How do the formations of my teams align with the style of play?

Preamble

The topic of team formations is not something youth coaches like to talk about due to other aspects of development that are considered far more important. Thinking about formations is viewed as sticking the players to a specific area on the pitch rather than an element in developing a distinct style of play. Therefore, this topic is largely overlooked. However, when I started deliberately reflecting on how my coaching style of play addresses the players' development, it allowed me to push individual and team performance to another level.

It's important to define what success means to you, identify key principles, and determine which individual qualities you aim to develop in your players and how they align with the chosen formation. It doesn't sound easy. Not overcomplicating things can be a very challenging task for coaches and many of us are guilty of that. But through many years of trial and error, I have developed a certain approach that I encourage you to have a look at.

U6s

During this stage of development, it is essential to ensure that each player establishes a strong relationship with the ball. Therefore, it is crucial to maximize the individual ball-rolling time in all exercises and matches. The primary focus is on developing confident and skilled players who excel in 1vs1 situations.

Engaging in many 1vs1 and 2vs2 matches with different sizes of pitches or goals is a great start to introduce players to the idea of empty and occupied space and give them some direction. One common issue to avoid is progressing to 3vs3, 4vs4 and 5vs5 matches too early, as this leads to "kick and run" chaos or hive-like scramble most of the time. Thus, you can not guarantee that all players are engaged in the game and have a sufficient amount of touches of the ball. Another potential issue is deliberately overemphasising passing or especially shooting.

U7s

During this period the primary target remains the same - build a strong technical foundation for being superior in the 1vs1 situations and expand the toolbox of the different moves and skills with the ball. Children start playing 3vs3 (no GK) matches and can be given simple tasks such as occupying the whole width of the pitch or supporting the player with the ball. Therefore, passing can be introduced and exploited in some uncomplicated routines. In 3vs3 games I apply a "1-2" instead of a "2-1" formation in most cases not only because it's difficult to motivate the players to leave the goal open, but because it intrinsically stimulates the players to exploit 2vs1 situations after maximizing their exposure to 1vs1 duels.

"1-2" formation can serve as the foundation for playing in a "1-2-1" setup during 4-aside matches, where the goalkeeper (GK) acts as an active field player. In this formation, the GK is responsible for controlling the game, supporting the team's attacks, and being able to keep possession of the ball under pressure outside of the penalty area. To give players different experiences, they try to play in different positions and rotate in a clockwise direction to make it simple and smooth.

U8s (beginners)

This is the first stage when I deliberately start to talk about formation, positions and their role with the players who master playing 5-aside matches. Building on previous experiences with the alignment for future progressions, players start with the "1-1-2-1" formation.

In order to be effective and help players progress up the development ladder, certain principles need to be followed. For example, the demands for quality of technical abilities are increasing, along with the requirements for passing and receiving. Additionally, playing in a diamond shape encourages players to constantly move without the ball, be available to support their teammates, create and exploit many 2v1 situations.

Furthermore, the GK is an essential part of my playing style, which emphasizes ball possession, dictating the game's flow, and fostering strong connections among the players and the ball, as well as among the players themselves. The philosophy of "Be brave to maintain ball possession even if you are the last man" aligns with my approach to developing youth football and is deeply ingrained in the academy where I work. The days when the GK's role was limited to catching and kicking the ball forward are long gone. Encouraging players not to kick the ball out under pressure in the early stages may lead to missing out on some trophies and medals in the short term, but the long-term rewards of developing confidence and resilience in players are much greater. Similar to futsal, in U8s' 5-a-side matches, the GK should be capable of quickly restarting the attack and providing support as necessary. To sum up, all players need to have the experience of playing as a GK.

Defending in a diamond shape teaches players how to cover their teammates, keep an eye on another attacker, communicate who puts the pressure, who covers and how to stay compact together.

U8s (advanced levels)

While "1-1-2-1" is a good choice for beginners, before progressing to 7-aside matches, where the midfielder's tasks differ from defenders, wingers and strikers, for more advanced levels I start using a "1-2-1-1" formation. Playing in this shape facilitates the development of the player's spatial awareness and functions as a great introduction to the midfielder's role in football. Moreover, playing in "1-2-1-1" is a basis for smooth transition to "1-2-3-1" in the 7-aside matches at the later stages.

Epilogue

Every environment is unique, and as football continues to evolve, it's crucial for youth coaching to evolve as well. We shouldn't underestimate the potential of children. I can assure you that the players I coach know much more about playing football than I did at their age. This also applies to tactical knowledge in youth development. I'm not talking about coaching U8 players how to do overlaps in 5-aside matches. This is absolutely impractical. Eventually, the formation needs to be tailored to the individual needs of the players. However, if a coach establishes a possession-based style of play, he needs to think about the options that the player on the ball should have in relation to the other players on the pitch and their positions. In this regard, it is essential to align all these formations with the ones used by the coaches in the previous periods. By developing them systematically, players are more likely to adapt to the style of play.