This is never an easy one, however I've found that sticking to a formation and working and developing it will give the kids a better understanding of playing the game. I personally coach 14 year olds, who now play 11 a side, however I have been fortunate to have been coaching many of these kids since they were 7.

I found when these kids were younger, trying different formations, confused them during the game, as they were doing something different to what they did last week. Also as a coach, it was harder to see any consist improvements within the team.

It seemed everyone on the team wanted to score goals and by putting out different formations the kids couldn't seem to keep it.

So I worked with a formation of 3-2-1. This gave the team a more defensive understanding of the game plus by encouraging playing from back to front, improved their passing, dribbling, defending and positioning skills.

This was far easier for the kids to understand and for me as a coach to see what areas needed improving, but I'm glad I stuck with it, even through training sessions. It worked well for me as I had a clear objective of how I wanted the team to play and the kids started to realise that the game was more than just scoring goals.

This is just from my experience but its your team so whatever you finally do I wish you all the best of luck!

Keep it up as coaching kids is a rewarding experience!

In eleven a - side over a course of 6 seasons i used three main formations 4 - 2 - 3 - 1

4 - 1 - 3 - 2 and finally 3 - 4 - 1 - 2. I agree with the previous post though about sticking to a single formation for ease of understanding for the team and to keep tabs on development. Over a number of seasons though due to the same three formations only being used then they get used to the repetition although 70% of the time we did only play 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 but when we did ever change we prepared properly and they adapted fine.

I did find though that if i used the last 20 minutes of the previous days training session to practice and get used to each formation then their understanding on matchday was excellent.

I am a believer that a teams shape does have an effect although on some coaching forums and certain books they do make this out to be unimportant in comparison to player development but i believe its all part of their development and understanding of a position as they can be technically capable but clueless when it comes to their involvement within a team and their overall understanding of the game of football.

It reminds me of those people you see who can do keepy ups on their face, while they balance one legged with their arms tied behind their back (exagerated but you know the type) and everyone thinks "wow" yet put them on a pitch in a game situation and they are clueless and poor!

Not so much advice just a bit of input!

It's been a very successful year for my group.  We've played really well, the kids have progressed (most of them anyway) and results wise they've exceeded my own expectations.

With just 5 games left in our season, we are one point out of first and play the league leaders in the second last game of the season.  We've lost once and drawn once... won the rest.  We made it to the Final of a tournament and lost in extra time as well.

So... what I've learned on formations with U8s is that if you have a group that has worked hard together for a time and the majority of them have well above "game sense", you can do almost anything.  Based on my team's main strengths of speed and attack, I've played 2-2-2 in most games.  But I have had huge success against better teams by playing 3-2-1 and leaving my fastest top scorer up top.  He leads the league in goals so far. 

In this 3-2-1,  I have also sometimes tried something uncoventional in that I have played my centre back attacking up the middle and not staying back which is what you'd normally do.  This has also worked and he's scored 2 goals on long range outside the box rockets!  He's new to playing back there as I had swapped him and a very skillful other player I was playing at the back at the start... he's now a midfielder and has also scored twice since I made the switch.  Coach is happy!  Kids are thrilled and the parents are pleased!  I was feeling a bit like a coaching genius for a while!

In short, I don't think it's a bad thing to experiment not just with the formation itself but also with playing certain kids in different places because you may find some magical combination that works for your team.  It could, of course, all change next season when the kids grow physically/mentally and mature and another spot may be more suitable.  It's interesting to me and I have just switched another boy to the back to fill in while kids are on holiday and he's been terrific so far.  I've tried one of my strikers in midfield and he wouldn't track back... In a game where we were up by 6 goals, I played one of my defenders as a striker for the second half and he was lost!  Played my goalie up there too in the same game and he was hysterical just running around aimlessly.  So it can work both ways at this age - depending on the kid!

Gav

Coach - U8 Boys (Toronto, Canada)

I've been coaching an U7's team for the past 12 months and have a very strong team.

In the beginning, I tended to stick to the 2-3-1 formation. However, in a warm up game during training, I tried the 1-3-2 formation with one of my toughest tacklers in defence and it has worked a treat because all of the midfielders now know that they have to get back and help out defending as well as attacking.

So basically, when I'm attacking, I've always got at least 4 players pushing forward and the same for when I'm defending.

We've just had a few tournaments and we've done incredibly well using this formation with players of varying ability and I never have a problem with getting the midfielders to get back and help defend.

That's awesome! Congratulations.

We all soon learn, as coaches, that the midfielders are the players that make or break most of these formations. If they are disciplined enough to play with one defender, then your way ahead of the game on offense.

I tell my midfielders, that they are defenders first, attackers second. Always think like a defender, but attack when you can. It works out well with the right players.

Coach Mark

Free resources for youth soccer coaches at http://www.coachmarksoccerclub.com/

My recommendation having coached for over 30 years at various levels is to play a 2-2-2 or even a 1-3-2. remember soccer is about attacking and scoring goals and not about playing defense. there is too much defense and lack of attack in today's soccer which has made it boring. I believe that by playing a more offensive formation you also stop the other team attacking as often. Is you pressure the other team as soon as they get the ball especially in their own defensive third, you create more turnovers and hence more chances to attack their goal. Play offensive soccer, don't play defensive. players prefer it, fans prefer it, and as a coach you'll prefer it. Today especially in 11 on 11 there is too little pressure on the ooposition prefering to play defensive formation and to avoid conceeding goals rather than scoring them. too many teams play not to lose or to draw rather than to win. Don't be influenced by the pro or other coaches. If you attack you will be successful! Play an offensive formation. On 7 on 7 one strong defender can work, and then you can control the midfield and attack with strength in numbers. Good luck in your season. I would love to hear how you do. dufeu58@yahoo.com.

I've had my lads since they were U6s, and they are U10s now (starting this new season).  We have done tremendously well in our 2 competitive seasons (U8s and U9s) winning our league twice, and only losing once in all matches.  I have experimented with formations, but we have gone with a 2-1-3, and it has worked for us.  In reality i suppose it works like a 2-1-1-2.  My 1 in midfield is my captain, nothing gets past him, has great vision and is a superb passer of the ball (scouts asked him to trial for two local football league sides, and he turned them down to stay with my team - how lucky am I!!!).  We play with 3 up front with one of them dropping back to help the captain if needs be.  This formation allows two up front to get out wide, with one in the middle.  It works well, but we do have the players who naturally fit those positions.  We score a lot of goals, and concede very few.

Cheers