An experienced soccer coach at various levels of competition, Steven Peter Kaminskas joined Maryland United FC as a coach in 2018. In this position, Steven Peter Kaminskas, or Steve, coaches the development of female athletes competing in the under 8 through under 11 age groups.
In U8 through U10 players will play with 7 players on the field. In U11 and U12 they will have 9. As players hit U13 they play with the full 11 players on the field. In each group different formations are used for defensive and offensive reasons. Soccer coaches should consider teaching these players different formations to highlight the various tactical and technical approaches teams can take during a game. At U13 with the players moving to 11 aside, the 5-2-2-1 formation, for example, has been designed as a stout defensive set. The goalkeeper is bolstered on the defensive end of the field by five defenders, with an additional two midfielders staying closer to their goal than moving down field. Two more midfielders support the formation’s offense, though the brunt of the goal scoring will be left up to a single striker.
After players grow comfortable playing in this defense first formation, coaches can switch to the similar, but more offensively minded, 3-4-2-1. As the name implies, two of the defenders from the 5-2-2-1 set move up, with four midfielders occupying the center of the field, rather than playing any defensive midfielders. Two forwards further enhance the offensive pressure alongside a clean striker, thereby allowing the slight adjustments of the formation to result in much greater offensive pressure.
Both sets have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the true value for youth coaches is not in teaching the sets themselves, but elucidating these key differences to help young players expand their strategic understanding of the game.
In U8 through U10 players will play with 7 players on the field. In U11 and U12 they will have 9. As players hit U13 they play with the full 11 players on the field. In each group different formations are used for defensive and offensive reasons. Soccer coaches should consider teaching these players different formations to highlight the various tactical and technical approaches teams can take during a game. At U13 with the players moving to 11 aside, the 5-2-2-1 formation, for example, has been designed as a stout defensive set. The goalkeeper is bolstered on the defensive end of the field by five defenders, with an additional two midfielders staying closer to their goal than moving down field. Two more midfielders support the formation’s offense, though the brunt of the goal scoring will be left up to a single striker.
After players grow comfortable playing in this defense first formation, coaches can switch to the similar, but more offensively minded, 3-4-2-1. As the name implies, two of the defenders from the 5-2-2-1 set move up, with four midfielders occupying the center of the field, rather than playing any defensive midfielders. Two forwards further enhance the offensive pressure alongside a clean striker, thereby allowing the slight adjustments of the formation to result in much greater offensive pressure.
Both sets have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the true value for youth coaches is not in teaching the sets themselves, but elucidating these key differences to help young players expand their strategic understanding of the game.
