Futbol Island

7v7 lesson · Meet the team and restart · Beginner

Meet Your Team

Recognize the goalkeeper and three lines of teammates, then adjust your midfield role as the ball changes sides.

What the coach says

  1. Your team has seven players: one goalkeeper and six outfield players. Attack toward the goal at the far end.
  2. Here, two defenders, three midfielders and one forward start ahead of the keeper. That is two-three-one, or one-two-three-one including the keeper.
  3. The left defender has the ball. The wide midfielder offers a route ahead; the middle midfielder can help from another angle.
  4. You are the middle midfielder. Choose a position that gives the left defender another passing angle.
  5. Move into the inside angle. Your starting position helps you find a job; you can adjust it as play changes.
  6. The defender passes inside. The wide player stays available ahead.
  7. Return the ball. Now watch the defenders move it to the other side.
  8. The right defender receives. The right midfielder offers width, so your supporting job shifts too.
  9. You are still the middle midfielder. Choose a useful supporting position for the new passer.
  10. Move across to support. The forward stays higher, while the goalkeeper remains available behind the defenders.
  11. The pass reaches you. The same team shape helped on both sides because the players adjusted their positions.
  12. The right defender moves up behind the pass. Starting roles help us share jobs as the ball moves.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Where could the middle midfielder help the player with the ball?

    • Move inside
    • Move toward the wide teammate

    Coach’s explanation: The wide midfielder already offers the outside route. An inside position gives the defender a different option.

  2. Question 2

    Where could the middle midfielder help now?

    • Move across to the right
    • Stay on the left

    Coach’s explanation: The ball has changed sides. Moving across gives the right defender an inside option alongside the wide teammate.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Your team has two defenders, three midfielders, one forward.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: Two at the back, three in the middle and one ahead, plus the keeper.

  4. Question 4

    The ball goes across the team. Put the steps in order.

    • Ball goes to the right defender
    • Left defender passes inside to you
    • You move across to help
    • You pass back to the left defender

    Coach’s explanation: You help, pass back, the ball goes across, then you move across.

  5. Question 5

    The left midfielder has the ball. Where can the middle midfielder help?

    • Behind the blue midfielder
    • Inside, near the ball
    • Stay out on the right

    Coach’s explanation: Close and inside gives the passer another angle.

Play it on the island