I coach U8s, going to U9s next season and the honest answer is that it can be very difficult at this age as there can be a huge difference in physicality and ability between players. I've played against some U8s that are huge and half expected them to get into a car and drive home at the end of the match Joy.

One thing I've had some success with is pairing up players in 'zones' i.e. two players are defence, two in midfield and two attackers. (In a 7v7, but can remove the midfield in a 5v5). So I encourage them to work as a team (within a team) and help each other out, if one is struggling the other should come over to support and vice versa. I also encourage them to push up and support the midfield/attack.

I say the same to the midfield and attack, that they need to get back and support the defence if we lose the ball. We attack and defend as a team.

In U6,7 and 8 I found most attacks come through the middle, so I create blocks of two players to stifle these attacks, I ignore the wings at this age as the kids rarely go wide with the play, even if told to. However, I recently played a very strong team who had been coached to go wide and put in crosses, which was incredibly difficult to defend against as the U9 pitch was enormous and with only 6 outfield players, there was acres of space between each area of the pitch.

I try to put players in defence that are brave in the tackle and are willing to track back when we lose the ball, even if they could also be effective further up the pitch. After all, if you can prevent conceding goals, you don't have to score as many to win.

It is difficult though, as you occasionally come across a player that can dribble past a whole team and smash it top corner and there really isn't much you can do about it.

For everyone else though, I would encourage them to defend as a team, but the challenge here is to avoid them bunching up.

I coach U8s, going to U9s next season and the honest answer is that it can be very difficult at this age as there can be a huge difference in physicality and ability between players. I've played against some U8s that are huge and half expected them to get into a car and drive home at the end of the match Joy.

One thing I've had some success with is pairing up players in 'zones' i.e. two players are defence, two in midfield and two attackers. (In a 7v7, but can remove the midfield in a 5v5). So I encourage them to work as a team (within a team) and help each other out, if one is struggling the other should come over to support and vice versa. I also encourage them to push up and support the midfield/attack.

I say the same to the midfield and attack, that they need to get back and support the defence if we lose the ball. We attack and defend as a team.

In U6,7 and 8 I found most attacks come through the middle, so I create blocks of two players to stifle these attacks, I ignore the wings at this age as the kids rarely go wide with the play, even if told to. However, I recently played a very strong team who had been coached to go wide and put in crosses, which was incredibly difficult to defend against as the U9 pitch was enormous and with only 6 outfield players, there was acres of space between each area of the pitch.

I try to put players in defence that are brave in the tackle and are willing to track back when we lose the ball, even if they could also be effective further up the pitch. After all, if you can prevent conceding goals, you don't have to score as many to win.

It is difficult though, as you occasionally come across a player that can dribble past a whole team and smash it top corner and there really isn't much you can do about it.

For everyone else though, I would encourage them to defend as a team, but the challenge here is to avoid them bunching up.