Most youth soccer teams that run the single-wing offense run outside of the traditional set of lopsided lines.
Many coaches have asked me about the use of the balanced single-wing offense in youth soccer. For most coaches, they ask why they have “Special Rules” in their youth soccer leagues that require them to use balanced line formations. Between 2-3% of youth soccer leagues have rules like this.
It is very easy to modify the offense from a single wing from unbalanced line to a set of balanced lines. While most high schools running the single wing offense stick with the lopsided set, some of them also have a balanced line set or two.
Menominee Michigan High School executes nearly its entire Single Wing Offensive from a balanced set of lines. Menominee won another state title last year and also defeated Minnesota’s largest defending class champion (Wayzata: 3,400 students). Menominee, as most of you know, has only 550 students. It’s hard to argue with Menominee head coach Ken Hofer, who has over 250 wins running this offense from a balanced line. Hofer is a legend in Single Wing circles and is an excellent clinical speaker.
Some modifications are required if you run the single-wing offense from a balanced line set:
The midpoint of the offensive line is the center, you are now in the center. He pulls the left guard off the tackle to the right. Pull only the right guard (not also the power tackle) on the back runs to the left. Left tackle blocks GD, Gap-Down on left traps.
As you can see, moving to the balanced line is not a big deal if you are asked to do so. If I were forced to run this offensive, those would be the changes I would make. I would make my power tackle the left guard, as he would be my second most athletic lineman.
We should all play by the rules that the leagues think make sense, no matter how silly. Don’t complain or complain about it, just make the adjustments and make it work.
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