Four Great Formations for 6-a-side Football
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Two key principles
Whichever of these formations you choose, you need to remember the following:
It sounds simple, and it is. By having a dedicated player in attack and another in defence, it lets you be more fluid with the rest of the team structure. All the formations we’re going to discuss favour this style of play. It means you’ll always have someone in prime position to score or provide backup to your goalie.
2-2-1 Formation
A simple formation, ideal when your team is just getting to know each other or when you’re playing a team that you’ve never met before. It covers all the bases and gives you a solid defensive strategy that you can build on later in the game. Utilising a pair of midfielders means you can maximise defence while also offering your attacker support. The key to this formation is keeping the midfield fluid, alternating from defence to attack as needed.
1-3-1 Formation
Also known as the diamond formation, this lends itself to a more flexible playing style. You have a committed defence and attack, with three midfielders available to support either position. This formation relies a lot on communication between players, as you don’t want your midfield swarming the ball wherever it goes, leaving it vulnerable to a crafty pass into open space by the opposing players.
3-1-1 Formation
The perfect formation for when you’re just not in the mood to concede a goal! This beefs up your defence, with over half your team protecting the goal from the opposition. If you have a strong attacker and accurate passers in defence, you can get some good counterattacks going with this formation. The only downside is that it doesn’t always make for exciting play. That said, it can give you a tactical advantage, particularly in tournaments.
2-1-2 Formation
If you believe that the best defence is a good offence, then this might be the formation for you. 2-1-2 gives your attack some serious weight, with a midfielder poised to intercept any ball that makes it past your attackers. Indeed, the midfield has the most important job in this style of play, so make sure you assign a player with a good turn of speed.
Register your team
Whatever formation you choose, 6-a-side football offers endless variety for your team. Don’t commit to one single style; experiment over the course of a few matches and see which formation suits you best. If you haven’t already, get in touch with Soccer Gods and apply to join a local 6-a-side league in your area. Register your interest today, and one of our league managers will be in touch to walk you through the next steps.