I’m coaching a U8 girls rec team. We play 7v7 (6 field players and a keeper). All season we have been playing a 3-2-1 formation (3 forwards, 2 defensive backs and 1 sweeper). This formation has worked well defensively, particularly since I coach the DBs to play at or behind the mid field line and the sweeper to play behind them. The 3 forwards basically run the whole field. I like this setup because the opponent rarely gets a clean shoot on our goal.

On offense the forwards can push the ball to the opponent’s goal reasonable well, but our offense is unorganized. Almost all of our scoring chances come from a forward winning a 1v1 matchup or making an entry pass to space where another forwards beats the DB to the ball. We haven’t scored a lot of goals, which has resulted in a four 1 to 1 or 2 to 2 ties this season.

Most of the teams we play against play a 2-2-2. Some have their girls move up and down the field depending on the ball position. Some keep 2 forwards in our defending zone the whole game. One well coached team we played ran 2-2 overlap plays the entire game. That was the only team to score more than 4 goals on us. I’ve had a few parents, some with more soccer experience than me, suggest we play a 2-2-2 system to generate more offense.

So my questions are: Which is the better system/formation for a U8 rec team? What are you using and why? Which formation prepares the girls better for the future as we add more field players? Does anyone know of books or websites with soccer formation or system information for youth soccer teams playing less than 11v11?