loudoun soccer game day tips line-ups and substitutions ... › portals... · loudoun soccer game...

Loudoun Soccer Game Day Tips – Line-ups and Substitutions (Grades 5-6)

The following information is designed to assist coaches in Loudoun Soccer’s Rec program in

organizing their team for game day. These are recommendations, and coaches may organize

their teams as they see fit as long as they adhere to the club’s policies regarding playing time,

goalkeeper rotation, etc.

Game Day Line-Up:

When arranging your line-up, it is recommended that you organize your players in a fashion so

your level of play is balanced for much of the game. In other words, avoid starting the players

who are more developed, and having those less developed sit out to start the game.

This will prevent a drop-off in the level of play when you begin substituting players later in the

match. The alternative (start all of your stronger players) may result in a surge to start the game,

but your team on its heels once those players are subbed.

Please remember to rotate players into different positions, whether it’s a different position each

quarter, or rotated on a game-by-game basis. It will improve their enjoyment and their

development.

Other recommendations:

1. Encourage or require players to arrive at a certain time before kickoff. In addition to

providing them adequate warm-up time, it will allow the coach to better plan their line-up

knowing who is present and who is absent.

2. Play more developed players in more important, central roles (see Competitive Balance

exception below).

3. Balance positioning of lesser developed players by placing them near more developed

players. For example: a lesser developed player may play as a wide midfielder (#7), with

more developed players placed around them (#3 and #8) to balance out the ability

levels.

4. Struggling to find someone to play Goalkeeper? You’re not alone! Most young players

do not wish to play this position out of fear – usually the fear of making a mistake. A

goalkeeper error is evident to everyone (it usually results in a goal scored against them),

and young players will want to avoid that pressure. Alleviate that pressure by simplifying

the expectations for that role:

A. Scream “keeper” if you’re going to come out and get the ball

B. Make all the saves you’re supposed to make

C. Distribute the ball well.


If resetting these expectations doesn’t help – incentivize playing the role. Offer those who step

up to play the chance to choose their position on the field for the next period.

If you don’t have volunteers – assign everyone a quarter or half (depending on your game

format) on a rotating basis to share the responsibility (e.g. 8 games with a 16 player roster –

each player plays one half as goalkeeper).

Substitutions:

Loudoun Soccer playing time policies require the following:

All players who attend at least one of the two team practices that week receives 50

percent playing time in that weekend’s game.

The goalkeeper position must be rotated so that no player may play more than one half’s

time in goal (most teams rotate a goalkeeper at half-time, although some may play more

than two players in that role, and can sub them at appropriate stoppages).

Larger sided games (9v9 and 11v11) require coaches to better manage their rotation, as these

games are organized as halves, with substitutions possible at the following stoppages:

Your team’s throw-in

Your opponent’s throw-in if they are also subbing players

Either team’s goal kick

Either team’s kick off

Replacing an injured player (the opposing team may sub one player at this time too)

Replacing a cautioned (yellow carded) player (the opposing team may sub one player at

this time too).

It’s important for player development for youth athletes to compete for a sustained amount of

time on the field, which is different in other sports where players compete for short shifts of time.

This means coaches should avoid constantly subbing players in and out; in addition to affecting

their development, constantly subbing disrupts the flow of the game.

Player rotation is easier to manage with only a few substitutes; larger rosters are more difficult.

A Lineup Matrix is available (http://www.loudounsoccer.com/teammanagement/) to help provide

balanced playing time when you have a large roster (rosters of 13-16).

It is recommended that coaches identify one or two periods in the game to substitution players

(refer to Lineup Matrix).

Subbing at the midway point of each half helps to ensure that minimum playing time is awarded

to all players; everyone receives a sustained amount of time on the field at one time; and

minimal disruption occurs to the flow of the game.

Teams with smaller rosters may need to sub players more frequently depending on their fitness

and energy levels.

http://www.loudounsoccer.com/teammanagement/


You may wish to send your substitutes to midfield one to two minutes early, in anticipation of a

stoppage occurring to rotate players. The ball may not exit the field of play immediately; waiting

till that specific minute mark to rotate players may reduce their actual playing time if the ball

doesn’t exit the field for a substitution opportunity.

Competitive Balance (Managing Lopsided Matchups):

Loudoun Soccer rules for Grade 1-2 (4v4) and Grade 3-4 (7v7) matches permits a team to add

an extra player on the field once that team is losing by four (4) goals. The additional player is to

be removed from the field when/if the margin is reduced to three (3) goals; the specific player

who entered the field as an extra player should be the player to be removed in this

circumstance.

This “Competitive Balance” rule does not exist for Grades 5-6 (9v9) and Grades 7-8 (11v11).

Teams in Grades 5-8 who are at a competitive advantage in a match (e.g. leading by four or

more goals) should attempt to balance the level of play through one or more of the following

methods:

Direct players to use their “weaker foot” for passing, ball control, and shooting;

Designate players who have not yet scored goals as the only ones who are allowed to

shoot (results in other players have to pass them the ball);

Place stronger players in primarily defensive positions and encourage them to pass to

the weaker players playing primarily attacking positions;

Award less-developed players more playing time in this particular match (e.g. your better

players who may play more often in other matches have reduced playing time in this

match);

Set special conditions for their players before they are allowed to score (e.g. complete

five consecutive passes before shooting, or everyone on the field must touch the ball

before scoring, or only score off of crosses);

Limit the number of players in your offensive half of the field;

Remove a player from your team from the field and play down (e.g. play 8v9), as long as

minimum playing time standards are maintained.

Given the nature of the program (it’s Rec soccer, and it’s meant to be fun), coaches of more

advanced players and teams are expected to manage lopsided match-ups by adding conditions.

No teams benefit from having the score run up (either winning or losing by a large margin). In

addition to challenging these players further, it represents sportsmanship by avoiding a large

score line.

Loudoun Soccer – Systems of Play (Grades 5-6)

The following information is designed to assist coaches in Loudoun Soccer’s Rec program in

organizing their team for game day. These are recommendations, and coaches may organize

their teams as they see fit as long as they adhere to the club’s policies regarding playing time,

goalkeeper rotation, etc.

Systems of Play

This is a team’s formation, or the positional arrangement of players on the field. In soccer

parlance, the system of play is identified by the number of players within each line on the field

(goalkeeper, defender, midfield, forward). For example: a common 11v11 lineup is a 1-4-4-2 (1

goalkeeper, 4 backs, 4 midfielders, 2 strikers). A common 9v9 lineup is a 1-3-4-1.

US Soccer Player Number System and Player Positions/Responsibilities:

US Soccer has recently implemented a player number system to better identify the positions

and roles of the players on the field, using numbers 1-11. Note that these numbers relate to

positions and primary responsibilities; certain numbers may be repeated or absent, depending

on the formation, the role of players on the field, and the format of the game (11v1, 9v9, or 7v7).

Positional # Common Name(s) Role/Responsibilities

1 Goalkeeper, Keeper Use hands within penalty area to save shots Accurate distribution from both feet and hands Communicates and leads team defense

2 and 3 Right Back and Left Back (respectively)

Good 1v1 defender Speed to cover ground, up and down the field Provide width in attack

4 and 5 Left Center Back and Right Center Back (respectively)

Organizer and leader Win balls in the air and tackling Connect with and support midfielders in attack

6 Holding Center Mid, Defensive Center Mid, Screening Center Mid

High work rate Strong in air and tackler – ball-winner Use vision and decision-making skills to distribute

8 Center Midfielder Endless work rate – speed and endurance Good leadership and organization Creative playmaker Good in air, with long range finishing ability

7 and 11 Right and Left Wing (respectively), outside midfielder

Very fit and High Work Rate Ability to make long runs and recover Strong 1 vs 1 attacking ability Flank service, and long range shooting

10 Attacking Center Mid, Playmaker Finishing/goal scoring Clinical passing in final third to create scoring opportunities for teammates (vision, creativity) Strong 1 vs 1 attacking skills in final third

9 Forward, Striker Ability to play with back to the goal Creativity and technical finishing abilities Strong and tough


Common 9v9 formations:

1-3-4-1

Most balanced formation

Natural diamond and triangle shapes throughout the formation

1-3-3-2

Note two #9s (strikers) to play together as a pair – will create 2v3 and 2v2 moments in attack

Strong, dynamic central player (#8) needed to cover additional space in middle

1-3-2-3

Front Three (11, 9, and 7) provide strong attack and high pressure in defense

Remaining players must stay connected to Front Three, both in attack and defense (and vice versa).


Your team’s system of play is usually identified in its shape when defending; team shape will be

compact, and players should move together in a unit (like a pack of wolves, hunting the ball

together).

That shape will change when teams are in possession of the ball, as it should expand to create

additional width and depth to move the ball through and around the defending team. Player runs

and combination play will alter the shape further, with the goal of producing a numbers-up

advantage in the attack.

Formation Teaching Tips:

When introducing team shape, avoid creating artificial restrictions (e.g. defenders cannot cross

the midfield line, etc.), as the positional lines should be connected within the flow of the game

(backs should support the midfield, who in turn should support the striker).

The modern game requires all players to attack and defend – not just specific positions.

Instead, teach players to recognize the natural relationships between players (e.g. how a #2 and

a #7 work together on the flanks, or a #6 and #8 work together in the middle) and shapes that

occur between players within a system of play (triangles and diamonds), and to help create

these shapes with their movement off the ball.

The lines of the formation should be “connected” to each other, adjusting each time the ball

moves up, down or to the side of the field.

Grade 5 9v9 Lineup Matrix

9v9, 16 player rotation grid 9v9, 15 player rotation grid

Player Name start 11-13' 18-20' 2nd half 36-38' 43-45' Min Played Player start 11-13' 18-20' 2nd half 36-38' 43-45' Min Played

1 GK GK GK out in in 12 + GK 1 GK GK GK out in in 12 + GK

2 in in out GK GK GK 12 + GK 2 in in out GK GK GK 12 + GK

3 in out in in out out 30 3 in in out in out out 30

4 in out out in in out 30 4 in out in in out out 30

5 in out out in out in 30 5 in out in in out out 30

6 in out out in out out 25 6 in out out in in out 30


8 in out out in out out 25 8 in out out in out in 30


10 out in in in out out 25 10 out in in in out out 30

11 out in in out in in 25 11 out in in out in in 25





16 out in in out in in 25


Player start 11-13' 18-20' 2nd half 36-38' 43-45' Min Played Player start 11-13' 18-20' 2nd half 36-38' 43-45' Min Played



3 in in out in out in 36 3 in in out in in out 36

4 in in out in out in 36 4 in in out in in out 36

5 in out in in in out 36 5 in in out in in out 36

6 in out in in in out 36 6 in out in in in out 36

7 in out out in out in 30 7 in out in in out in 36

8 in out in in out out 30 8 in out in in out in 36

9 in out out in in out 30 9 in out in in out in 36

10 out in in in out out 25 10 out in in in out in 30





Grade 6 9v9 Lineup Matrix


Player start 14-16' 20' 2nd half 44-46' 50' Min Played Player start 14-16' 20' 2nd half 44-46' 50' Min Played



3 in out in in out out 40 3 in out out in out in 40

4 in out out in in out 40 4 in out in in out out 40

5 in out out in out in 40 5 in out in in out out 40


7 in out out in out out 30 7 in in out in out out 35



10 out in in in out out 30 10 out in in in out out 30








Player start 14-16' 20' 2nd half 44-46' 50' Min Played Player start 14-16' 20' 2nd half 44-46' 50' Min Played



3 in in out in out in 45 3 in out in in out in 50

4 in in out in out in 45 4 in out in in out in 50

5 in out in in in out 45 5 in out in in out in 50

6 in out in in in out 45 6 in out in in in out 45

7 in out out in out in 40 7 in in out in in out 40

8 in out in in out out 40 8 in in out in in out 40

9 in out out in in out 35 9 in in out in in out 40

10 out in in in out out 30 10 out in in in out in 40





loudoun soccer game day tips line-ups and substitutions ... › portals... · loudoun soccer game...

Documents