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Positions and Team Organization
Regardless of how you organize your team, all players should have the opportunity to play all positions.
- Goalkeeper - The keeper is the last line of defense, and the only player who can use his/her hands (in the penalty area).
- Defenders - Defenders (or backs) focus mainly on defending the goal. They keep the other team for dibbling, passing or shooting in the defensive end of the field. Once the ball is back in their possession, they advance the ball up the field and provide rear support to midfielders and forwards.
- Midfielders - Playing in between the defenders and forwards, midfielders are always in the middle of things. They must support the forwards in front of them and the defenders behind them. They will be asked to do a lot of running during the course of a game.
- Forwards - Forwards should always be looking to score. These players must be good dribblers, have the ability to cross the ball into the middle, and obviously, be able to take the shot.
A typical structure for an 8-sided game is 2-2-3 (2 defenders, 2 midfielders, 3 forwards).
Another alternative is 3-2-2 (3 defenders, 2 midfielders, 2 forwards).
In terms of strategy, we recommend that you keep it simple. Let your players get used to their position on the field and encourage them to play in their areas. Encourage the team as a whole to move forward and backwards, depending on where the ball is. If the ball is deep in the opponent's half, the defenders should be at the half line. If the play is deep in your half, your forwards should be at the half line.
Encourage players to move the ball quickly using all areas of the field - especially the wings. Have defenders pass to midfielders and midfielders to forwards with the fewest touches possible. Encourage the forwards to dribble past defenders and pass/cross the ball into the penalty box as quickly as possible. In the penalty box: shoot, shoot, shoot. Have your defenders mark the other team's forwards and your midfielders cover their midfielders when the other team has the ball.
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Getting Started | Practices | Rules of the Game | Positions | Game Time
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