| I can remember when my first team started | | | | real thrills of the position come out. If throwing |
| choosing soccer positions when I was very young, | | | | yourself in front of a hard hit shot sounds like fun to |
| everyone wanted to be a striker because they | | | | you then this could be the position you were made |
| wanted to score all the goals and get all the glory. | | | | for! |
| And it's probably still true today that young kids first | | | | With a defender, the ability to tackle and head are |
| starting to play the game will mostly want to have | | | | very important. A good sense of position is also |
| the ball for themselves and take all the shots. That's | | | | important and communication is essential. You've also |
| only natural and it's why you see people just chasing | | | | got to be quick and strong as well as to be able to |
| the ball around the pitch without creating any space | | | | do the simple things like make good short passes. |
| for themselves. But just because everyone wants to | | | | Defender can be a very hard position to play in and |
| be a striker, it doesn't mean everyone should be one. | | | | is only for a certain type of person who can pull it |
| No! Everyone has different strengths in life and this is | | | | off. You don't get to score many goals or even set |
| no different in soccer. So if you're wondering what | | | | them up so its probably the position with the least |
| position is right for you then don't just go with the | | | | amount of glory involved, but if it's right for you then |
| popular vote and be a striker, think about which | | | | it's right for you: simple as that! |
| position will fit your talents. If this is indeed striker | | | | Midfielders need to have good passing and crossing |
| then by all means play up front- it is after all one of | | | | abilities at their disposal, and equally significant is the |
| the great soccer positions, but if the position that | | | | talent and vision to be able to seek out the people |
| suits you is not a striker, then don't be afraid to | | | | to pass it to. Tackling and positioning can be very |
| choose it. | | | | important for a defensive midfielder, whilst for an |
| Of course you might now be thinking, 'how do I | | | | attacking midifelder it is a useful quality to be able to |
| know which position my abilities are suitable for?' and | | | | hit accurate long shots at goal... plus speed is crucial |
| 'can't I just play where I want and like to play?'. And | | | | for getting up to support the forwards. The |
| to this I say that yes, you should always only play | | | | midfielders are almost like a mix of all the other |
| where you enjoy playing- if you don't enjoy sport | | | | soccer positions! |
| what's the point in playing right? But you do also | | | | Strikers need to good movement, dribbling ability, |
| need the appropriate abilities to go with any given | | | | shooting ability and heading ability as well as the |
| position and to find out if you have these, you need | | | | natural instinct to get themselves in the box at the |
| to know what attributes are needed for each and | | | | right time. The most successful strikers can make |
| every one of the soccer positions. | | | | good runs and get onto the end of balls they're not |
| So by now you'll have realised that choosing your | | | | expected to make, whilst also being able to weave |
| soccer position comes down to three fundamental | | | | some magic like a skillful or powerful goal. |
| things: which position you think you'll like to play in, | | | | I hope by giving you a brief insight into the |
| which skills are needed for that position and whether | | | | requirements of each position you can see what |
| you have or could develop those skills to play in that | | | | qualities you'll need to play there. The aim is that this |
| position. | | | | leads you on to see whether you have or want to |
| If you want to be a goalkeeper for example, you will | | | | develop these qualities in order to play in the position |
| need to be brave, agile and have good reflexes. You'll | | | | that automatically appeals to you. And if no single |
| also need to develop presence and confidence as | | | | position attracts you, just keep watching lots of |
| you go along and practice the specific techniques like | | | | soccer to try and make a decision. Or even better, |
| shot stopping, handling and taking crosses. You'll need | | | | try them all out by playing yourself and see what |
| to be able to use instinct, have a good sense of | | | | suits you best. Once you've found a position you |
| position,read the game, communicate well and have | | | | love you might find yourself at home there and want |
| good judgement. One thing about being a goalkeeper | | | | to play there forever! |
| though is that you get long periods where you don't | | | | So this article should have given you at least a little |
| have to do anything. And keep it in mind that the | | | | assistance if you were unsure which position to play |
| majority of the action is simply coming out and | | | | in and if not, then my advice is just to keep watching |
| collecting the ball! Sometimes, however, you will get | | | | and playing soccer until it becomes obvious to you. |
| the chance to make a fine save and this is when the | | | | |