| 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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