A common formation in the 8v8 format of play is a 3-3-1, or three defenders, three midfielders, and one forward.  Each position has a specialized terminology in soccer jargon, for instance a left or right midfielder might be called a winger (left winger), the forward might be called a striker, and defenders might also be called backs (center back).  As you will have multiple coaches throughout your soccer career from club, middle school, high school, and college coaches, not to mention all of the camps available at every age group, each coach might have a different way of saying things.  Below is the basic break down of our 3-3-1 formation, and how it all works.

This is a normal soccer field, separated into two halves with the appropriate linings for the center circle, and goal areas.  We will go on to break the field down into sections, eventually breaking the field down into positions.

The first way we break down the field is into thirds.  There are the Attacking, Midfield, and Defensive Thirds.  The Striker will primarily stay close to the Attacking Third, while the Midfielders and Defenders take up their respective places inside their grids.  Players are free to move up and back, but never exceeding an entire grid.  Having our center defender making a run up the field leaves a big gap in the back!

The second way we break down the field is again into thirds, but this time it’s the Left, Center, and Right Midfield.  A right midfielder, or winger, will run up and down the right side of the field, but should not go beyond half of the next grid.  Just like the center defender shouldn’t make a full field run up to the attacking third, likewise our right midfielders should not make a cross field run and occupy our left midfielders position.  We wouldn’t have anyone on the right, in that case!

If you combine the two documents before, the Attacking, Middle, and Defensive Thirds, along with the Left, Center, and Right Thirds, the field naturally divides into 9 areas or boxes.  Reading from left to right, the positions in defense are Left Back, Center Back, Right Back.  Our midfielders have the most ground to cover, and your positions are Left Winger, Center Midfielder, and Right Winger.  Leading the attack, the Forward or Striker is in the center box of the Attacking Third.  The boxed diagram will help you understand and remember shape.

Shape is maintained by each player ’owning their box’.  This term means that whenever the ball is inside a players respective box, that player is responsible for retrieving the ball, by either intercepting a pass or stealing it from the opposing player through a tackle.  The responsibilities of each players are broken down:

Defenders: The Defenders job is to limit the shots on the goal keeper by winning the ball before the opposing team can take a shot, or blocking the shot with a tackle.  In the attack, the outside backs (left and right defender) should look for their respective winger (left or right midfielder) before looking to play the long ball forward to the striker.  The center back is responsible for keeping the defense in position and organized, as well as winning tackles and making good passes.

Midfielders:  Midfielders are the workers on the field, playing both attack and defense.  The outside midfielders need to stay wide, which means getting their feet on the out of bounds line.  Midfielders will receive the ball from the defense, and look to interchange passes with the other midfielders and forward to get the ball into the attacking third.  Defensively, all midfielders are required to work back regardless of position on the field to help out on defense.

Forward:  The forwards job is to score and create goals.  Being the most attacking player, the striker is not required to drop all the way back and defend. Our forwards are encouraged to ’defend from the front’ by chasing down the ball in the entire attacking third when the opposing team’s defenders have possession of the ball.  The striker is encouraged to stay on the last defender of the opposing team, and to stay as high as possible.  The striker should move from left to right, checking to the side of the field that the ball is on, while remaining in the attacking third.  The striker will not be able receive the ball from the right midfielder if he or she is in the top left box, furthest from the play.

Shape:  Each player should "own their box".  We focus on achieving success from each individual performing to their maximum potential, which will come together to a Total team effort.  Players may move into each square that is directly beside or in front of them, but only to occupy half of their square.  That means our left midfielder should not drift more than half way into the center midfielders square, but can check that far over if the play is on the opposite side of the field.

If you have any questions, ask your coach!  Just as you learn from reading at a library, your coach is the biggest book on soccer there is!  If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail DemizeSoccer@gmail.com for any further information.