Did you know there is another formation in soccer, the 7v7? 7v7 is a compact version of soccer with 3 defenders, 2 forwards, and 2 midfielders.
Since this game has less number of players, it’s gaining a lot of popularity in the amateur leagues. This article discusses all the nitty gritty of 7v7 soccer formation. So keep reading to know all in detail.
2-3-1
The first formation on our list is 2-3-1. Having a bunch of players positioned in the middle of the field is a pretty famous strategy. This is probably the most popular formation.
Players/Skills Required
In the 2-3-1 formation, there are 2 defenders. These are the center-backs. The defender’s job is to be the line of defense, protecting the goal. Here, the qualities needed are a knack for positioning and tough tackling.
Next is the midfield trio. Their job is to break up the opposite team’s plans and move the ball safely to their team members. In this trio, there is also a central midfielder.
Do note here that the central midfielder is the brain of the game here. They have to make the passes and score the goals.
And then we have the midfielder. They are the jack-of-all-trades. Midfielders are responsible for defense and attack.
Lastly comes the the forward or striker. These are the goal-getters. Here, a problem can arise if the striker decides to go solo because this can push your entire game plan down the drain. The striker has to involve the midfielder to win.
If you want to make this formation work, your team needs to work together well. For that, they need to communicate on the field and act accordingly.
Pros
The 2-3-1 has a defensive setup. Here, the midfielders help in defense while contributing to their main game. In this formation, the midfielders generate the width of the game. So it works well here.
Cons
The whole game depends on the midfielders. And if the midfielders have to track back, 2 players are left for defending. This weakens the game. Plus, you don’t get much assistance from the forward player in this formation.
2-1-2-1
In the 2-1-2-1 formation, you need teamwork and strategy just like other formations.
With the help of this formation, you’ve got to create a balance between defensive stability and attacking skills.
Players/Skills Required
In this formation, there are 2 defenders who are positioned in the center. But there is no hard and fast rule for the defenders to stay in the center. They can move around the field.
The defenders are the backbone of the team. They provide support to the other players, and they mark the forward players of the opposing team.
There is also one central midfielder. This player is the link between the attack and defense. These central midfielders have to control the entire game’s tempo by attacking and defending at the same time.
Next up in this formation are the 2 wingers. These wingers are positioned on either side of the midfielder. The wingers also stretch the opposite team’s defense. Their job is to give crosses, provide width, and deal with flank spaces.
You need to have strong wingers if you want to destabilize the opposite team.
The last up in this formation is the lone forward. These are the real assets because they have to score the goals. This is not to say that the rest of the team is not just as vital, but the forward has that extra pressure on them as they are the goal scorers, so they need to be extra aware and agile.
Pros
The formation shows strong defensive skills. This foundation makes it pretty hard for the other team to break through and score goals.
Here, the wingers and the central midfielders’ attacking force comes into play. The central midfielders can switch play. On the other hand, the wingers deal with wide areas and give chances to make passes.
The formation allows players to make quick transitions from attack to defense. When you get the ball back, your forward and wingers can exploit the other team’s shaky defense.
Cons
The whole game is dependent on the central midfielder. If they are not strong enough, you’ll lose the game. Then, you end up with gaps in the team.
3-1-2
This formation has become popular because of its unique attacking flair and defensive stability.
Players/Skills Required
The 3-1-2 formation has 3 defenders, 1 holding midfielder, and 2 attacking midfielders.
The defenders play centrally as well as at the back. Since there are 3 defenders in this formation, they create a solid defense, and so their job is to stop the opposing team’s attacks.
The holding midfielder is at the front of the defensive line and is the center of attack and defense.
The midfielders are positioned higher up on the pitch and act as the creative engines of the team.
Pros
As this formation has 3 defenders, it has a strong defense against the other team. This makes it pretty hard for the other team to score goals.
The attacking and holding midfielders control the midfield totally. They have power over possession, the game’s pace, and flank spaces.
The 2 attacking midfielders bring creativity and unpredictability to make their team win. Their ability to create goal-scoring opportunities and take on defenders can be game-changing.
Cons
While the 3-1-2 formation is very good defensively, offensively, it’s difficult to play attacking football. And your players need to be tactically very sound to retain possession and slowly move the ball up the field.
3-1-1-1
In the ever-evolving landscape of small-sided football, the 3-1-1-1 formation has become a tactically astute choice. This is true for teams aiming to strike a balance between defense and attack.
Consisting of three defenders, one defensive midfielder, one central midfielder, and one forward, this formation offers unique advantages that can lead to success on the 7v7 pitch.
Players/Skills Required
The 3-1-1-1 formation consists of four key positional roles. Let me tell you what these roles are.
The three defenders form a strong defensive trio positioned centrally and at the back. Their primary duty is to defeat the opposition’s advances and initiate attacks as and when possible.
The defensive midfielder is the key element in this formation. Positioned just in front of the defensive line, they break up the opponent’s plays. The defensive midfielder has to defend while dribbling the ball to start attacks.
The central midfielder is positioned higher up on the pitch they are the main brain of the team who create the scoring chances.
The last position is lone forward. The lone forward is the main threat because they score the goals. What sets them apart is their ability to have sharp positional points, and they can easily hold up play. They can also press the other team’s defenders and regain possession of the ball.
Pros
This is a pretty robust defensive mechanism because it has 3 defenders and a dedicated defensive midfielder. This makes it pretty challenging for the opposite team to breach the defensive line and create scoring chances.
Both the central and defensive midfielders control the midfield. This lets the team dominate the possession of the ball and score goals when the other team leaves gaps.
The central midfielder serves as the team’s creative hub, orchestrating attacks with vision and precision passing. They can unlock stubborn defenses and create goal-scoring opportunities.
The lone forward’s role is to give a focal point for attack. Here, their positioning and movement play an important role. Plus, the way they finish provides a bigger chance to score goals.
Cons
This position doesn’t have any width for the team. So, it just becomes pretty challenging to have game control.
3-2-1
The 3-2-1 is also a game-changing tactical system. This formation has 3 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 1 forward.
This formation provides a good balance in the game because they have a solid defensive line at the back.
Players/Skills Required
The main role of the defenders is to protect the goal. During that, they also have to defend the opposition’s attacks. Plus, they also have to initiate plays from the team’s defensive third.
There are 2 midfielders in the center. They act as the brains of the game. The midfielders are responsible for controlling the game’s flow.
Plus, they have to distribute the ball. Other than that, they also focus on giving support in defense and attack to their team.
The lone forward in this formation leads the attack. For that, the lone forward should have a strong awareness of their position, and they need to have good finishing ability and strength to pressure the opposing team’s defenders.
Pros
Now, since this formation has 3 defenders, the defense is top-notch here. The opposite team will have a pretty tough time trying to break through this defensive line. So scoring goals won’t be easy for them.
The 2 midfielders make sure they have control over the entire midfield area. This is also a plus, and the attacking force is strong, with 1 lone forward and 2 midfielders.
Cons
One of the drawbacks here is that the striker has to work hard to create space for themselves.
Final Thoughts!
Soccer is not just a beautiful game; it’s a pretty adaptive game, too. You can play using any formation, and you’ll have the time of your life. So, the next time you’re short on players, try playing with one of these formations.
