SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP 3v3

I am interested on seeing how some of you feel about. I have coached it and enjoyed it. But in speaking with some other coaches they have mixed feelings. Kids seem to love it but how do you all feel about it?

Not sure what's not to like.

Small sided games, fast, plenty of touches, forces players to think quickly, and rotate different positions very quickly.

As you say kids love it. Enough said.

I will comment that with shorter games and squads up to 6, you could easily negate some of the benefits mentioned in a tournament environment with limited games.

Interested to know what reasons did other coaches provide that begs this post/question?

Since like everything else with soccer, money is usually associated with 3v3 tournaments, that can get tiring but having said that, one of my kids will be playing Saturday at Summerville and I'll be along to cheer.

Cainhoy is sending at least 3 boys teams to the event

I've always enjoyed 3 v 3 and I believe it's a great way to develop skills. Agree with the observations about cost, which is a drawback of the Kick-it series, which requires overnight stays and out of SC trips. I like the one day format of the tournaments that Kenyon Cook has been organizing because they are in state and much more affordable. I have found that kids seem to lose interest in 3 v 3 as they get older. Could be the game becomes overly tactical.

90% of what I have heard is positive. I'll be honest I enjoy coaching it, I enjoy watching it and I actually think the price is fair although I would not complain if they dropped it down to about $100. What caused the question was I was speaking with another coach the other day, he enjoys more of the traditional aspects of soccer. He does not enjoy the kick ins or that at times it can promote selfish play, and in his defense I have heard this from a few others. I have speant the last 2 weeks watching my son play with another coaches team (that's right just going to be Dad this weekend) but in watching the practices not only have I learned from his coach (who I have come to have a ton of respect for) but I realized how much my son enjoys 3v3, I definetly think it keeps kids playing in a completely different format without burning them out. But I was just curious what others that. I look forward to seeing everyone from Cainhoy and the other clubs this weekend and best of luck to everyone!

I do believe there is a point of diminishing returns with 3 v. 3 It's a great game, because it demands good technical skills, and teaches kids how to use passing triangles. However, at the higher levels of the tournaments you start running into teams that have practiced patterns and timed runs to such a degree that you begin to wonder whether the game has become more about learning how to play "3 v. 3" than how to play soccer. In other words, there may be a point where you might be better off doing something else. Overall, though, I think it's a positive experience.

Isn't it ironic? Sounds to me like you're describing a situation in which the freedom and creativity of 3v3 are eliminated by overcoaching.
I'm shocked.

Backscreen you hit the nail on the head. There are some really solid coached teams. But there are a few that just have practiced every cheap way of scoring in the book. I can tell you that we played a team from SCUMP today in the U10 division and a kid pulled off a step over move and he seemed to be pretty excited (maybe it was the first time he pulled it off in competition) but I heard the coach encourage it so not everyone is over coaching and killing creativity and although I don't know the coach I felt his kids played looser than anyone I saw in the tourney and I was pretty impressed with them. They just seemed to let the kids roll.

I've seen bits and pieces of 3v3 training in Mt. P -- seems to be the right mix of focus and fun. If mine were 10, I'd roll with it.

Some teams are like that, some are in to some tactics that take advantage of the rules. I guess you run into that in almost every sport. None the less I was just interested in seeing how some others felt about the format. Like I said I enjoy coaching it, my kids enjoy playing it, and as far as a pick up type of game I think it is a great format just to encourage them to play and work on their skills

I am reminded of the line from FIFA 10 (PS3).

"They say the fabric of the game is pass and move ..."

That's 3v3 in a nutshell. Enjoy your coaching.