Watching a game of soccer might seem like everyone is running everywhere, but players actually have dedicated zones where they can be most effective.
Each player is assigned a certain duty that they must dedicate themselves to. Such duties depend on their skill level, physique, stamina, and the current game plan.
This guide will break down the soccer field and positions easily for everyone to understand.
An Overall Look on the Field Positions in Soccer
A game of soccer has 11 players on each team. Except for the goalkeeper, which is the only position that no more than one player can occupy at a time, all other positions can be utilized by more than one player.
A game of soccer has three types of players: Defenders, mid-fielders, and attackers. Here’s a breakdown of all positions in soccer:
- Defensive positions: the goalkeeper, the center-backs, and the wingbacks.
- Midfield positions: the defensive center mid-fielders, the center mid-fielders, and the attacking center mid-fielders.
- Offensive positions: the wingers and the center forwards.
Keep in mind that these are the core positions, but they may vary according to the coach’s strategy.
For example, some teams might use a sweeper behind the center-backs, which is a less common position nowadays. Their job is to clean up mistakes and clear the ball away from danger.
Defensive Positions
Here are the three core defensive positions in soccer:
The Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper or goalie is arguably the most important player in the team. He is the only player allowed to touch the ball with his hands while the game is in play. However, this only applies within the penalty areas and if the ball isn’t passed back to the goalie by a teammate.
Goalies also wear special gloves for additional protection and a different jersey from the rest of the team to make them easier to distinguish during the game.
Without a goalie, any accurate shooter can score from almost anywhere on the field. Long-shot goals because of goalkeepers leaving their net open are more than common.
Stopping incoming shots is only one of the many responsibilities of the goalkeeper. For example, communicating with and organizing the defenders is as important, if not more.
The goalkeeper is the furthest player from the mid-field, and he can sometimes spot incoming attackers that defenders may miss.
Goalies may also coordinate rebounds that successfully lead to goals by quickly tossing or kicking the ball to a free midfielder or striker.
Dida, Iker Casillas, and Manuel Neuer are among the famous goalkeepers you should know.
The Center-backs
The central backs or central defenders are the heart of the defense. These players are often in good communication with the goalie, and they’re responsible for organizing the defensive line by communicating with the players further in the field.
Center-backs often mark the opposing team strikers to lessen the chance of them landing a ball in a dangerous area. To do this task, they must be adept at anticipating danger, intercepting passes, and clearing the ball away from their defensive third.
In most cases, center-backs are tall and physically strong to have an advantage during tackles and headers.
Some of the best center-backs include Carles Puyol, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, and Paolo Maldini.
The Wing-backs
Wingbacks play wide on the defensive line, juggling between offense and defense as the game goes on. Unlike center-backs who tackle defense near the penalty area, wingbacks are more into the margins of the pitch to help prevent those corner kicks.
There are two wingback positions – the right wingback which operates on the right side of the defense, and the left wingback, which plays on the left flank. Their role is crucial in modern soccer formations that utilize three or five players at the back
Some of the wingbacks you might know include Trent-Alexander Arnold, Theo Hernandez, and Roberto Carlos.
Mid-field Positions
Now for the mid-field positions:
The Defensive Center Mid-fielders
The defensive center mid-fielder, often referred to as the “defensive mid” or “holding midfielder“, plays a crucial role in protecting the backline and disrupting opposition attacks. Similar to the wing-backs, they also have a hybrid role that shifts between defense and offense.
The defensive midfielder’s primary responsibility is to provide a shield in front of the defense, cutting out through balls and preventing counter-attacks. In other words, if the ball falls into the penalty area too often, the defensive center mid-fielders aren’t doing their jobs too well.
Winning back possession through well-timed tackles and interceptions is also a key part of their duties. When the center-backs are drawn out of position, the defensive mid drops between or covers for them.
Among the famous defensive mid-fielders are Youssouf Fofana, Declan Rice, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
The Center Midfielders
Center mid-fielders require a well-rounded skill set because their movement window is quite wide. They require stamina, intelligence, technical ability, and vision to dictate the tempo.
Defensively, they support the holding mid-fielder by tracking runners, applying pressure, and winning possession.
However, their primary responsibility lies in offensive transitions and creating chances for attackers.
As soon as possession is won, center mids quickly turn defense into attack through incisive passing, dribbling, or carrying the ball forward.
Some of the famous mid-fielders are Luka Mordic, Ricardo Kaká, and Ronaldinho.
The Attacking Center Midfielders
Attacking center mid-fielders have more offensive duties compared to center mid-fielders. Their primary focus is to create scoring chances and, in many cases, score goals themselves.
These players often possess exceptional technique, vision, creativity, and a ruthless finishing ability.
Offensively, they should position themselves in open space to receive the ball and push forward to create opportunities or score. Defensively, they try to cut passes and intercept players at the midfield to prevent the ball from getting close to the penalty area.
Famous mid-fielders include Xavi Simons, Thomas Muller, Bernardo Silva, and Jude Bellingham.
Offensive Positions
And finally, the attackers:
The Wingers
The wingers are among the fastest players in the team with superior dribbling skills and high accuracy to shoot on the move.
Their primary aim is to isolate and take on the opposition of the defense, either by dribbling through them or keeping them occupied as they pass the opportunity to another player.
Still, they can also cut inside and get shots straight at the goal. A winger should combine speed, accuracy, and unpredictability to scramble the defenses of the opposing team.
This position is often reserved for elite shooters like Mohamed Salah, Marco Asensio, Á. Di María, and Hirving Lozano.
Image source: Pinterest
The Center Forwards
Center-forwards, or strikers, are often the primary goal-scoring threats for the opposing team. Because they’re positioned closest to the opponent’s goal, their game is based on anticipation, speed, and quick reactions.
Center-forwards use their speed, agility, and finishing skills to get past defenders and put the ball in the net. They can also hold up the ball to bring teammates into the attack or lay off passes for others to score.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbabppé are among the best and most well-known strikers in the meantime.
The Soccer Field
The soccer field may seem like a simple rectangle, but it’s a precisely marked zone with specific areas that influence the game.
Without dwelling too much on the rules, here’s a breakdown of the key elements you should know:
The Basics
The soccer field is a rectangle marked by white lines. The exact size can vary depending on age and professional level, but it’s generally between 100-130 yards (90-120 meters) long and 50-100 yards (45-90 meters) wide. A halfway line divides the field in two.
Image source: Pinterest
Goal Zones
Each end of the field has a designated goal area, a rectangular box closer to the goal. Inside this box is a smaller penalty area. This is where penalties (direct free kicks for fouls inside the area) are taken.
A curved line called the arc, marks the edge of the penalty area and shows the ideal spot for attackers during corner kicks (kicks taken from the corner of the field when the ball goes out of bounds).
Markings
The penalty spot, a small dot 12 yards (11 meters) directly in front of the goal, is where penalty kicks are taken. The offside line is an imaginary line parallel to the halfway line.
Understanding this line is important for the offside rule, which prevents attackers from gaining an unfair advantage when the ball is passed forward by a teammate.
Final Words
Soccer is a game with many rules, but understanding the roles of players is the first step to grasping the sport’s concept.
To sum things up, some players are for pure defense, some of them juggle between defense and offense, and some of them are pure offense.
