Bonnie,

Here's an answer that I sent to another coach with a similar question.
Although it doesn't point you towards specific information it does say
something about systems of play at 8v8. I know this has been discussed
on the coach-l soccer e-mail list many times so you could do an archive
search at http://lists.mun.ca/archives/soccer-coach-l.html
using "8v8 formation" as your search term. I did a search and ended up
with the list of e-mails discussing 8v8 formations below. The search
takes some time but you will end up with a list of links - see below.

>>>>>>>
Just a quick reply. There's no correct answer. It depends on
what your personnel is like, what size fields you play on and what your
competition uses. I prefer a 3-2-2 or a 2-3-2 because that allows the
easiest transition for the players to 11-a-side soccer when they get to U11.
My U10s who finished second in the state last year played a 3-2-2. They'll
move to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 this season at 11v11. The 3-2-2 seemed to be
the formation we saw from other most other teams. In fact the teams which
defeated us during the season all used a 3-2-2.
And we changed the way we played the 3-2-2 depending on our
competition. Against most teams we played the 3-2-2 more like a 2-3-2 by
moving our sweeper into more of a center defensive midfielder position. We
were able to do that because we had two great fullbacks that were good ball
handlers who seldom allowed the other team's forwards to get loose in front
of the goal.
We did play a team that was undefeated who played a 2-2-3 and who
only lost one game all season - to us in the state cup. They had two strong
fullbacks who were able to kick the ball long distances (farther than anyone
we saw in our part of the state). They played kickball to their three
forwards who overpowered the three defenders on most teams. Their coach
said that the scheme had worked against everyone else in the state because
no one else had been able to handle their two fullbacks. We won by using a
possession ball control type offense and two very quick forwards. Not to
mention that our three defenders, while often in trouble, were able to
thwart
their three attackers.
Remember that formation designations only mean what you explain
them to mean to your players. Your 3-2-2 may not be the same as my 3-2-2. I
never actually saw a 1-2-1-2-1 in use but I talked to several coaches on the
Coach-L e-mail list who use the formation and really like using it because
they say it uses triangles and diamond shapes which are the passing shapes
used in our pratcices. But it just seems unnecessarily complicated for 8
and 9 year olds. The double diamond is a good formation at 11-a-side and my
U12 team used a 4-4-2 that incorporated a double diamond using a sweeper -
stopper - defensive holding midfielder and an attacking midfielder and
occasionally twin strikers. But at 8 and 9 years old we work on skills and
very seldom do anything much on formation or tactics until late in the
season. That is my suggestion - work on ball skills and put your players in
positions that take advantage of their skills - fit the formation to your
players - not vice versa.


Here is what my search of the Coach-L archives turned up.
Item # Date Time Recs Subject
002618 96/08/07 15:20 30 Re: Help on Formation, 8v8
002778 96/08/19 14:01 34 Re: 8v8 formations
002783 96/08/19 17:56 55 Re: 8v8 formations
003902 96/09/24 10:22 41 Players/Formation/Style of
009227 97/03/29 17:09 32 Re: Best formation for my U10 Girls Team
009253 97/03/31 09:04 126 Re: Best formation for my U10 Girls Team
013750 97/09/03 18:12 80 Re: Positions
014219 97/09/17 10:38 40 2-3-2 formation for 8v8
014226 97/09/17 12:50 32 Re: 2-3-2 formation for 8v8
014243 97/09/17 20:37 91 Re: 2-3-2 formation for 8v8
014249 97/09/18 08:15 48 Re: 2-3-2 formation for 8v8
033712 99/04/30 15:40 58 Re: Sub_U10: 6v6 vs. the rest
037278 99/08/16 16:11 36 Re: Play: formation confusion
053478 01/03/29 08:56 69 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053486 01/03/29 11:47 113 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053630 01/04/02 15:27 29 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053633 01/04/02 14:33 35 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053634 01/04/02 16:35 54 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053635 01/04/02 17:52 83 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053638 01/04/02 17:06 116 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
053645 01/04/02 16:45 63 Re: Play: 8 v 8 formations
054836 01/06/06 16:14 20 recommended positions and formation for 8v8 U9
054837 01/06/06 18:35 38 Re: recommended positions and formation for 8v8 U9

Ken Gamble
dsports@...
http://www.decatursports.com



----- Original Message -----
From: "Bonnie Argeropoulos" <bargerop@...>
To: <Good-Bad-Ugly@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 1:13 PM
Subject: [Good, Bad and Ugly (about Soccer)] info


I coach a u-12 girls soccer team. Just recently, that age group went over to
an 8 v 8 team size. Does anyone know where I can get information on team
configuration and shape. (i.e..) 3 2 2 1, etc?

Thank you, Coach