7-a-side formations

How 7-a-side formations are written

From the back, without the keeper. So 2-3-1 is two defenders, three midfielders and one striker. The numbers add up to six.

You can see any of these drawn out, with your own players' names, in the lineup builder: choose 7-a-side and tap through the shapes.

2-3-1: the one most teams start with

Two centre-backs, a midfield three and a lone striker. The wide midfielders give you width going forward and drop in to make a back four when you defend. It's balanced, and it's forgiving if someone's out of position.

It asks a lot of the wide players, who cover the whole side of the pitch. Put your fittest two there and use your subs on them first.

3-2-1: when you need to stop conceding

Three at the back, two in midfield, one up front. The extra defender makes you hard to break down, and the outside two of the three can step forward with the ball.

The risk is the striker getting isolated. It works best with a forward who can hold the ball up and two midfielders willing to run past them.

2-1-2-1: the diamond for teams that pass

Two defenders, a holding midfielder, two attacking midfielders and a striker. You outnumber most teams in the middle and there's always a short pass on.

It's narrow, so the full width of the pitch is left to whoever's nearest. Against a team with quick wide players, the two attacking midfielders have to do their share going back.

3-1-2: two up front

Three defenders, one in the middle and a front two. Two strikers pin the other team's defence back and give you someone to aim at early.

The single midfielder has a lot of grass to cover. It suits a team with one player who never stops running, and it's a good shape to switch to when you're chasing a goal.

How to choose

Pick the shape for the players you have, not the one you'd like to have:

• New team, or mixed ability: 2-3-1. Everyone understands it.
• Short of fitness, or up against a better side: 3-2-1.
• Good passers, not much pace: 2-1-2-1.
• A strong pair up front: 3-1-2.
• Rolling subs: change the wide players and the lone midfielder most often. They do the most running.

The shape matters less than the teams

In a friends' game, no formation fixes two lopsided sides. Get the teams even first, with the 7-a-side team generator, then worry about who plays where. The usual rules are in the 7-a-side rules guide, and the size of pitch you should be on is in the pitch sizes guide.

If it's the same group every week, Squadcard picks even teams from ratings the players give each other after each game.

Questions