Soccer Field Diagram: 5 Ways to Decide Soccer Positions

Tell me the last time you explained to your team various soccer formations by using a soccer field diagram? If yours answer is "long time back" or "never", it means that your team does not know much about positions and formations.

Most of the coaches make the mistake of assuming that kids tend to follow everything by simply giving them the required instructions verbally. Formations should always be talked about with the players beforehand because they play an important role on the field.

These are tactical choices usually made in the form of numbers and which describe the soccer positions of the players in each area from the defensive line. The formations should never be inflexible and so the coach must continue to exchange players in every game. Something very important which should be kept in mind is that formations must be decided after taking into consideration each player's strong and weak points.

Given below are certain formations that are frequently used in soccer:

4-4-2: This one is used most frequently. This formation has four defenders, four players on midfield, and two attackers, not including the goalie and this is why it's called a 4-4-2.

Here, the midfielders have the most important function by supporting the forward players in defense. At the time of attack, they should move towards the goal line to support the defenders.

4-5-1: This is a defensive formation and consists of five midfielders and one forward. The greatest advantage with this formation is the inability of the opposition to attack simply because the midfielders are at the center.

And because there is only 1 forward, it allows the midfielders to move forward thereby leaving the opposition high and dry.

3-5-2: This contains three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. This formation has the attacking as well as defending advantage since 2 wingmen get to attack and the center midfielder disallows counter attacking.

3-4-3: This is the most violent form of formation on the soccer field diagram that the players resort to when the opponents are defending. With the aid of three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards, the plan of action is to attack using the forwards and use the defenders in the event of the opposition tearing apart the defensive line.

You cannot adopt a particular plan for the entire match. It must change according to the changes in the overall situation of the game. So a coach must think quickly and keep rotating the players throughout. However, any formation can either be offensive or defensive.

Good soccer tactics on formations are very important since a team's victory or defeat depends on it. As the game progresses towards action, the formation should change accordingly.

Now use the soccer field diagram to teach the players in the field. In case you are interested in more such tips, our youth soccer coaching community is the perfect resource for it.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in Soccer field diagram and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. To explode your players' skills and make training fun, download your free Soccer Formations ebook at: Soccer Training.