Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side )
Moving from 5v5 to 7v7 can be daunting and one of the biggest changes made in the progression of junior football.
It’s one of the first steps into what most coaches call proper football.
Where positional shape can be really important, especially early on in the Under 8’s.
A team that can learn to hold their positions will invarably do well as they will find space around the other team that are chasing the ball.
These are only basic guidelines to help you get started and are based around a 2-3-1 Formation ( See other formation options here )
If you are choosing a different formation, the zones would stay the same, you are just moving players into different ones.
Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side ) – Defensive Zone
The defensive zone is a guideline for defenders.
In particular off the ball, to try and stay in their own half and be ready to defend any attacks.
Work them together, to move and cover each other depending where the attack is coming from and ensure one of them is always picking up the centre forward.
If a defender is dribbling the ball out from the back, of course they should be encouraged to cross the half way line if they have space to do so. If space is closed down, then they should be looking for a pass.
Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side ) – Wingers Zone
This is possibly the most important one. If you can teach you wingers to stay in their zone when the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch, it opens up all that space.
This then gives the other winger, defenders of centre midfielder the chance to switch play and create really good chances on goal.
It’s this reason that you can use to convince the players that by holding their position that they will get chances on goal.
Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side ) – Centre Forward Zone
By keeping your Centre Forward in the opposition half, this is a great start to building an attack and Linking Play.
By being able to drop deep to the half way line, hold the ball up and play in the wingers.
Being in defence can very quickly turn into a potent attack and a chance on goal.
Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side ) – Centre Midfield
Centre midfield is the key that bring is it all together.
If the CM can be encouraged to be your best passer. Then there is a really good chance that your transitions from defence to attack will be really effective.
With wingers keeping their positions, CM can get the ball out wide to them or the CF.
Learning Positions: 7v7 ( 7 a side ) – Bringing it all together.
When added all together this can look a little daunting.
But by placing Cones / Flat Discs across the pitch for a few weeks they will soon pick it up.
You will get to see the results pretty quick.
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