Contents
The Soccer Field
Soccer Basics
Soccer Playing Fundamentals
Soccer Positions
Soccer Formations
Offsides in Soccer
Soccer Set Plays
Soccer Referees and Fouls
Soccer Leagues and Competitions
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Soccer Positions
Every soccer player on the field has a specific position that determines the role he plays for his team and the territory of the field that he covers. There are four basic soccer positions:
- Goalkeepers
- Defenders
- Midfielders
- Forwards
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeper, also known as the goalie or keeper, is a team’s final line of defense. As long as the keeper is inside the penalty area, he’s allowed to hold the ball with his hands. Once outside the penalty box, however, the keeper must follow the standard rules.
After making a save, the keeper returns the ball to play by throwing or rolling it to one of his defenders or midfielders, or by punting the ball downfield to his forwards. Keepers wear uniforms that distinguish them from the other players on the field.
Defenders
Defenders, also called fullbacks or just backs, play in front of the keeper. They have two main responsibilities:
- To break up the opposing team’s attack
- To get the ball to the midfielders after breaking up an attack and gaining possession of the ball
Generally, defenders try to gain possession of the ball for their team, but in dangerous situations when it seems possible that the opposing team is about to score, a defender may instead kick the ball as far out of his team’s defensive third as possible. This move is called clearing the ball. Teams usually play anywhere from 3–5 defenders in the center or on the sides of the field.
Side Fullbacks
Side backs, also called left or right backs, defend the flanks, or sides, of the defensive third. They generally try to:
- Stop opposing players from dribbling in toward the goal from the sides of the field
- Stop opposing players from crossing the ball
Depending on the formation a team plays (see Soccer Formations) and the skills of the back, a left or right back can also be integral to a team’s offense. The outside back may make a sudden run up the sideline of the field, creating a situation in which the offense suddenly has more players attacking than the defense has defending. These offensive runs are often called overlapping runs, because the left or right back is running past, or overlapping, the left or right midfielder on his own team. When an outside back overlaps the midfielder in front of him, the midfielder often drops back a bit to cover the defender’s position.
Central Fullbacks
The central fullbacks defend the middle of the field. These defenders have three main roles:
- Organization: Making sure the other defenders are in the right place to stop an offensive attack
- Stopping direct attacks: Turning away offensive players dribbling or shooting straight at the goal
- Stopping crosses: Heading away balls crossed from the side of the field
In a four-player defense, there are usually two central defenders. The central defenders may play side by side, or one in front of the other. When the defenders play one in front of the other, the player in front is called the stopper because his job is to stop an oncoming attack, whereas the player in back is called the sweeper because his job is to sweep up any balls that get through the other defenders.
Midfielders
Midfielders line up between the defenders and forwards. Midfielders are both offensive and defensive players, and have three main responsibilities:
- Clogging up the opposition’s attacks in the midfield
- Building up their own team’s attack
- Winning 50-50 balls in the midfield
Teams typically use 3–5 midfielders. Some midfield positions are more defensive, whereas others are so offensive that they’re almost forwards. The most common types of midfielders are defensive midfielders, left and right midfielders, center midfielders, and attacking midfielders. Not all formations use all of these types of midfielders.
Defensive Midfielders
Defensive midfielders generally play in the middle of the field, behind the other midfielders. In some formations, defensive midfielders play so far back that they seem almost to be defenders. Defensive midfielders focus on breaking up the opposing team’s attack by intercepting passes, tackling, and dispossessing opposing players of the ball. Once the defensive midfielder wins the ball, it’s his job to distribute the ball quickly to the other midfielders or forwards on his team who are in the best position to build up an attack.
Left or Right Midfielders
Left or right midfielders play on the sides, or wings, of the field. These midfielders are responsible for overlapping with the left and right fullbacks and any forwards operating on the wings. On offense, these midfielders try to get the ball down the wings, and then dribble or cross the ball into the opposing team’s penalty area.
Central Midfielders
Central midfielders play in the middle of the field and are often the “generals” of their teams. On many teams, nearly all offensive buildups are funneled through the central midfielder, so the central midfielder must be able to recognize weaknesses in the defense and exploit those weaknesses with pinpoint passes. They must also be skilled at tackling, winning 50-50 balls, and keeping possession of the ball under pressure. Most of the action of a soccer game takes place in the area of the field manned by the central midfielder, so the central midfielder’s ability to dictate the flow of the game may be the most important factor in whether his team wins.
Attacking Midfielders
Attacking midfielders play in front of the central midfielders. Attacking midfielders are similar to central midfielders offensively, in that their role is to create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates through dribbling and passing. However, attacking midfielders focus much less on defense than central midfielders do.
Forwards
Forwards play in front of the midfielders and focus on scoring goals. Strikers, or center forwards, play in the center of the field. Wings play on the sides. Most teams use 1–3 forwards.
Strikers
Based on their skills and their team’s formations, strikers may play in different ways:
- Poachers: Poachers are forwards who have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. When the ball is in the offensive third, they move into the opposing team’s penalty area, ready to pounce on crosses or loose balls. Poachers must be quick to get control of loose balls and kick or head them on goal.
- Target forwards: Usually tall and strong, target forwards are good at controlling long passes and then holding the ball long enough for their teammates to join in the attack. These forwards are also usually good at heading, making them dangerous on crosses.
Withdrawn Strikers
Some formations use withdrawn strikers, who play just behind the other strikers. A withdrawn striker may be indistinguishable from an attacking midfielder and play the same attacking and creative role. The withdrawn forward often plays in tandem with a target forward.
Wings
Wings are forwards who play out on the sides of the field. Their primary role is to work the sides of the field, cutting back into the center or crossing the ball from the sides. In some formations, there are no wings and the wing responsibilities are taken on by left and right midfielders.
Substitutes
In most professional soccer games, a team is allowed just three substitutions per game; the team may take out any three players and replace them with other players. Teams may make substitutions at any time, but most teams don’t make substitutions until halftime or after, unless a player has been injured and must be replaced. When a player has been relieved by a sub, the player who was subbed out may not come back into the game.
In order for a sub to enter the game, the referee must be aware that the sub is entering, play must be stopped, and the player the sub is replacing must have left the field.
Subs in American High School and College Soccer
American high schools and colleges don’t limit teams to just three substitutions. In high schools, there’s no limit on the number of subs or the number of times subs may enter and leave the game. In college soccer, there are no limits on how many substitutions can be made, but there are limits on how many times individual players can be subbed in and out.
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