Formation Builder
Pick a soccer formation or type your own, move the players where you want them, and set it against the other team's shape on the same pitch.
Minutes plan
Settings: team, colors and options
How to use the formation builder
Choose how many players a side, then tap a formation. The players slide to their new spots and keep their names, numbers and the goalkeeper. For a shape that is not in the list, type the outfield rows from the back in Your own shape, for example 4-1-2-1-2 or 3-4-1-2, and press Apply. The rows must add up to the outfield players for that format: 10 in 11 a side.
Drag players to fine-tune the shape: a full back pushed high, a winger tucked inside, a holding midfielder dropping between the center backs. Reset formation puts everyone back in the chosen shape. Tap a player to set a name, a number, a position label or the captain's armband, and keep substitutes on the bench beside the pitch.
Tick Show the opponent on the same pitch to add the other team in the top half, facing yours. Its formation, name and colors are in Settings, and its players move and rename like your own. Use it to walk a team through a matchup before kick-off: where the spare player is, who marks whom at corners, which flank is overloaded.
Formations in this soccer formation maker
Formations are written from back to front without the goalkeeper: 4-3-3 means four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. The 11 a side presets are 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 5-3-2, 4-1-4-1 and 4-5-1. Small-sided soccer gets common youth shapes, all editable: 3-3-2, 3-2-3 and 2-3-2-1 for 9 a side, 2-3-1, 3-2-1 and 2-1-2-1 for 7 a side, and 2-1-1, 1-2-1 and 2-2 for 5 a side. Leagues set their own format, so pick the one you play.
Each spot gets a common label (GK, LB, CB, RB, LWB, RWB, DM, CM, AM, LM, RM, LW, RW, ST) as a starting point. Coaches name roles differently, so type your own. Outside the United States the game is called football, and the tool works the same as a football formation creator for any club or school team.
For other sports, the lineup builder has basketball, volleyball, baseball, hockey and football fields, and the basketball lineup builder plans playing time. On match day the soccer scoreboard runs the clock and the score.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Tab and Shift+Tab step through the players on the pitch, both teams
- The arrow keys move the chosen player; with Shift it goes five times as far
- Enter opens the name box for that player
- R puts both teams back in formation
- N adds a player, B benches the chosen one or brings them back, Delete removes them
- U or Ctrl+Z takes back the last change
- F turns full screen on and off, and Esc clears the selection
Questions
Can I save a formation and send it to my team?
The formation stays saved in this browser. Share link puts both teams in a link for a coach or player to open; a very long roster with notes is too big for a link, so Export file saves it as a small file instead. Download PNG makes a picture for the group chat.
How do I print the formation for the locker room wall?
Press Print. The sheet shows the pitch with both teams, a table of your squad with numbers and positions, the other team's shape and your notes.
Can I put the formation on a TV for a team talk?
Yes. With the laptop plugged into the TV, choose Open display window, move the new window onto the TV screen and press Full screen there. Drag players on the laptop and the TV follows a moment later.
Does the formation builder send my lineup anywhere?
No. It runs in your browser and keeps the names on your device; there is no account. A share link holds the formation inside the link and is only sent when you send it.
More in Lineups and formations
Put this formation builder on your website
Free for classrooms, clubs, blogs and shops: paste this code into any page. It works the same inside your site, and counts stay in each visitor's own browser. For a dark version, add ?theme=dark after /formation-builder/ in the code.