Most youth soccer teams that run the single wing offense do so off the traditional set of unbalanced lines.
Many coaches have asked me about the use of the balanced line single wing offense in youth soccer. For most coaches, they ask because they have “Special Rules” in their Youth Soccer Leagues that require them to use balanced line formations. 2-3% of youth soccer leagues have rules like this.
It is very easy to modify the Offense from a single unbalanced lane wing to a set of balanced lanes. While most high schools that run Single Wing Offense stick to the unbalanced set, several of them also have one or two balanced line sets.
Menominee Michigan High School runs nearly all of their single wing offense with a balanced set of lines. Menominee won another state title last year, beating the defending state champion from the largest class (Wayzata, 3,400 students) from Minnesota. Menominee, as most of you know, has only 550 students. It’s hard to argue with Menominee head coach Ken Hofer, who has more than 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 set of balanced lines:
The midpoint of the offensive line is the center, now you fit in the center. Pull the Left Guard in off-tackle runs to the right. Pull only the right guard (not also the electric hoist) in reverse gears to the left. The Left Tackle Blocks GD, Gap-Down on traps to the left.
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 commit this crime, those would be the changes I would make. I would have my power tackle left guard, since he would be my second most athletic lineman.
We all need to play by whatever rules the leagues think make sense, no matter how silly they might be. Don’t delay or complain about it, just make the necessary adjustments and make it work.
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