From swarm soccer to positions: two ways to make the transition 【U-8】

Hello, this is Coach Kazu.

In coaching younger age groups, how to move from swarm soccer to play that is aware of positions is a struggle for many people. On defense they swarm and get beaten through the middle. You want to graduate them from that soon. But when you teach positions, then the pressure on the ball becomes lax.

For example, some of you may feel as follows.

• When you teach starting positions, the children get confused and go back to swarming
• When you make them hold positions, their pressure on the ball and their duels become weak
• At U-8, you do not know how far you should teach positions

Previously, I received this kind of question on X. "I am in charge of U-8 (second graders). On defense they swarm and get beaten through the middle, so I tell them their starting positions and urge them to return to their own spots on defense. But confusion arises among the children, their pressure becomes lax, and they go back to swarming. How would you approach this, Kazu?"

In this article, I will explain the two ways to transition from swarm soccer to positional play, what I would do if I were coaching U-8, and the way of thinking about training for that transition. If you read this article, I think you will see how to balance "organizing the shape" and "keeping the players' strengths," so please watch to the end.

1. Two Ways to Transition from Swarm Soccer to Positions

To get straight to the conclusion, there are two ways.

1. Half-forcibly drill the starting positions into them

The first is, as in the question, the method of telling them the starting positions and drilling in "when it becomes attack or defense, stand in this position." It is a method of starting with the shape, half-forcibly.

The merit is that the visible shape quickly becomes beautiful.

However, there is a demerit. Intensity (the intensity of play) drops. Because they are too conscious of positioning, their duels become weak, and they become unable to go to press.

This is the same on attack. When you try to make them hold positions, they come to choose only passes, and the sharpness of their dribbling often disappears. The "pressure becomes lax" in your question is, I think, exactly this demerit appearing.

2. Keep the swarm, and gradually bring them toward positions with key factors

The second is the method of letting them play swarm soccer while using small key factors to gradually lead them to play that takes up positions. This one is more difficult.

You observe how the players move when they play naturally, and apply corrections there. For example, for a child who goes toward the ball, you tell them the support key factor, "When a teammate has the ball, move a little away and receive a pass." It is an accumulation of that kind of thing.

The merit is that intensity does not drop, and instinctive dribbling, etc. does not disappear. However, coaching is extremely difficult, and it takes time.

3. Which to choose depends on "what you want to keep"

If you want to organize the shape immediately, it is 1; if you want to keep the players' strengths, it is 2. 1 is fast but intensity drops. 2 keeps intensity but takes time. Knowing these two natures, I think it is good to decide which one to lean toward.

1. Teach the starting positions. But do not stick to them

If I were coaching U-8, I think I would teach the starting positions. However, I probably would not stick to positions that much.

More than that, I prioritize the technical parts that will be necessary when they become third and fourth graders.

2. Individual technique that can be polished precisely within the swarm

For example, when the ball comes in the jumbled swarm, carrying it into a wide space with "controlled oriented (directional control)." Or techniques such as "regate (breakthrough dribbling)," "carrying dribbling," and one-twos.

On the premise that swarming is unavoidable to a certain extent, I think I would take the approach of polishing individual technique. In a swarm there are many situations of handling the ball in tight spaces, so in that sense it is also an opportunity to polish individual technique.

3. If you absolutely want them to graduate from it, start from the moment of transition

Even so, if you absolutely want them to graduate from swarming, first you start by thoroughly instilling awareness of immediately taking up their starting positions in "transition (switch between attack and defense)." Rather than making them memorize the positions themselves, you make "where to return to at the moment of transition" the first step.

1. With 4v4 plus 3 free players, "Where is your starting position?"

As training, for example, in a possession practice such as "4v4 plus 3 free players," asking "Where is your starting position?" the moment the ball is lost and making them quickly take up positions is effective.

2. Do not make standing in a position the goal

However, care is necessary so that standing in a position does not become the goal. "After you take up a position, you can move out freely." "When a pass is played, go in and win it with all your might." In this way, it is necessary to instill the actions after taking up a position as well.

If they memorize where to stand and stop moving, the downside of ① (loose pressing) shows up exactly as described. "Return, then win the ball from there" is one complete set.

③ Defensive practice comes after the attack is circulating

There is one more important precondition. To train defense, you need a state where the ball is circulating to a certain degree.

If the level is such that the ball does not circulate in a rondo or similar, I think it is better to prioritize organizing the attack before defense. Once the attack can take its starting positions and the ball starts circulating, defensive training against that naturally becomes viable too.

The more you want to do something about a clump of defenders, the more you should first sort out the attacking shape, even if it looks like a detour. I think that is the order.

Summary

• There are two ways to shift from a clump to positions. ① Teach the shape first (fast, but intensity drops) ② Keep the clump and press using key factors (intensity remains, but it is difficult and takes time)
• If I were coaching U-8, I would teach starting positions but not insist on them. I would prioritize the individual skills that become necessary in 3rd and 4th grade
• Even inside a clump, you can sharpen control oriented, carrying dribbles, breakthrough dribbles, and one-twos
• If you want them to graduate from the clump, start with awareness of returning to starting positions at the moment of transition
• In practice, use 4v4 plus 3 free players and ask "Where is the starting position?" Drill it down to the action after standing still
• Defensive practice becomes viable once the ball is circulating in the attack

In the U-8 age group, please approach with balance so that defending positions does not erase the players' instinctive strengths. Please try it at your own coaching sites too!

Also, for practice like 4v4 plus 3 free players, if you draw the board and visualize the "starting positions," it becomes easier to ask questions of the players.