Introduction to Soccer Positions

There are several types of soccer positions in whichrequirement in order to stop the fast running wingers.
you can play. You may for example play defender,Center backs have great heading skills but are often
striker, goalkeeper or a midfielder. There are 11pretty slow in one vs one situation. Sweeper or libero
players in each soccer team and all these players areis the back-up for the center backs and is responsible
assigned a position.for distributing the ball to the midfielders.
The goalkeeperThe midfielders
The most well known position is that of theMidfielders are placed between the defense and the
goalkeeper. Your team can have only a singleforwards/strikers of the team. There can be 3-4
goalkeeper and your team can't start the gameplayers that play as the left half, center-half and right
without him. If you were playing as a goalie, youhalf. When playing as a midfielder you will pass the
would have immense responsibility on your shouldersball from the defenders to the striker and fend off
since you need to stop the goals. Moreover, youthe defenders as well as strikers of the opposing
have to be ready and on your toes to save theteam. To succeed as midfielder you will need to
goals. You are the only one who can touch the ballpossess good passing skills.
by using your hands, but this rule comes with aThe forwards/strikers
disclaimer. You can only touch the ball when you areIf you are a forward or striker, then you are in the
inside the penalty box area.attacking position. As a forward/striker, you will have
The defendersgreat agility and speed with the ball. A forward is
As a defender you can play either as the left/rightoften faster than a striker while strikers are stronger
full back, the center back or the sweeper/libero. Atthan forwards. Strikers are often defined as purely
times there can also be three defenders dependingscoring machines while forwards are more known for
on the formation chosen by your team. A left ortheir hard work.
right fullback is often a good runner which is a