Positions in Soccer.
We know that you might be very familiar with soccer positions already, so if you are, you might want to skip to the last segment of this article, where we will be talking about Key roles certain players have, in order to develop a successful and winning team.
The positions in soccer are one of the basic fundamentals to know, whether you are a seasoned player, coach or just starting out. Each team has 11 players on the field at a time. This might vary on ages under 12, where you can have 8-7-6 players on the field at a time, and this is for specific developmental reasons or field size.
We hear very often that there are ONLY offensive and defensive players but this is not accurate, there’s more to it, and we will go over each position and its description. Dividing the field in three horizontal sections, we have the DEFENSIVE SECTION, MIDDLE SECTION and ATTACKING SECTION.
DEFENSIVE SECTION
GK: Goalkeeper. This is the most defensive position in soccer. The goalie is the only player thats allow to touch the soccer ball with their hands in a specific area of the field during a game. Their main objective is to keep the ball from making it into the net.
CB: Center defenders or center backs usually play behind the midfielders and their primary responsibility is to provide support to the team and to prevent the opposition from attacking and scoring goals.
LB︲RB: Outside backs or full backs are the defenders positioned at either side of the center backs and they usually protect the wide areas of the field, making harder for the opposition to attack.
MIDDLE SECTION
CDM: Center defensive mid or holding midfielder, usually stands in front of the CB and right behind the center midfielders and wingers, connecting the defensive section with the middle section. They are usually another support for the defense and also, help with the creation of plays and distribution of the ball.
CM: Center midfielders provide a link between defense and attack. These players are the so called playmakers and they are probably the players that cover most ground in the soccer field, always involved in attacking, creative and defensive plays.
CAM: Center attacking midfielder, usually plays behind the strikers and these type of players are very special, technically gifted and with a very good sense of space and awareness that makes them lethal when creating scoring opportunities.
ATTACKING SECTION
LW︲RW: Outside midfielders are usually the wide offensive players. These players are very dynamic and quick with a great ability to go 1v1 and create scoring opportunities for themselves and the strikers.
ST︲CT: Strikers or center forwards are usually the most offensive players in the field and their main objective is to score.
Key Roles
To build a successful team, you only need 4 very technical and smart central players who will be the spine of your team. Having one smart and technically gifted player in each section of the field gives you an advantage and great balance.
CB – Will command the defensive side protecting the team and initiating any attack. Its imperative to have a smart central defender since they are the ones that can see the whole field and give order to the team.
CDM – Having a strong holding mid will create balance within the team and usually this player is key to controlling the tempo and flow of the game.
CAM – Every team wants one, since these are the most creative players in soccer. They usually bring something special to the game since they create opportunities to score, open up spaces and assist teammates.
ST – Having a smart striker that can finish and feed their teammates is key and for this to happen, they have to be able to understand the game at a deeper level other than just want to score. Theres a misconception that for you to be able to play soccer, you have to be big, strong and physical. But smarter and technically gifted players are the ones dominating the PROFESSIONAL scene. Smart and Very Technical PRO players that have dominated and are still dominating are:
CB: Gerard Pique, Franco Baresi, Sergio Ramos.
CDM: Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerard, Pep Guardiola.
CAM: Andres Iniesta, Riquelme, Ronaldinho, David Silva, Zinedine Zidane.
ST: Messi, Karim Benzema, Ronaldo (Brazilian).
Coaching Guide
This Practical guide is a fantastic tool and resource for coaches that are looking to maximize their efficiency in training. We layout the most important technical and tactical aspects of the game. We also share a set of standarized soccer drills, secrets and tips to help coaches unlock their maximum potential.
