Adding Structure to a Small-Sided Game

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity simply involves adding structure to a small sided game.

Frequently a team will end a training session with a small sided game.  They might play 7 v 7 including keepers

Instead of doing it this way, consider putting them into positions and a formation.  In the diagram below we have both teams playing a 3-1-2

An alternative is to put them into different formations.  In the diagram below the black team is in a 3-1-2 and the yellow team is in a 2-2-2.  Challenging the players to figure out how to handle mismatches will allow them to work on their on field problem solving abilities.

Just like in a regular game of soccer, just because they are playing a formation doesn’t mean there isn’t fluidity in their play, however, when there is a dead ball, it is expected they will go back to their formations.

Adding formations to small sided games can make a huge difference (both good and bad) in what is accomplished in a training session.

Just something to think about.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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