Soccer Positioning Fundamentals: Spacing, Angles, and Basic Roles in Small-Sided Play

Positioning as Simple Principles (Not Formations)

Good positioning in small-sided soccer (2v2 to 5v5) is less about memorizing a shape and more about constantly answering three questions: (1) Am I giving my teammate space? (2) Am I giving the ball-carrier a safe angle? (3) Am I helping create a forward option? Use the principles below to “self-correct” as the ball moves.

1) Spacing: Don’t Stand on the Same Line

What “same line” means

When two teammates stand on the same horizontal line (side-by-side) or the same vertical line (one directly behind the other) relative to the ball, one defender can often cover both with a single position. Spacing fixes this by creating width (side-to-side) and depth (front-to-back).

Simple spacing rules

• Width: If the ball is central, one teammate should drift wider to stretch the defender’s reach.
• Depth: Always try to have one option behind or level with the ball (safety) and one option ahead of the ball (progress).
• Two teammates should rarely be the same distance from the goal: stagger your distances so defenders must choose.

Quick cone walk-through: “Width + Depth Lanes”

Setup: Place 4 cones to make a rectangle about 12–18 meters long and 10–14 meters wide (adjust to age/space). Put a ball at the center. Use two extra cones to mark a “wide lane” on each side (about 2 meters inside each sideline).

Step-by-step:

• Player A stands on the ball (the “ball-carrier”). Player B starts 6–8 meters away.
• Coach points to a side: “Ball goes left.” Player A dribbles (or carries) two steps toward the left half.
• Player B must immediately choose: go wide into the left wide lane (width) or go deeper by moving a few meters ahead/behind to create depth.
• Freeze: check that Player B is not directly in line with Player A (not straight across, not straight behind).
• Repeat to the right side. Repeat with Player A moving forward/backward so Player B learns to adjust distance, not just direction.

Coaching check: If you can draw a straight line from Player A to Player B that also goes through a defender’s likely position, spacing is probably poor. Stagger.

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2) Support Angles: Make Triangles Around the Ball

Why triangles work

A triangle gives the ball-carrier at least two different passing angles. If one lane is blocked, the other may be open. In small-sided play, triangles also help you keep the ball when pressure arrives quickly.

Angle guidelines (simple, not technical)

• Don’t hide behind a defender: move so the ball-carrier can see you and pass to you.
• Be “diagonal,” not flat: diagonal support creates a clearer passing lane than standing straight sideways.
• Adjust your angle before you ask for the ball: first move to be available, then communicate.

Guided cone walk-through: “Triangle Freeze” (3 players)

Setup: Place 3 cones in a triangle about 6–10 meters apart. Put a ball at one cone. Players start at each cone.

Step-by-step:

• Player 1 has the ball. Player 2 and Player 3 are the two supports.
• Coach calls “Pressure!” and points to one support to simulate that lane being blocked (imagine a defender stepping there).
• The blocked support takes two quick steps to adjust: either slightly wider or slightly deeper to re-open the angle.
• Freeze and check: do you still have a triangle with three different angles, or did you collapse into a line?
• Rotate roles so each player practices being the adjusting support.

Coaching check: If the three players can be connected by two straight lines that look like a “V” (triangle), you’re good. If they look like “—” (a line), fix it.

3) Passing Options: Behind, Beside, and Ahead of the Ball

To help the ball-carrier, think in three options. In small-sided games, you rarely need more than these to be effective.

Guided cone walk-through: “3 Options Moving Ball” (4 cones + 2–3 players)

Setup: Put one cone as the ball position. Put three cones to represent the three support zones: one cone 5 meters behind-diagonal, one cone 5 meters beside-diagonal, one cone 7–10 meters ahead-diagonal. (Make them clearly diagonal, not straight lines.)

Step-by-step:

• Player A stands at the ball cone. Player B starts free.
• Coach calls one of the options: “Behind!” “Beside!” or “Ahead!”
• Player B sprints to that cone, then takes two small adjustment steps to show a clear passing lane (not hiding behind an imaginary defender).
• Coach changes the ball position by moving Player A two steps left/right/forward; Player B must re-find the same option relative to the new ball spot.
• Switch roles.

Coaching check: The “behind” option should feel like a reset button. The “ahead” option should feel like you’re stretching the field. The “beside” option should feel like you’re giving the ball-carrier a second direction.

4) Basic Responsibilities in Small-Sided Games

In small-sided play, players often rotate roles. Still, having a default responsibility helps you decide where to stand when you’re unsure.

Defender: Protect Goal and Delay

• First job: protect the most dangerous space (usually the middle in front of goal).
• Delay: slow the attacker so teammates can recover; don’t dive in if you’re the last player.
• Positioning cue: stay goal-side and slightly inside (show wide if you have help, protect middle if you don’t).

Midfielder: Connect and Support

• First job: be the link—offer behind/beside options so the team can keep the ball and switch sides.
• Scan: check both sides so you can move early to create angles.
• Positioning cue: live in the “triangle space” near the ball but not on top of it.

Attacker: Stretch Space and Finish

• First job: make the field big for your team by pushing defenders back or wide.
• Be available ahead: give a forward target or run into open space.
• Positioning cue: don’t stand next to the ball; stand where a defender doesn’t want you.

Role rotation rule for small-sided games

When your team loses the ball, the closest player pressures, the next player covers the middle, and the farthest player protects the goal area. When your team wins the ball, immediately rebuild width and depth: one player offers behind, one beside, one ahead (as numbers allow).

“If-Then” Positioning Rules You Can Use Instantly

• If your teammate is pressured, then move to a safe diagonal angle (usually behind-diagonal) so they have an escape pass.
• If the ball is wide, then fill the middle: one player supports inside as a passing option; another stays ahead to stretch depth.
• If you pass, then move again to support: either run to a new angle (beside) or drop behind for a reset—don’t admire the pass.
• If you are standing and can’t see the ball-carrier’s face, then adjust: you’re likely not in their field of view or you’re on a poor line.
• If two teammates are close together, then one must move: create width (go wider) or depth (go higher/lower), not tiny side-steps.
• If the ball-carrier is facing forward with time, then make an ahead option: check away from the defender, then show into space.
• If the ball-carrier is facing backward, then prioritize behind/beside options to help them turn or reset.

Guided Team Walk-Throughs with Cones (Ball Moves, You Move)

Walk-through A: 3v0 “Shift as the Ball Shifts”

Setup: Create a small field with 4 cones (about 20x14 meters). Use 3 players and 1 ball. No defenders at first.

Step-by-step:

• Start with Player 1 central on the ball, Player 2 wide left, Player 3 ahead-right (a loose triangle).
• Player 1 passes to Player 2 (left). As the ball travels, Player 1 moves to become the beside/behind option, and Player 3 adjusts to become the ahead option (stretch depth).
• Freeze right after the pass: check that the two off-ball players are not on the same line and that Player 2 has at least two angles.
• Player 2 passes back to Player 1. As the ball returns central, Player 3 can drift wider or stay high depending on space; Player 2 now becomes the support behind/beside.
• Repeat to the right side so players learn to “swing” the triangle with the ball.

Walk-through B: Add 1 defender (3v1) and keep the triangle alive

Setup: Same field. Add one defender who starts 2–3 meters from the ball.

Step-by-step:

• Attacking team’s goal is to keep two passing options available at all times.
• When the defender pressures the ball, the nearest support must move to a safe angle (often behind-diagonal). The far support must move to stretch (ahead or wide) so the defender can’t cover both.
• Coach calls “Freeze!” randomly. Check: do you still have a triangle? Is one option behind, and is one option beside/ahead?
• Rotate defender every 60–90 seconds.

Walk-through C: 4v0 “Two Lines Become a Diamond”

Setup: Same field. Use 4 players. Start them in a rough diamond: one back, two wide-ish, one high.

Step-by-step:

• Ball starts with the back player. The two side players must not stand on the same horizontal line; one can be slightly higher to stagger.
• Pass to a side player. As the ball goes wide, the opposite side player slides inward to “fill the middle,” and the high player stays high to stretch depth.
• Pass back inside. As the ball returns central, rebuild width: one player goes wide again, one stays behind as safety.
• Coach correction: if the two side players become flat and level, stop and restagger (one higher, one lower).

Common Positioning Mistakes (and the Fix)

• Mistake: Standing next to the ball-carrier. Fix: take 3–5 steps away and choose a diagonal angle (behind or ahead).
• Mistake: Hiding directly behind a defender. Fix: move two steps left/right and one step up/down to “step out of the shadow.”
• Mistake: Everyone runs toward the ball when it goes wide. Fix: one supports inside (middle), one stays wide or high; keep width and depth.
• Mistake: Passing and stopping. Fix: pass-then-move: immediately become the next behind/beside option.