The best 7-a-side and 8-a-side formations (with diagrams)
Eleven-a-side formations don’t work on a small pitch. The 7-a-side and 8-a-side shapes that actually hold up, when to use each one, and how to stop conceding on the break.
The first five minutes of every small-sided game look the same. Everyone chases the ball, nobody wants to stay back, and the first goal comes for exactly that reason: the keeper is alone against three attackers. Then someone shouts “can one of you stay back?” and the game finally takes shape.
Talking about formations for a Tuesday-night game might sound a bit much, but they matter even more than in eleven-a-side. The pitch is small and there are fewer players, so one person standing in the wrong place leaves a huge hole. Here are the shapes that work best for 7-a-side and 8-a-side, and when to pick each one.
7-a-side formations
In 7-a-side there’s plenty of space and not many players. The key question is simple: when we lose the ball, how many of us are behind it? One is too few. Three kills your attack.
2-3-1: the balanced choice
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
If I could only recommend one shape, it would be this. Two at the back keep you safe, the three in midfield attack and track back, and the lone forward holds the ball up. The two wide midfielders are the engine of the team, so put your fittest players there.
When to use it: your first game together, or when everyone is roughly the same level. It suits almost any match.
3-2-1: against a quick opponent
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
If the other team has two quick forwards, or you’ve conceded a couple early on, switch to this. With three at the back it’s very hard to get caught on the break. The catch is that the two midfielders can get isolated, so one of the wide defenders needs to step forward when you have the ball.
2-2-2: when you need a goal
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
When you’re behind, or the other keeper is shaky, two up front works. The forwards can play one-twos, so you get far more shots away. The price is an empty middle: both midfielders have to cover a lot of ground or you’ll get cut in half.
8-a-side formations
One extra player changes the game more than you’d expect. You can now cover each flank separately and outnumber the opposition in the middle.
3-3-1: the 8-a-side classic
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
Most 8-a-side teams end up in this shape without even planning it. The back three covers the width, and the midfield three looks after both the flanks and the middle. With one forward, you need someone who can receive with his back to goal and wait for support. A striker who just runs in behind on his own gets lost in this system.
2-3-2: for teams that want to attack
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
Two forwards in 8-a-side is great fun: one runs in behind while the other drops to collect. But with only two at the back, at least one of the midfielders has to stay behind the ball every time you attack. Agree on that before kick-off, or there will be a massive gap behind both strikers.
2-4-1: owning the middle
Open this setup, then change the players and make it your own.
If your team has good passers, four in midfield means the opposition barely gets a touch. The two wide players join the striker in attack and drop next to the defenders without the ball. It’s exhausting, but when it works the other team simply can’t get the ball.
Which one, when?
| Situation | 7-a-side | 8-a-side |
|---|---|---|
| First game as a team | 2-3-1 | 3-3-1 |
| The opponent is very quick | 3-2-1 | 3-3-1 |
| Behind and need a goal | 2-2-2 | 2-3-2 |
| A team of good passers | 2-3-1 | 2-4-1 |
| Low on fitness | 3-2-1 | 3-3-1 |
Three things that matter more than the formation
- 1Rotate the keeper, but plan it. Everyone takes a turn in goal in a casual game. Swapping every ten minutes is fair and nobody spends the whole hour bored between the posts.
- 2Decide who the “last man” is. Agree beforehand who stays back when the ball is lost. That single rule saves half the game.
- 3Don’t break the shape when you sub. The player coming on takes the exact position of the player going off. When everyone reshuffles around a new arrival, the team falls apart.
If you want to send the lineup to the group chat before the game, you can build your 7-a-side or 8-a-side team with the custom squad mode, type in everyone’s names and share it as an image. That way everyone knows where they’re playing before you even get to the pitch.
Build your small-sided lineup
Use Custom Squad for 3 to 11 players, type in the names, pick a shape and share it as a PNG.
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