7 sides hockey

Annabel DunnillCoach, England

For a 7-a-side tournament, the best formation for both defending and attacking can vary based on your team's strengths and style of play. Here are some recommendations for formations and gameplay strategies:

Defending:

• Formation: Consider using a 2-3-1 formation for solid defensive coverage. This formation provides a balance between defensive stability and attacking options.
• Compact Defense: Emphasize maintaining a compact defensive shape to limit space for the opposition and make it harder for them to penetrate your defense.
• Pressing: Implement a pressing strategy to win the ball back quickly and disrupt the opposition's build-up play.
• Team Communication: Encourage clear communication among defenders to ensure effective marking, covering, and tracking of opponents.
• Quick Transitions: Focus on quick transitions from defense to attack to catch opponents off guard during turnovers.

Attacking:

• Formation: Opt for a fluid formation like a 2-2-2 to provide versatility in attack with multiple passing options and support.
• Width and Depth: Utilize the width of the field to stretch the opposition defense and create space for attacking opportunities.
• Rotation and Movement: Encourage player rotation and off-the-ball movement to create passing lanes and destabilize the defense.
• Quick Passing: Emphasize quick ball circulation and one-two passing combinations to break through compact defenses.
• Finishing: Work on finishing drills to improve your team's efficiency in front of goal and capitalize on scoring chances.

It's essential to adapt your tactics based on the strengths of your players and the specific characteristics of the tournament. Regularly practice these defensive and attacking strategies in training sessions to build cohesion and familiarity with the chosen formations and gameplay approach.