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How to Coach 4v4 and 5v5 Soccer

By Sherif Madkor · Tactico · Last reviewed 12 November 2026 · How this page was made

The short answer: In the US the biggest format for U7–U8 is 4v4, with no goalkeepers, on a pitch of 25–35 × 15–25 yards.1,2 In England from 2026–27, U7s play 3v3 and U8–U9s play 5v5 with keepers.3,4 There is no heading and no offside at these ages in either country.1,4 US Soccer’s age-group guide lists one 4v4 formation, a 1-2-1 with no goalkeeper,6 and an older coaching document calls it a diamond: a deep player, two wide players and a high player.8 Its one rule for coaches: if the deep player steps forward with the ball, someone replaces him in the spot he left.8 The FA’s advice for matchday is “We want players to learn how to play the game”.4 For the shapes themselves, see the 5v5 formations guide.

  • 4 beats
  • 4 age groups
  • 3 options to read
  • 3 cue words
CUEDiamond!
01 · See it

Who fills the empty spot?

Blue and Red each play a diamond, four against four, with no goalkeepers and a small goal at each end.1 The shapes have their own page, the 5v5 formations guide, so this page is about how the four play. Look for the diamond: No.4 deep, No.2 and No.3 wide, No.5 high. Watch No.4 carry the ball forward, then freeze when the nearest Red player closes him down and the spot behind him is empty. The older guide has a rule for exactly this moment: “if the deep player steps forward with the ball, someone must replace him in the spot that he has just vacated, so that there continues to be support from behind”.8 Who does it?

Four against four, no goalkeepers, on a small coned pitch. Blue (No.4 deep, No.2 and No.3 wide, No.5 high) attacks right. Watch the ball and who is behind it.

Freeze. Who fills the empty spot?

Ask your players before you show them. Tap an option to play it out.

  • Pass
  • Our run
  • Red closes down
  • Cue word
  • The empty spot behind the ball
  • Us (Blue) · Them (Red)
  • Cones: the corners of the 4v4 field
  • The small goal, in the middle of each end line

Open it on your board (Pro): Drop in behind Carry on alone Everyone to the ball

Read the sequence as text

Setup

Four against four, no goalkeepers, on a small coned pitch. Blue (No.4 deep, No.2 and No.3 wide, No.5 high) attacks right. Watch the ball and who is behind it.

Carrying the ball forward

  1. Blue plays a diamond: No.4 deep, No.2 and No.3 wide, No.5 high. Red does the same the other way round. No.4 carries the ball forward from the deep spot.
  2. No.4 carries it past his wide players and looks up. The nearest Red player comes to close him down. The spot behind the ball is empty.

The freeze

Freeze. No.4 has carried the ball forward and the nearest Red player is closing in. Nobody is behind him. Who fills the empty spot?

A. Drop in behind

Best answer: someone fills the spot. No.2 drops into the spot behind the ball, so No.4 has a safe pass back and the other three still have width and a target ahead. It is the one rule the older 4v4 guide gives: if the deep player steps forward with the ball, someone replaces him in the spot he left, so there is still support from behind.8

  1. No.2 drops into the spot behind the ball, and No.4 plays it back to him. The nearest Red player arrives a touch late.
  2. No.2 plays it across to No.3, who has the far side to himself. No.4 slides out wide, and No.2 is the deep player now: the diamond is whole again.
  3. No.3 has room to carry it. No.2 steps up behind him, so there is still someone behind the ball. Blue plays on in shape.

B. Carry on alone

Risky: nobody behind the ball. This is fine if No.4 beats his man. If the nearest Red player wins it, there is nobody behind No.4 and Red shoots at an open goal, because there are no goalkeepers at 4v4. The guide says players must be ready to move to different spots as their team-mates and the ball move. Here nobody did.8

  1. No.4 keeps going on his own, and the nearest Red player steps in and wins the ball. Nobody is behind him, and No.2 and No.3 are too far away to help.
  2. The nearest Red player runs straight through the empty middle, and Blue’s players are all chasing from behind.
  3. The nearest Red player shoots at the empty goal. There are no goalkeepers at 4v4, so it is a goal.

C. Everyone to the ball

Avoid: everybody runs to the ball. Four Blues end up in one clump: no width, no pass back, and nobody behind the ball. The nearest Red player wins it and plays into the empty far side. The older guide wants an attacking shape that finds options in every direction, and a clump finds none.8

  1. No.2, No.3 and No.5 all run to the ball. Four Blues are in one clump, with no width and nobody to pass back to.
  2. The nearest Red player wins the ball in the clump.
  3. Red passes into the empty far side, where Red’s wide player on that side is free. The Blue clump is in the wrong place to stop him.
02 · Say it

Three shouts for four players

Shouts work when they are short and few. Pick three words, teach them in training, and use only those from the touchline. These three are my own wording, not a formal youth standard, and each one packages an idea from a named source. Hover or tap a card to see when to say it.

CUE 01
“Diamond!”
when to say it
SHOUT IT WHEN

Said by the coach or any player: find your point, deep, left, right or high. The basis is US Soccer’s age-group guide, which lists one 4v4 formation, 1-2-1 with no goalkeeper,6 and the older guide’s diamond with a deep player, two wide players and a high player.8 In the pattern it is the first word you hear, when No.5 takes the high spot.

CUE 02
“Replace!”
when to say it
SHOUT IT WHEN

Said when a team-mate leaves his spot: somebody fills it. The basis is the older guide’s rule: “if the deep player steps forward with the ball, someone must replace him in the spot that he has just vacated, so that there continues to be support from behind”.8 In the pattern it is No.2, who drops in behind No.4.

CUE 03
“Link!”
when to say it
SHOUT IT WHEN

Said to the player who takes the pass back: you are the link between the ball and the far side. At 5v5 there is a player in the middle of the diamond whose job this is, and the older guide calls the role “a ‘link’ between players in the back and those up front”.8 At 4v4 there is no middle player, so whoever drops in behind the ball does the job for a moment. That use is my own teaching design. In the pattern No.2 is the link when he turns the ball across to No.3.

03 · Play it

Games that grow the diamond

Grow the first habits with games, not talks. Each rung adds one rule. Move up when the group handles a rung without your help, and stay put if they need a reminder every time. The scoring rules and “ready when” signs are my own design, built on US Soccer’s age-group guide, game model and 4v4 standards, the older 4v4 guide and the FA’s 5v5 page.6,7,1,8,4 Check your league’s rules first.

Rules to check first

  • Formats. US Soccer’s maximum formats are 4v4 for U7–U8 and 7v7 for U9–U10, and “smaller-sized formats can also be played at each of these age groups”.2 Its small-sided chart has 4v4 with no goalkeepers from U6 to U8.1 England from 2026–27: 3v3 for U7s, 5v5 for U8s and U9s, 7v7 from U10.3 The FA’s 5v5 page says “this is the maximum format players can play at these age groups”, so smaller formats are fine, especially in training.4
  • Pitch, goals, ball and time. US 4v4: 25–35 yards long and 15–25 wide, goals “no larger than 4 feet (height) x 6 feet (width)”, corner flags not needed, a size 3 ball, shin guards required, and four quarters of no more than 10 minutes with 5-minute breaks. Substitutions are unlimited.1 England 5v5: a recommended pitch of 37 × 27 metres (27 × 18 minimum), goals 12 × 6 feet, a size 3 ball, games of up to 40 minutes and rolling substitutes.4
  • Keepers, heading and offside. US 4v4 has no goalkeepers and no offside, and “Heading is not allowed in 4v4 games”: a header gives the other team an indirect free kick.1 England’s 5v5 has goalkeepers, no heading and no offside.4
  • Restarts. US 4v4: kick-ins and dribble-ins are acceptable when the ball goes over the sideline, goal kicks and corners are taken “in the general vicinity” of the goal or corner, opponents stay 10 feet from the ball, and if used, all free kicks are indirect.1 England: “Either pass or dribble in for sideline restarts”,4 and the 2025/26 handbook adds that on a goal kick the team without the ball retreats to its own half until the ball is in play (the retreat line).5
  • Referees and results. US 4v4: “Registered and certified referees are not needed at this level”, so “coaches are expected to manage the game environment from the touchline”. “Results and standings should not be recorded”, and players “should not be participating in events (tournaments, showcases, festivals, etc.)”.1 England’s 5v5 page lists match officials as needed and trophy events as the competition.4
  • Playing time. The US deck says “everyone should participate a minimum of 50% of the time”, and that with four on the field, six players on each “team” helps maximise participation.1 The FA says to use rolling subs, that best practice is at least half the game for every player, and to let players try different positions.4
  • Your league. Rules vary by league and state, and these numbers come from federation pages, a 2017 deck and a 2025/26 handbook, not your rulebook. Check yours before you change the game.

4v4 with no keepers in the US, 5v5 with keepers in England. US Soccer’s U7–U8 game model has two moments, attacking and defending, and asks the team to “Create attacking shape (height/width/depth) to encourage forward play”.7

  1. RUNG 1

    Replace

    Setup. 4v4 with small goals.

    Rule · A goal after a carry from the deep spot counts two only if a team-mate filled the deep spot. With the deep spot empty it counts one. The rule is built on the older guide’s replace idea.8

    Ready when someone fills the spot without a call.

  2. RUNG 2

    Gate Behind

    Setup. The same game, with a cone gate in the middle of the pitch behind the deep spot.

    Rule · The other team scores two for any ball run through the gate. That puts a price on the empty spot.

    Ready when the team protects the gate.

  3. RUNG 3

    Keeper Is the Last Player

    Setup. 5v5 with a keeper: England’s format, or a US team trying a fifth player.

    Rule · A goal after a pass from the keeper counts two. The older guide calls the keeper “the ‘last’ player in the attack” at 5v5.8

    Ready when the keeper plays short.

U8 session in Tactico Pro: Print touchline cards Download session PDF Open in the planner

04 · Spot it

What to watch for

Four things to look at from the touchline, and the three mistakes you’ll see first.

Watch for

  • Is there a player behind the ball? When the carrier steps forward, count who is behind him. The older guide’s rule is that someone replaces him, so there is still support from behind.8
  • Is anyone standing wide, or are all four in a clump? Look at the touchlines, not the ball. The U7–U8 game model asks for “height/width/depth” in attack.7
  • Do they swap points? US Soccer’s guide says players should “experience all positions”,6 and the FA suggests letting players try different positions.4
  • Are you coaching, or are they playing? The FA: “Shouting instructions and telling them what to do all the time won’t help them become great problem-solvers”.4

Mistakes and the fix

The clumpAll four go to the ball. Fix: the cue Diamond! and the games on Spacing: Stop the Bunch.
Nobody behind the carrierThe carrier runs on and the deep spot stays empty. Fix: the cue Replace! and the U8 game Replace.8
The coach shouts every moveUS Soccer’s U7–U8 guide: “Keep instructions short” and “Use simple words and phrases”.6 Fix: give the players this page’s three words and ask questions.

Touchline rule. Praise the child who filled the empty spot, even if he never touched the ball.

Run it in TacticoPlaycode Pro pack

Take it to training

Set this pattern up for your own squad tonight:

Everything on this page, ready to print and use at training:

  • Lay out your players on the Tactico board and draw each option, free
  • Animate it move by move and export a video for your players (first one free, then Pro)
  • Build the training session in the session planner and print it (Pro)
  • Share it with your coaches and parents with one link (free account)
  • Open every option on your Tactico board, watch it play, then make it your own
  • A ready-made session for every age group in the session planner: the ladder as play, practice, play, timed
  • Touchline cards for every rung, ready to print and laminate
  • Print the session as a PDF or share it with your coaches in one link
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Questions

Coaches ask

How many players are in 4v4?

Four on the field and no goalkeepers. The US deck suggests six players on each “team” when the game is played, so everyone gets enough time.1

Do you need a referee?

In US 4v4 no: “Registered and certified referees are not needed at this level”, and coaches manage the game from the touchline.1 England’s 5v5 page lists match officials as needed.4

Is there offside or heading?

No offside and no heading in US 4v4 or England’s 5v5.1,4

Is there a goalkeeper?

US 4v4: no.1 England 5v5: yes.4

Do we keep score?

The US deck says “Results and standings should not be recorded”.1 The same deck lists a goal size for 4v4, so the game is played to goals. Its point is not to keep records or tables.

What formation should we use?

US Soccer’s age-group guide lists one for 4v4: 1-2-1 (no GK).6 The FA’s 5v5 page offers a couple of formations you can use.4 This page does not choose one. The shapes are on the 5v5 formations guide.

What is the difference between 4v4 and 5v5?

A goalkeeper and, in the older guide, a central link player.8 US Soccer’s format table lists 4v4 and 7v7 and does not list 5v5, while England uses 5v5 for U8–U9.2,3

Where do I put my weaker players?

Rotate. US Soccer: players should “experience all positions”.6 The FA suggests letting players try different positions.4 I found no source that supports hiding a child in one spot. My own suggestion is a role with one simple job, such as the wide player who must stay wide.

What age can I start?

US Soccer’s chart has the same 4v4, no-goalkeeper standards for U6 and younger.1 The deck also says formal games are not needed: playing with and against teammates at the end of training is sufficient.1

Is it different in England?

Yes. From 2026–27 U7s play 3v3 and U8–U9s play 5v5 with keepers.3,4 The FA’s 2025/26 handbook replaces the throw-in with a pass-in or dribble-in and has a retreat line.5 England’s 5v5 games last up to 40 minutes with rolling substitutes.4

Keep going

What next

Formation guide5v5 formations and age guideThe shapes (1-2-1, 2-2, 2-1-1), how the FA and US Soccer write them, and which ages play 5v5. This page is the coaching; that one is the shapes. Related playcodeSpacing: Stop the BunchThe clump in option C, and the first thing to fix with the youngest players. The next formatHow to Coach 7v7 SoccerThe step up: more players, a bigger pitch and keepers, and the same diamond habits. Later formatsHow to Coach 9v9 SoccerTwo groups of four, wide roles and normal offside. Free tactics boardDraw it with your own playersSet up the diamond on the board, draw the runs, and see it before you take it to training.
Formation guides
About

How this page was made

Written by Sherif Madkor for Tactico from published federation and coaching sources, which are listed below. The rules come from US Soccer’s pages and a 2017 US Soccer deck hosted by a state association, England’s FA pages and its 2025/26 mini-soccer handbook, so check your own league’s rulebook. The diagrams are drawn on the Tactico board. The pattern, the three options, the cue words, the practice ladders and the “ready when” signs are my own teaching design, built on the diamond and the replace rule from an older coaching document, US Soccer’s U7–U8 game model and age-group guide, and the FA’s 5v5 advice. Who stands where, and every distance in the scene, is my teaching model; no source gives a youth distance for it. The older document is undated and sits on a third-party site, so I used it for ideas, not as a rule. This page is about coaching the first formats, not about formations, so the shapes are left to the 5v5 formations guide. I found no youth statistics on the effect of format on development, so the page claims none. Where I couldn’t confirm something, the page says so. Last reviewed 12 November 2026.

Sources

  1. U.S. Soccer, Player Development Initiatives (2017 deck; copy hosted by the Arizona Soccer Association), 4v4 standards. https://www.azsoccerassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/186/2024/08/US-Soccer-Player-Development-Initiatives-PDI.pdf
  2. U.S. Soccer, “Game formats”. https://www.ussoccer.com/us-way/player-development/game/game-formats
  3. England Football Learning, “What are the game formats in football?” (2026–27 formats). https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2022/What-is-a-format-in-football
  4. England Football Learning, “How to play and manage 5v5 games” (December 2025). https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2025/How-to-play-and-manage-5v5-games
  5. The FA, Mini-Soccer and Youth Futsal Handbook (2025/26; copy hosted by the West Riding FA). https://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/westridingfa/files/clubs/mini-soccer-handbook-2025.ashx
  6. U.S. Soccer, age-group guide U7–U8. https://www.ussoccer.com/us-way/player-development/environment/age-group-guide/u7-u8
  7. U.S. Soccer, game model U7–U8 (two game moments). https://www.ussoccer.com/us-way/player-development/game/game-models/u7-u8
  8. “The Progression from 4v4 to 11v11” (a document headed “Candidate Recommended Reading”; undated, on a third-party site; I could not confirm who published it, so it is used for ideas only). https://www.soccerxpert.com/docs/us-soccer-4v4-to-11v11-progression.pdf