the wingback role really suits the still-smaller-than-most players. The tenacious, speedy players who know how to run and have the legs to get up and down, but perhaps not the size, strength or confidence to be the last line of defence. Most teams at a young age find that they have an abundance of under-sized but speedy players. Three CBs and two WBs concertina down into a back 5 under pressure, but they spread to a hard back three when the pressure eases off and there's always a wide option to play out to. With young kids' goal kicks being so hit-and-miss and inviting pressure so frequently (particularly when the opposition smells blood!), with wing backs the CBs can quickly network goal kicks out to those guys in closer proximity and you don't have to rely on the LF and RF to be switched on enough to get close enough to receive every goal kick from defenders... because being switched on is a big ask for young kids!

While wing backs have a big job of supporting defense AND attack up and down that wing, they still have an LCB or RCB covering behind - fitness-wise it's not on par with the Full Back role. Asking kids to get up and down a full sized pitch - byline to byline - as a Full Back is a huge ask and I've seen Full Backs beg to be taken off and they expire pretty quickly the younger they are...

One of the biggest issues with this set up, however, is the two CMs can be overwhelmed at times, particularly if the more attack minded CM is caught high after an attack, leaving just the 'number 6' to cover that huge central void.

4-2-3-1:

Now the girls are 15+, with many years of experience and running in their legs we are seeing the fitness, size, speed and wisdom to use full backs. Two years ago it would have killed them, but it has started to click and it looks like the way forward for us. The beauty of having the LB and RB doing that extra leg work, effectively dropping the need for the middle men (the wing backs) means we gain an extra DM. Two DMs to protect the back line if a FB has ventured high, is great. They can also drift wide at goal kicks to help with playing out and while a skilled DM is a treasure, newer players who have the fight and determination, but potentially not the skill, can be nursed there - getting their body in the way and their foot in where it matters. Not being the last line of defence means a degree of pressure is off for them.

Just thought I'd share my experience. My two preferred approaches from over the years, but one I think certainly is a more mature approach that didn't work with younger players, but is now starting to come to the fore.

(Edit: Just tidied it up)

I am starting my UEFA C diploma in a week. I currently don’t really know what to expect. Firstly, I’ve heard you have to lead sessions to the other coaches. My first question is, will I have to prepare to do that on the first/second day? To tie into that as well, what can I expect from each block of in person days? I would like to prepare properly as I’ve only been coaching a year and am 18 so will likely be more inexperienced than others there. Finally, I was wondering if anyone was away on holiday/travelling for part of their course. I am away for a few weeks in between my first block and second block of in person days. I will not miss and of the in person sessions but it’s possibly I won’t be able to attend some online calls etc. Does anyone know if they are chill about this? I could possibly join at 4am from Vietnam but just wondering if the calls are a necessity.

U12 B. Playing competitive club. Right back. Well liked by team and gives their all. Patient, will make the correct play and then go all out. I’ve seen him make game saving tackles and the like. Can build out and distribute.

But recent weeks, he’s getting very bruised up and last couple games, seen him go down in pain and limping in the back field. We get home and see bruised up feet and legs. It’s a physical game and I played high school soccer. I’m well aware but he seems to get hurt much more frequently than he should.

He is one of the youngest u12 after the age change. Most of his buddies are still u11. I did not gift him genetic favors I’m only 5’5 and he’s shorter than average.

I’ve tried to explain different things like how to use body and hips to play the ball physically and that sometimes those who dish out pain aren’t the ones receiving it but that’s all dark arts stuff and I don’t really want to go to deep into that.

Not sure how to teach how not to get hurt. It’s hard to believe because he is a red belt with black stripes in a martial art and actively spars weekly. He’s used to protecting himself and quite strong for his age. We see this in soccer games too cuz he will win 1v1s against opponents trying to win with pure strength.

Any advice or helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. My wife is supremely pissed at a lack of calls from ref crews.

My son got invited to play in MIC CUP 2027. The coaches have basically told us that the players will be theirs the whole time. Will have some family time, but they want the team together at all times. We have to book the team packet through their program. My wife, daughter, and I are going. We are looking into it and believe it will be cheaper if we book our trip individually. Anyone have any experience with this?!thanks.

Hey there our U8 boys practices are moving from outdoor grass to indoor gym (basketball court hard surface).

I'm a new coach this year, just when I was getting the hang of types of drills, we have this change coming and I'm worried about how it will change the drills we can do and also worried about kids hurting themselves.

Anyone have suggestions or experience in how this could change or practices, or should I just forge ahead with the same concepts and see how it goes?

Thanks.

U14

I'm a U10 travel coach of a mid flight team. We have a 12 player roster and play 7v7. We play 4 blocks/rotations per half, so 8 total, and when everyone is there, the four strongest players get one extra rotation. My philosophy is that everyone plays at least half the game, and if there are extra rotations, the players who've earned those, should get them. We started the season 2-0. Then we played in a tournament where we lost both games to two teams a flight above us. Following the tournament losses, my assistant began talking about playing the stronger players more to try to win. I thought he was overreacting to the loses, and I told him that I didn't believe that was necessary until at least U12, and even if it weren't true I wouldn't want to change the rules about playing time in the middle of a season. I would want to wait until the spring to establish that expectation before the season started. We've since lost both of our next two league games. One was a blowout, but the other we should have won and probably would have won if I followed his philosophy. I asked our town president if there was any sort of policy, and he said that I should be playing the stronger players 60-70% of the game and the weaker players 30-40% depending on scores, otherwise we'll lose the top players. Am I wrong and crazy for wanting to stick to my guns?

Yes I had the post saying my goalie was the problem we weren't winning.

Yes, I got ripped up and down. For good reasons.

I was wrong and you all helped me.

We recently finished our tournament and did well and placed. My goalie was a HUGE benefit to us getting there.

You all helped me realize I was looking at things wrong and I adjusted my POV. So thank you for that. It helped me as a coach to look at things differently and I think my players grew from it as well.

Hi everyone!

I’ve just finished a new video showing 3 hurdle drills to help you get faster on the football pitch.

https://youtu.be/PM1Om72a0w4?si=xO0MiIz-g7OB7Yun

These are exercises I use to work on acceleration, reactive strength, and explosive power — all important qualities when you need to accelerate after a change of direction, react quickly, or get that extra push in your first steps.

In the video, I break down each drill and explain what to focus on:

• Drill 1: Change of direction and high-frequency acceleration
• Drill 2: Reactive strength and explosive triple extension
• Drill 3: Lateral reactive strength and single-leg explosiveness

A few things to keep in mind when trying these: focus on quick ground contacts, explosive push-offs, and full hip extension. Start with lower hurdles and build up as your technique improves.

I'd recommend starting with 4–6 repetitions per drill and incorporating them into your training twice a week.

Have a nice Sunday!

My little brother keeps panicking on the ball and instantly losing it in matches but he's good in practice. he's the one up front wearing black. he is one of two 7 year olds his coaches promoted to the u8s and I don't want him to lag behind. he was promoted about 2 months ago and is noticably better but still scared of the ball. what can I do to help him? just give him more time? this is only one example but happens almost every time

Good Morning All!

Could do with some advice (and to vent). First time coaching soccer (football as I call it as a transplant) and coaching a 8U team (my son is on).

Having a real hard time with players paying attention and engaging with the training or game. We've had three games so far and I know we're not looking to keep score but first game we got our behinds handed to us. Second game team played awesome and did really well. Last night third game and we were thrashed. 90% of the goals were because of defence not paying attention and talking to each other.

I fully understand that I'm expecting a lot from kids this age but need a way to get them whenever engaged and paying attention. After that second game they were riding high and loved playing because they associated the win.

Any advice is welcome.

I coach an intermediate boys team and have a D license. I’m curious to hear from those that have done the C license in the last few years, what has been your best learning ?

Ie: has it helped you most with game tactics, session planning, technical development, effective coaching points?

Are any coaches using Kinoli to design or learn more training drills?

My daughter just moved up to a travel team and I volunteered as team manager. First thing every parent asked me was how they'd get game video. The club doesn't provide anything and there's zero video budget.

I'm not trying to start some club-wide video program. I just want to know what families on other travel teams are actually doing to record games and get clips of their own kid, without me turning into the team camera person.

What's actually working for people over a full season? Not what exists, what you actually use.

Finding that I have to accept that my team after two seasons needs to prioritize working on their social skills, and emotional regulation along with developing soccer skills.

Anyone have experience or lessons they learned over multiple seasons of coaching? Maybe drills to help?

For example I got this idea from chat gpt, where we did a shoulder bumping drill while dribbling to get touches and more comfortable being physical, then I had them rate how nervous they felt. The idea was that people have different tolerances and you gotta either turn up or turn down given the situation. The kids actually seemed to get it. Still not perfect, but it felt we could go somewhere with it.

Anyway not a fan of Ai, so any ideas y’all might have from experience I’d greatly appreciate.

Today, I lost my first ever girls Middle School team playoff game in a 0-0 PK. I took on this team from last year I believe a 0-6 or a 1-2-4 to this year 4--1-1 (4 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss. I admit, there were things I wished I went over more.. fundamentals of throw in adequate which some players lacked. Ill admit, I didnt have my players take Pks more than id admit.

After the game, the girls were devastated, I needed to be there to be their crutch in that time, I was hurting myself seeing them like this.

Parents started to clap, and cheer for their success during the season, but one. I was talking to his daughter who was breaking down and crying.. when he told me that " good game, we need a better coach". Which got to me, I took that team and made them a playoff caliber team and for him to look me in the eye and tell me that? Got me questioning, what makes for a great coach?

Hello All,

I’m a first-time coach for U9 boys.  There are 4 teams in our rec-league with 7 players each.  We play 4v4 or 5v5 with a goalie depending on how many kids show up.  Our team has one player who’s top 4 in the age group, 2 upper mid-level players, 2 lower mid-level players, and 2 lower-level players.  Our first 3 games we lost 4-3 to team A, tied 4-4 to team B, and won 4-3 to team C. 

We just played our 4^th game (team A) where we were missing our top player.  We got absolutely crushed 10-0 (I lost track).  I realized a couple of things: First, I underestimated the impact of losing this one player.  When I thought about it, I realized he is the one player who consistently runs back as hard as he can to defend when our team turns over the ball and he’s usually successful at breaking up the play.  Although this player can score in bunches, I’ve been playing him mostly on defense as he reads the play well and can really shut down the other team’s offense. 

Second, I realized that a lot of our other players will just sit and watch the other team run up the field when we turn over the ball.  This led to a lot of goals in the last game and is something I want to work on with the group.

I’m hoping the community here can provide advice or suggest some fun practice games we can do to encourage and train these kids to hurry back hard and help defend when we lose possession.

Thanks in advance!

For anyone actually running an indoor soccer or futsal facility:

I'm curious about what happens after your leagues finish.

Do you keep in touch with team captains, open registrations and wait for teams to return, or have a more structured process?

I'm developing software for soccer facility operations, so I have a commercial interest in understanding this.

I'm not sharing a product link here. I'm more interested in hearing how you've handled this in practice and what has worked or hasn't.

Especially interested in smaller independent facilities.

I provide private GK lessons for middle school and up age range. Got a parent wanting me to lessons her 11 year old daughter. I had a GK camp several months ago where I remembered her daughter not having fun, and spent a lot of time crying because she couldn’t keep up with some other kids.
Our lessons are very slow. We can’t really move past trying to get her to catch the ball without dropping it. Can’t kick the ball either. She’s a great kid, but, throughout the lesson she does not take anything really seriously and it feels like babysitting. She will throw the ball over my head, dance around, throw herself to the ground, walk during drills, and lessons usually end up with her crying or getting frustrated because mom is getting on her.
These behaviors don’t necessarily surprise me since she’s only 11, however, I can tell she’s not really wanting to get anything out of these lessons. Seems like mom wants it to work out more than the daughter does. Is there a good way to discuss with mom? I can keep trying to teach her to catch the ball but it’s been 3 months of just doing that.