1. U9/10 Game Objectives
12 things to achieve

2. Formation Wide GK CD CD W W CM S

3. Why this formation?
Has a player in every zone in Defenders, midfielders and strikers
Forces our team to play through the team and not direct
Wide players make good soccer shapes in diamonds and triangles with central players
Is adaptable to 3 players in every zone
Gives good opportunities to switch the field of play
Stretches opponents with our width
Forces our Goalkeeper to play out of the back increasing technical development and tactical awareness
Gives realistic central midfield options
Will allow players to develop multi positional awareness and n opportunity to develop specific positional techniques

4. Defensive third objective 1W CD CM GK
To get the team comfortable in playing from a goal kick
To do this the goalkeeper places the ball in the center of the Goal area (small box)
The central defenders and wide players go wide and central midfielder and striker make the diamond
Note: if the opponents mark up all of our player the GK is encouraged to kick to space or the field players look to change places

5. Defensive third objective 2W CD CM GK
Using the build out line to recognize when to switch
Can we utilize the build up line and play to the opposite side of oncoming pressure
Can our players recognize where the pressure is coming from and change the point of attack

6. Defensive third objective 3GK CD CD CM W W S
In Open play, get players comfortable in playing back to the goalkeeper
GOALKEEPER MUST NOW USE THEIIR FEET
Note: As the ball is going back to the keeper the central defenders are getting wide to make a diamond. The keepers next decision will be based on how the opponents react

7. Defensive third objective 4W CD CM GK w
That the goalkeeper knows how to make them self the additional player
Note: To do this the ball must be at the goalkeepers feet either from a back pass or from a save and then the ball is placed down. The goalkeeper must have the confidence to hold the ball at their feet to create an outlet
Timing and awareness is key. In the older ages this will control the speed of play.
In this picture the GK holds the ball and the wide player pressures. Our wide player then drops back to receive

8. Shape Objective 1 Establishing DepthW CD CM GK
Establishing Depth
No matter where the ball is the striker should be the highest player never coming back to defend. The forward’s positioning is either level with the last defender on the opposing team or on the half way line pending on which one is closest to the opponents goal

9. Shape Objective 2 Establishing WidthGK CD CD CM W W S
Establishing Width
Our wide players are key as through their positioning they give us either a passing option or create room to attack centrally. When we are in possession of the ball the wide players must be the closest players to the sideline

10. Shape Objective 3 Diamond ShapeGK CD CD
Diamond Shape W W CM S
To maintain our TOTAL team shape it should expand in possession
Our Shape (including GK) should move forward and back in relation to the ball
Whichever way we look to play we should make diamonds

11. Shape Objective 4 GK CD CD W W CM S
To improve our defensive team shape When we lose possession of the ball our shape must get smaller and compact. Giving the opponent no room to pass

12. Get the Goalkeeper to come out of the penalty area
Midfield Objective 1 S W CD CM GK
Get the Goalkeeper to come out of the penalty area
The Goalkeeper moves up with the team (coming out of the penalty box) maintaining a distance behind the last defender appropriate for cover. The goalkeeper should look to come out and kick away when the ball is played behind the central defenders

13. Can we 1st keep our shape and 2nd can we recognize when to do this
Midfield objective 2 GK CD CD CM W W S
To have the wide players recognize when to Switch the field. Coach the central midfielder to make the diamond and(switch) using any of the 3 central players
Can we 1st keep our shape and 2nd can we recognize when to do this

14. Advanced Objectives

15. Combination play 1- The OverlapGK CD CD W W CM S
The Ball is with our wide player
The central defender on their side runs around the outside of the ball and into the space
The player on the ball passes into the run of the overlapping player
The player on the ball must hold the ball up to give a cue for the defender to run
The next piece is that the other central defender covers the vacated space

16. Combination play 2- The Overlap DecoyGK CD W W CM CD S
The Ball is with our wide player
The defender followed the overlapping player
This gave the player on the ball space to pass or dribble centrally

17. To create an open player from a throw in
Dead Ball 1
Ball
Player
To create an open player from a throw in
1. The receiving player is marked so he checks (moves quickly) to the ball

18. To create an open player from a throw in
Dead Ball 2
Ball
Player
To create an open player from a throw in
The receiving player is marked so he spins and runs into the space behind

19. To create a goal scoring opportunity from Corners
Dead Ball 4 1 2 3
To create a goal scoring opportunity from Corners
1. Short pass
2. The cross to the middle
3. The corner of the box
All are ready to cover their zone. The players must choose an option based on pressure

20. Dead Ball 3 To create an open player from a throw in
The receiving player is marked so he spins and runs into the space behind
The Defender follows. The midfielder checks into the space

21. Shape Objectives 5 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6GK
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3 CD CD W
Zone 4 W
Zone 5
Zone 6 CM
To have the players break the field up into zones and see
Which ones they are responsible for
Which ones they cover
How the shifts up/back and across as the ball moves

22. Shape Objectives 5 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6GK
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3 CD CD
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6 W CM W
The defending team has 2 options to cover the Defender stepping out to cover player 1
(Above) the central shifts to cover the wide player
The other central defender covers and zone 3 is vacant
To get the Team to understand how zonal defend when the ball is out wide.
To do this the players must
Recognize the zone they are in
Shift across to cover when the player in the next zone pressures the ball
Leave the farthest zone open as this is the one that is the most difficult passing option

23. Shape Objective 6 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6GK
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3 CD W
Zone 4 W
Zone 5 CD
Zone 6 CM
CM is stepping up to cover Zone 5 CD is stepping to cover on his left
other central defender pinches in the middle and wide player tucks in slightly
Zone 1 is left open even with a player in it
To get the Team to understand how zonal defend when the ball is central
To do this the players must
Recognize the zone they are in
Leave the farthest zone open as this is the one that is the most difficult passing option
Try to stay compact and cover the zone( Team mates) and not the opposing player in it