| Common Soccer Positions Are you a little perplexed | | | | on the field. |
| by different soccer positions and the jargon you hear | | | | Central Defender - This player, usually the best |
| out on the field? Do you spend most of the game | | | | defender on the team, guards directly in front of |
| wondering exactly what every player is supposed to | | | | their team's goal. |
| be doing? Here is a guide to the basic and more | | | | Stopper - This position's key duty is to guard the |
| advanced positions of a soccer game as well as | | | | opposing team's striker and stop them from making |
| some of the more common nicknames for them. | | | | goals. |
| Defender - Also called a 'back', this defensive player | | | | Defensive Midfielder - Also called a midfield anchor, |
| works his magic in the defensive third of the soccer | | | | this is a midfielder who plays near the defensive third |
| field, preventing the opposing team from making a | | | | of the field and, despite being a midfielder, plays |
| goal. | | | | primarily defense. |
| Fullback - Plays the back most part of the defensive | | | | Central Midfielder - This midfielder is also called the |
| third, protecting the goal keeper. | | | | Midfield General or the Midfield Maestro. They are the |
| Sweeper - A defensive player whose domain is | | | | chief organizers of the midfielders and are responsible |
| directly in front of the goal, keeping the other team's | | | | for keeping the ball on the offensive third of the |
| offensive players away from the goal. This position is | | | | field, where the forwards can work their magic. |
| not always used, but it can make a key difference in | | | | Attacking Midfielder - This midfielder spends most of |
| the quality of play. | | | | their time on the offensive end of the midfield, |
| Goalkeeper/Goalie/Keeper - Perhaps the best known | | | | supporting the forwards. |
| position, this is the player who is directly in front of | | | | Wingers - These are the speedy players who work |
| the goal to prevent the other team from scoring. It's | | | | the outsides of the field. Because they are |
| easy to identify the goalie, not just because of their | | | | responsible for getting the ball to the forwards, they |
| position, but because they are the only player you | | | | are usually expert dribblers and make accurate |
| will see using their hands and arms. | | | | passes. |
| Forward - As their title suggests, this player's domain | | | | Central Forward - This player is usually the best |
| is the forward third of the field. The forwards have | | | | scorer, and thus works the middle section of the |
| the important job of taking shots and making goals. | | | | forward third. This position is sometimes used |
| The 'striker' is usually the key forward, who is the | | | | interchangeably with 'Striker'. A related position is that |
| best at scoring. | | | | of 'Finisher', the player who is almost guaranteed to |
| Midfielder/Halfback - The midfielder is the multi-tasker | | | | score when given the opportunity. |
| of the game of soccer. From the middle third of the | | | | Summary |
| field, they move the ball between the forward and | | | | Whether you are watching professional soccer or a |
| back thirds and can play offensively or defensively as | | | | preschool game, almost all positions will fall into one |
| needed. | | | | of the above categories. Each of these positions |
| But wait, you may be thinking. These aren't all the | | | | requires a specific set of skills and speed, and each is |
| terms I hear on the field. What about the 'maestro', | | | | equally important to the game. This is what makes |
| or the 'wingers'? There are other, more specialized | | | | soccer a global favorite in sports. Regardless of a |
| roles that are sometimes assigned to players with | | | | player's strengths and weaknesses, there is sure to |
| special strengths and talents. Here are the most | | | | be a position that is best for them. |
| common advanced soccer positions you'll hear about | | | | |