Player Positions in Soccer - A Primer For New Fans
With the popularity of soccer increasing in North America a lot of people are beginning to take interest in the sport.
The recent World Cup and the fact that the U.
S.
had a team that did relatively well has further increased interest in the sport.
But for people who are just beginning to watch soccer the formations and different player positions can be confusing.
Here, therefore, is a simple primer on soccer positions for the novice.
First, each team starts with eleven players, generally broken down as forwards, midfielders, fullbacks, sweeper and goalkeeper.
Forwards, as the name implies, play forward and are the attackers and goal scorers.
In most formations you will have three forwards, two on the wings and the striker.
The forwards primary objective is offense and scoring goals with the wings normally feeding the striker who is the team's top scorer.
Anytime you see a corner kick being taken it is taken by one of the forwards.
Playing behind the forwards are the midfielders, usually numbering three, and much like the forwards lined up with one on either wing and another in the center.
Midfielders have the difficult job of playing both offense and defense and must be able to switch from one to the other quickly.
They have to support and set up the forwards for attacks and at the same time be ready to assist the defenders if the opposing team gets the ball.
Behind the midfielders are the fullbacks.
Their primary responsibility is defense and clearing the ball from their own zone.
They also line up with one on each wing and one in the center.
Fullbacks are often given the responsibility of taking free kicks, especially in their own zone, as they are knows for powerful kicks and being able to send the ball downfield.
Next to last is the sweeper who tends to play such as to guard the other team's best scorer and will shift their position depending on where that player is playing.
Finally, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense and stands right in front of their net to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.
While we've described a classic formation of 3-3-3-1-1, there are many different formations that are used depending on team strength, opposition weaknesses and even how much time is left in the game, but the positions tend to remain the same.
Hopefully this primer will help new fans to the sport of soccer appreciate the game a little more.
The recent World Cup and the fact that the U.
S.
had a team that did relatively well has further increased interest in the sport.
But for people who are just beginning to watch soccer the formations and different player positions can be confusing.
Here, therefore, is a simple primer on soccer positions for the novice.
First, each team starts with eleven players, generally broken down as forwards, midfielders, fullbacks, sweeper and goalkeeper.
Forwards, as the name implies, play forward and are the attackers and goal scorers.
In most formations you will have three forwards, two on the wings and the striker.
The forwards primary objective is offense and scoring goals with the wings normally feeding the striker who is the team's top scorer.
Anytime you see a corner kick being taken it is taken by one of the forwards.
Playing behind the forwards are the midfielders, usually numbering three, and much like the forwards lined up with one on either wing and another in the center.
Midfielders have the difficult job of playing both offense and defense and must be able to switch from one to the other quickly.
They have to support and set up the forwards for attacks and at the same time be ready to assist the defenders if the opposing team gets the ball.
Behind the midfielders are the fullbacks.
Their primary responsibility is defense and clearing the ball from their own zone.
They also line up with one on each wing and one in the center.
Fullbacks are often given the responsibility of taking free kicks, especially in their own zone, as they are knows for powerful kicks and being able to send the ball downfield.
Next to last is the sweeper who tends to play such as to guard the other team's best scorer and will shift their position depending on where that player is playing.
Finally, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense and stands right in front of their net to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.
While we've described a classic formation of 3-3-3-1-1, there are many different formations that are used depending on team strength, opposition weaknesses and even how much time is left in the game, but the positions tend to remain the same.
Hopefully this primer will help new fans to the sport of soccer appreciate the game a little more.
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