Small sided, big progress: why 7v7 and 9v9 matter
At Crush F.C. in Burlington, Ontario, players born 2017 and 2018 play 7v7 and players born 2015 and 2016 play 9v9. This story explains how smaller game formats give young players more touches, more decisions and more fun, and how the step up to 9v9 prepares them for the full game.
By Sasa Vidovic · Published · Updated
Watch a 7v7 game and you will notice something straight away: everyone is involved. That is the point. Smaller formats put the ball at players' feet again and again, which is exactly what young players need to improve.
Why do smaller games help players learn?
Smaller games give every child more touches. With fewer players on a smaller field, each child gets more chances to dribble, pass, shoot and defend. Every touch is a small lesson, and over a season of 18 games plus training, those lessons add up fast.
How do small games build decision making?
Small sided games ask players to make choices constantly. Pass or dribble? Shoot or square it? Press or hold? Answering those questions again and again builds game intelligence alongside skill.
When do players step up to 9v9?
At Crush, players born 2015 and 2016 play 9v9. The field grows, the teams get bigger and players start to learn real positions and team shape. It is the bridge between the small game and the full 11v11 game they will play as they get older.
Players born 2017 and 2018 learn the game in 7v7, with lots of touches on the ball.
Why does fun matter so much?
Players who enjoy the game keep playing, and players who keep playing keep improving. More action means more goals, more saves and more celebrations, which is why small sided games are such a good place to grow.
Read more about how we develop players on The Crush Way, or dig into the details in our parent guide, 7v7 and 9v9 explained.
