Welcome to Soccer! Whether you like to kick around a soccer ball for fun and thinking about trying out for your school’s team or you’re a parent who wants to support their child’s love for the game, understanding the different soccer positions will help you appreciate the skill development needed for this sport. Learning about each soccer position and how they support each other is the first step to becoming a soccer fanatic. Let’s get the ball rolling!
Formation
Before we begin on the different positions, let’s point out the different groups: we always start in the back with the Goalie. It then goes to Defenders, Midfielders, and then Forwards. Each positional group has a different purpose but each group must have great unity, coordination, teamwork, and communication to accomplish their collective goal: win!
Goalies
I am sure you have always been told to ONLY use your feet when playing soccer. What you may not know is Goalies ARE allowed to use their hands! Their main purpose is to prevent the ball from making it to the net. Goalies block shots, clear the ball out, and have a special rectangular box positioned in front of the goal where they spend most of their time. They can only use their hands inside this box. Once outside, they turn into a regular, foot-to-ball player. Goalies have quick reflexes, lots of bravery, and make game-saving plays but they can’t do it all by themselves!
Defenders
The backline of the team and a Goalie’s closest friends: Defenders. Defenders are positioned in the front of the goalie box and their main purpose is to not let the ball or the opposing team go past them. Defenders are some of the smartest on the field because they must read the opposing side, constantly shift with the ball, pressure the other team into mistakes, and convert plays into offensive attacks. However, the defenders can win the ball time and time again, but they need strong midfielders and forwards to feed the ball to win the match.
Midfielders
…which leads us to our middle ground: our offense and defense and our playmakers. Midfielders tend to be anywhere and everywhere helping out. The defense could be out of position during an opposing breakaway and the middies must make their way back to fill the gap. On the other hand, our forwards could get a great feed and the midfielders will be needed to provide passing options and support up the field. Midfielders are the key to transitioning the ball between offense and defense… ultimately controlling the pace of the game. Midfielders must have strong communication, stamina, and ball control to be the best players they can be.
Forwards
What wins soccer games? Goals. Who scores those goals? Forwards! A team can be great at defending goals and great at controlling the middle, but a team cannot win unless they score, score, score! Forwards are constantly moving to create space and opportunities for the ball to be fed into their feet. Being speedy with the ball and having a strong foot is crucial to learn in order to move past the defense and get points on the board. If the ball is given up, they rapidly transition into the first line of defense, hoping to get the ball back.
How do they work together?
Now that you can visualize the ball moving from goalie to forwards: you’re ready to start to enjoy the technique, the crazy passes, and the game-altering goals! Each position has its own purpose AND a little bit of every position within it. Defenders may get a breakaway and will need to know how to dodge the other team. Forwards might lose the ball and would need to re-defend their matchup. Each soccer player should practice drills for each position in order to be a threat on the field and the best teammate he/she could be.
Master these Soccer Positions at Camp!
Signature Sports Camps offer a unique experience that blends traditional overnight summer camp with soccer camp. Campers get the opportunity to improve their soccer skillset through professional coaching and bonding with like-minded athletes on the field while having fun in camp excursions and games off the field. Check out our Florida Soccer Camp to learn more about the experience as well as the venues where each session is held. We’ll see you this summer!
