Harvard Soccer Club philosophy is to provide experience to players at all positions through at least U12. Spatial awareness related to formations and positions becomes increasingly important as players grow and develop. Typically, formations are referred to in the following order based on the number of players at each position: Goalie, Defenders, Midfielders, and Attackers (such as Striker).
| Age Grouping | Format | Typical Formations |
| U8 | 4v4 | Formations not required, but if used a 0-1-2-1 (Diamond) is a good option |
| U10 | 7v7 | 1-2-3-1 1-3-2-1 |
| U12 | 9v9 | 1-4-3-1 1-3-2-3 1-3-3-2 |
| U14 and Up | 11v11 | 1-4-3-3 1-4-4-2 1-4-2-3-1 1-5-3-2 |
Additional resources are provided below with more specific terminology (e.g. Left Center Back vs. Left Back) and definitions of player roles.
| Formations and Positions | Describes responsibilities of various positions depending on formation as well as key formations by age level |