3v3 soccer is ORVFC’s effort to use structure to promote unstructured learning environments.  In this case, soccer is the game and there are only a few rules.  The rest is left to the kids.

Each 3v3 session is a 75 minute event once per week where players in an age group show up and play (3) 20 minute games.  There are 3 to 6 players on each team.  Teams are formed on the fly each week.  Sometimes they are randomly selected.  Sometimes they are formed by the playing styles or by gender.  The point is the players never really know week to week what challenges they will need to overcome.

All 3v3 sessions are played locally (no travel) and we try very hard to hold them at the same time each week.  Players are expected to attend but if they can’t make it for some reason it is OK as teams are formed based on whoever shows up for that given week.

There are 3 players on the field for each team at any given moment.  Substitutions can be performed on the “fly”.  Games are broken into two 10 minute halves with running time.  The game is designed to ensure as many touches on the ball for each player.

We strive for limited coaching during the events.  The primary goal is to let the players figure out what they need to do and to communicate with each other on the field.  There will be times where it is OK for coaches to offer ideas to the players and ask questions that might help the players figure out alternative solutions on their own.  This goal of limited coaching means that any parent can serve as a field monitor during the event.  The parent is there to keep track of scores and to remind the players of the basic rules if necessary.  This means any parent that is going to be there anyway can help us manage the event.  It makes it easier for the parents to help without making a full-season coaching commitment.

After each game, the players on the winning team will receive 3 points, and if it is a tie, all players on both teams receive 1 point.  All players receive 6 points for just attending the event for that week.  We believe that if the player simply shows up, the player will improve by the sheer act of playing and this should be heavily rewarded.  Points are tabulated through the season and players can monitor their progression.

The reason we developed this point system is that we are looking for a way to entice the players to join in.  We are trying to challenge that tendency to just stay inside.  The point system is purposely designed to reward the player that consistently shows up and those that figure out how to win the game.  Sometimes it is through an aggressive playing style but many times you see players outsmarting each other to overcome a playing style.

The reward system of the program is designed to acknowledge that winning is a desired end.  That is the objective of the game itself – to win.  However, the large number of opportunities to perform reinforces that intensity of play during the game itself but minimizes its importance immediately afterwards because the players quickly start a new game against different opponents.  Our hope is that players learn how to win, how to lose and when they come to the field they do the best they can.  Most importantly, they become self-motivated to participate because they gain satisfaction from stepping on the field and playing with their peers.

Important Characteristics of 3v3

• High concentration of touches on the ball for all players
• Promotes player decision-making on the fieldIntense cardiovascular effort
• Frequent transitions back and forth between attack and defense
• Communication between players replaces direction by coaches from the sidelines

Organizational Goals for 3v3

• Promotes the multi-sport athlete
• Provides club with multiple levels of competition within and across age groups
• Players nurture technical skills through large amounts of low pressure repetition
• Access to many different opportunities to play