Background
 All over the world, soccer leagues have begun to realize…
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Soccer is viewed and learned differently by young players than by
adults
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Young players cannot fully grasp the complexity of a full 11v11 (or
even a 7v7) game. They learn best through a progression of building
blocks.
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Without the building blocks, many players are thrown into more tactical
situations bypassing technical, tactical and personal growth
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We set the young players up for failure if we continue using larger
numbers at the younger age groups
What is happening to make the world move to small-side
games?
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Less playing fields, more concrete
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Less time to play in an unstructured environment
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Less time to learn to love the sport
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Win at all costs puts to much pressure on younger children
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Players are forced to play at levels they are not ready
for
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Players and Coaches are forced to worry about positions
they are not ready for
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Loss of fun and creativity
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Little soccer tradition for players to follow and learn
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There are so many different opportunities besides soccer
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Not enough nearby parks and fields to play
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At U6, usually first time with soccer, so little knowledge or
contact with soccer (Most 6 year olds can name a few Dodgers and
Lakers, but 1% have heard of the Galaxy)
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So the result is we try to play catch-up by over-coaching too
young. Although well intended, there is too much coaching, too
much structure, too much focus on passing, positions, defensive
lines, and winning and not enough involvement or fun.
Problem with starting at the large numbers
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The biggest problem with playing 8v8 at the young age groups is
that due to our American phenomenon, the vast majority of youth
coaches do not have a soccer background, yet are faced with, arguably,
the most critical period of player development.
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Coaches are asked to deal with a midfield organization that is
too complicated for these novice coaches and the response is to
focus instruction on “structural issues” and positioning
rather than individual technical and small-group tactical issues.
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In turn, 8 v 8 at younger levels do not fully develop technical
and creative skills, which becomes apparent even at the higher
level
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With large numbers, coaches tend to force players to play positions
that do not help them develop any soccer sense. (ex. 2 players
stand at the top on the penalty box all the time and their sole
purpose is to boot the ball out, teaching no defensive positioning)
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Even soccer-knowledgeable coaches tend to try to coach as adults
perceive it, not as a child perceives it, which multiple studies
and child psychologists have shown, is usually very different
The Need for Building Blocks
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While at older ages the game is played 11 vs. 11, the game never
truly involves all 22 players. The large game of 11 vs. 11 is constantly
broken into pieces, for example, 3v2, 2v2, 2v1, 1v1, etc.
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3v3 is an excellent way to introduce “shape” that
is essential for their development in terms of how it relates to
the full sized 11 vs. 11 game (without the large numbers of players involved
to complicate it)
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At U-6, anything above 3v3 is very complicated for U-6 players.
Three players create all the game dynamics a 5-6 year old can handle
and actually learn from.
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At U-6, when 8v8, a few players tend to dominate, leaving the
others behind.
So what are the benfits of 3v3 good to
the player?
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Ownership of responsibility grows self-confidence in
players
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More opportunities for creativity
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More chance to score goals
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Less “Kick it up”, more ball control
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More teaching moments as less players on field at one
time
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MORE FUN! = Player Retention and Player Development
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The Long-term Benefits of moving to 3v3
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Better skilled players at all levels
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Faster thinking players at all levels
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Better understanding of dynamics of soccer “Triangle,
diamonds, etc”
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More confident players and coaches
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Easier recruitment of volunteers
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Simplification of U-6 coaching course
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More knowledgeable coaches through progressive development
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More overall interest in soccer by players, coaches and
parents
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Greater retention of players
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Better skilled & tactical players at the competitive
level when we play other regions
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Stronger pool of players for local high school teams
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Is there any proof this works?
It is hard to disagree US Soccer recommends and with the rest of the
world is doing, but here are a couple studies.
STUDY 1:
Touches per Game Study (U-10 boys) Comparison over an entire
season
Playing 11v11
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Playing 4v4
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22 touches in 60 minutes
Average (.37 touches per minute)
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205 touches in only 48 minutes
-Average (4.3 touches per minute)
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STUDY 2:
4v4 verses 8v8 Study (U-8 girls)
16 players: First, played 8v8 game and then they
were split in half, and played two 4v4 games. Totals by both teams
in 20 minutes
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Total of 16 players
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One 8v8 game
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Two 4v4 games
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Shots
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10
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40
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Total Passes
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128
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440
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Had More fun playing?
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12%
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88%
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The Individual Player Performance Analysis of these games show a
much more active involved player in the 4v4 game in comparison with
that same player that seemed hidden and uninvolved in the 8v8 game.
STUDY 3:
Manchester United study 4v4 verses 8v8: (U-9 age group)
-Compared over 15 games
The 4v4 small-sided games compared to the 8v8 small-sided games:
- Increased number of passes by 135%
- Increased number of scoring attempts by 260%
- Increased number of goals scored by 500%
- Increased number of 1v1 encounters by 225%
- Increased number of dribbling skills (tricks) by
280%
Assuming both teams had an equal amount of possession
the Man United players playing in the 4v4 games had….
- 585 more passes
- 481 more scoring attempts
- 301 more goals scored
- 525 more 1v1 encounters
- Demonstrated 436 more dribbling skills
(tricks)
As shown below, it is obvious that
MORE players benefited in 4v4, whereas in 8v8 the play was dominated
by a few
players
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- 14 of 16 players had OVER 19 passes
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8v8 (in
orange)
- Only 3 of 16 players had more than 12
- None more than 18
- 6 between 2-6 |
DO other team sports change their rules?
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Basketball- Most creative basketball is played 1v1,
2v1 or 2v2 in a driveway! Kids don’t wait until they have
nine friends to have a game! Many organization are moving to 3v3
leagues.
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Baseball- Ever heard of tee ball. Players don’t
fast pitch at 5 years old. Why, because technically, players are
not ready
for it. But some knowledgable coaches still try it.
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Football – Do friends wait for 7 linesman on
each team before they start playing a friendly.
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The point is for the players to enjoy and learn from the game
itself, not worry so much about competition and structure.
Who endorsed small-sided games?
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Strongly recommended by AYSO National
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Every
US Youth Soccer State Director of Coaching
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US Youth Soccer
National Director of Coaching
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US Soccer National
Staff Coaches
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Royal Dutch Football
Association (KNVB) who have developed some of the most skilled
players in the world (Holland)
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The Football Association
(English FA) The French Football Federation (considered one
of the finest youth development countries in the
world)
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Around the world, kids play wherever they can in small
numbers. Why is Freddy Adu so skilled? He learned playing
barefoot in Ghana
with whoever he can play against.
NEXT >>> Arguments
For and Against
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