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Players And Positions
By:
Published: September 14, 2006
The appearance of soccer's elegant simplicity can be misleading to the untrained eye. At the surface, soccer seems a mere matter of the right combination of dribbling, passing and shooting the ball. Below its surface however, each team is a highly complex machine with individual players and their unique abilities forming its cogs.
Each player is an aggregate of honed physical and mental talents and the capacity to perform in a highly specialized role within a club's specific system and strategy.
Although an elemental taxonomy can be used to categorize players—goalkeepers, backs, midfielders and forwards—within each category, positions can be refined further. Beyond positional references—right, center and left—players are assigned as specialists. Included are positions such as sweepers or pure strikers.
Regardless of differences between players' positions, role in a team's system or contribution to a team's strategy, each player possesses three important qualities. Each player must be physically fit with a high degree of stamina, speed and strength. Estimates for the average player in an average match include jogging 6-7 miles in a match, making between forty and sixty sprints totaling between ½ and ¾ mile, as well as changing direction every 5-7 seconds. Mentally, each player must be patient, have the ability to anticipate the movement of other players and possess the vision to develop the play.
Defensive Positions
Depending on a team's strategy, any where from three to five players may be assigned as defense, including fullbacks, center fullbacks, stoppers and sweepers. Although defensive, the ability of fullbacks to intercept offensive threats and move the ball to the midfield efficiently is critical to a team's counterattack. The adage, “a strong offense begins with a strong defense” is taken to heart on the soccer field.
Outside fullbacks, or fullbacks, are usually positioned on the wings or flanks. Depending on a coach's strategy, fullbacks may have marking assignments, but generally, are assigned to cutting down the play of forwards or midfielders along the flanks.
Fullbacks are not necessarily expected to limit themselves to the defensive third of the field. Instead, they are often seen making stunning runs through the midfield and contributing critical passes in the attacking third of the field. Offensively, fullbacks will stay wide, similar to wingers, to draw out the opposing team's defenders, as well as serving in lethal crosses to forwards.
Center fullbacks or stoppers play to the inside of the fullbacks. Similar to fullbacks, stoppers mark the other team's strikers and forwards and are responsible for neutralizing offensive threats. Center fullbacks, generally, are responsible for orchestrating defensive tactics such as the offside trap. The offside trap, a defensive strategy requiring precise timing and organization, is used to pull opposing team’s forward players into an offside position.
Stoppers are less prone to participate directly in the offense beyond transitioning the ball to midfielders. Staying near midfield during their team's counterattack, stoppers are also responsible for cutting down preemptive strikes and counterattacks from the opposing team before they have the chance to develop.
A highly specialized defensive role is the sweeper. Although very vogue from the 1970s and 1990s, the sweeper position is less common today. The sweeper, the last line of defense before the goalkeeper, is responsible for covering passing lanes and gaps behind the defensive line. Because sweepers do not have marking duties, a sweeper would be employed to combat third-man release tactics. Conversely, sweepers are frequently used by their team as part of a third-man release tactic, sending him forward to join in the offensive strike.
Midfield Positions
Midfielders can range between two to five, nearly half of a team's on field personnel, depending on a team's system. Midfielders or halfbacks are categorized as outside midfielders, wingers, defensive midfielders or attacking midfielders. Midfielders are usually the best skilled, most fit players on the field moving back and forth between the defensive and offensive thirds of the field. They contribute heavily in supporting the defense, required to transition between defensive and offensive stances, and contribute in the attacking third. Middle third of the field is used to stage attacks as well force turnovers and quash the counterattack of the opposing team before it gains momentum. Games are either won or lost in the battles at midfield.
Wingers or outside midfielders generally play wide to stretch the opposing team's defense and make runs down the flanks in support of the forwards. Defensively, wingers move towards the middle of the field to force offensive players towards the flanks, an effect called pinching. Pinching allows the defense to stay in a tight, compact formation.
Defensive midfielders, if utilized as part of a team's strategy, play a role similar to the sweeper, with one glaring difference. They play in front of the defensive line. In addition to being the first defensive line, defensive midfielders can provide a back up role in the event a fullback is caught out of position.
In supporting the offense, defending midfielders provide a drop back option for forwards. Additionally, defending midfielders can play clean-up or garbage collectors, collecting misplayed balls by the forwards, as well as collecting rash clearances by the opposing team's defense.
Center midfielders and attacking midfielders are the most critical players in the transition to the counterattack. After collecting the ball from the defensive third, center midfielders must move the ball through midfield to distribute passes into the attacking third. Considered as the playmakers or maestros, the offensive productivity of a team rests firmly on the boots of its offensive and center midfielders. Defensively, offensive and center midfielders provide the essential depth before the fullbacks. Stopping counterattacks before they can materialize is the first step in quashing an opposing team's offensive threat.
Offensive Positions
Forwards can number from 1- 3 depending on a team's strategy. Forwards can specialize as strikers or pure strikers.
Forwards generally operate within the opposing team's defense and are charged almost exclusively with taking distributed passes from the midfield and putting them in to the goal. Putting the finishing touch on crosses from the flanks is critical if a team is to score goals. A team's ability to finish determines a team's ability to win.
A forward's defensive duty begins immediately after a turnover on the defensive third of the opposing team. Applying pressure to fullbacks before they can move the ball into the midfield interrupts any hope of counterattacks before they can materialize.
Although a striker's and forward's offensive duties are very similar, defensively, forwards tend to fall back further into their own defensive end. Strikers and especially pure strikers tend to cherry pick near midfield. Cherry picking, although primarily an offensive tactic, ties up full backs, preventing them from engaging in the offensive threat.
An exception to teams of offensive, midfield and defensive specialists is a style of soccer known as Total Football. In this particular system, players move relatively freely outside their position, with other players picking up the position's responsibilities. In this system, all players are expected to function in defensive, offensive and transitional aspects of play.
Beyond what a team may look like on paper, the intangible aspect of a team is its chemistry. A favorite talking point of commentators, critics, and coaches alike, in all sports, is a team's ability to function as a unit. Perhaps, in soccer, more so than in any other sport, a team's chemistry is the decisive factor in a team's success. The fluidity of a team is a necessity, be it in fending off the attack, or the smooth transition into a counterattack.
Total Football. 2006. Total-Football, Wikipedia. 11 Sept 2006. www.total-football.ask.dyndns.dk
Nutrition, Soccer. 2006. Peak Performance. 11 Sept 2006. www.pponline.co.uk/encyc
Soccer Positions. Expert Football. 2006. 11 September 2006. www.expertfootball.com
Although an elemental taxonomy can be used to categorize players—goalkeepers, backs, midfielders and forwards—within each category, positions can be refined further. Beyond positional references—right, center and left—players are assigned as specialists. Included are positions such as sweepers or pure strikers.
Regardless of differences between players' positions, role in a team's system or contribution to a team's strategy, each player possesses three important qualities. Each player must be physically fit with a high degree of stamina, speed and strength. Estimates for the average player in an average match include jogging 6-7 miles in a match, making between forty and sixty sprints totaling between ½ and ¾ mile, as well as changing direction every 5-7 seconds. Mentally, each player must be patient, have the ability to anticipate the movement of other players and possess the vision to develop the play.
Defensive Positions
Depending on a team's strategy, any where from three to five players may be assigned as defense, including fullbacks, center fullbacks, stoppers and sweepers. Although defensive, the ability of fullbacks to intercept offensive threats and move the ball to the midfield efficiently is critical to a team's counterattack. The adage, “a strong offense begins with a strong defense” is taken to heart on the soccer field.
Outside fullbacks, or fullbacks, are usually positioned on the wings or flanks. Depending on a coach's strategy, fullbacks may have marking assignments, but generally, are assigned to cutting down the play of forwards or midfielders along the flanks.
Fullbacks are not necessarily expected to limit themselves to the defensive third of the field. Instead, they are often seen making stunning runs through the midfield and contributing critical passes in the attacking third of the field. Offensively, fullbacks will stay wide, similar to wingers, to draw out the opposing team's defenders, as well as serving in lethal crosses to forwards.
Center fullbacks or stoppers play to the inside of the fullbacks. Similar to fullbacks, stoppers mark the other team's strikers and forwards and are responsible for neutralizing offensive threats. Center fullbacks, generally, are responsible for orchestrating defensive tactics such as the offside trap. The offside trap, a defensive strategy requiring precise timing and organization, is used to pull opposing team’s forward players into an offside position.
Stoppers are less prone to participate directly in the offense beyond transitioning the ball to midfielders. Staying near midfield during their team's counterattack, stoppers are also responsible for cutting down preemptive strikes and counterattacks from the opposing team before they have the chance to develop.
A highly specialized defensive role is the sweeper. Although very vogue from the 1970s and 1990s, the sweeper position is less common today. The sweeper, the last line of defense before the goalkeeper, is responsible for covering passing lanes and gaps behind the defensive line. Because sweepers do not have marking duties, a sweeper would be employed to combat third-man release tactics. Conversely, sweepers are frequently used by their team as part of a third-man release tactic, sending him forward to join in the offensive strike.
Midfield Positions
Midfielders can range between two to five, nearly half of a team's on field personnel, depending on a team's system. Midfielders or halfbacks are categorized as outside midfielders, wingers, defensive midfielders or attacking midfielders. Midfielders are usually the best skilled, most fit players on the field moving back and forth between the defensive and offensive thirds of the field. They contribute heavily in supporting the defense, required to transition between defensive and offensive stances, and contribute in the attacking third. Middle third of the field is used to stage attacks as well force turnovers and quash the counterattack of the opposing team before it gains momentum. Games are either won or lost in the battles at midfield.
Wingers or outside midfielders generally play wide to stretch the opposing team's defense and make runs down the flanks in support of the forwards. Defensively, wingers move towards the middle of the field to force offensive players towards the flanks, an effect called pinching. Pinching allows the defense to stay in a tight, compact formation.
Defensive midfielders, if utilized as part of a team's strategy, play a role similar to the sweeper, with one glaring difference. They play in front of the defensive line. In addition to being the first defensive line, defensive midfielders can provide a back up role in the event a fullback is caught out of position.
In supporting the offense, defending midfielders provide a drop back option for forwards. Additionally, defending midfielders can play clean-up or garbage collectors, collecting misplayed balls by the forwards, as well as collecting rash clearances by the opposing team's defense.
Center midfielders and attacking midfielders are the most critical players in the transition to the counterattack. After collecting the ball from the defensive third, center midfielders must move the ball through midfield to distribute passes into the attacking third. Considered as the playmakers or maestros, the offensive productivity of a team rests firmly on the boots of its offensive and center midfielders. Defensively, offensive and center midfielders provide the essential depth before the fullbacks. Stopping counterattacks before they can materialize is the first step in quashing an opposing team's offensive threat.
Offensive Positions
Forwards can number from 1- 3 depending on a team's strategy. Forwards can specialize as strikers or pure strikers.
Forwards generally operate within the opposing team's defense and are charged almost exclusively with taking distributed passes from the midfield and putting them in to the goal. Putting the finishing touch on crosses from the flanks is critical if a team is to score goals. A team's ability to finish determines a team's ability to win.
A forward's defensive duty begins immediately after a turnover on the defensive third of the opposing team. Applying pressure to fullbacks before they can move the ball into the midfield interrupts any hope of counterattacks before they can materialize.
Although a striker's and forward's offensive duties are very similar, defensively, forwards tend to fall back further into their own defensive end. Strikers and especially pure strikers tend to cherry pick near midfield. Cherry picking, although primarily an offensive tactic, ties up full backs, preventing them from engaging in the offensive threat.
An exception to teams of offensive, midfield and defensive specialists is a style of soccer known as Total Football. In this particular system, players move relatively freely outside their position, with other players picking up the position's responsibilities. In this system, all players are expected to function in defensive, offensive and transitional aspects of play.
Beyond what a team may look like on paper, the intangible aspect of a team is its chemistry. A favorite talking point of commentators, critics, and coaches alike, in all sports, is a team's ability to function as a unit. Perhaps, in soccer, more so than in any other sport, a team's chemistry is the decisive factor in a team's success. The fluidity of a team is a necessity, be it in fending off the attack, or the smooth transition into a counterattack.
Total Football. 2006. Total-Football, Wikipedia. 11 Sept 2006. www.total-football.ask.dyndns.dk
Nutrition, Soccer. 2006. Peak Performance. 11 Sept 2006. www.pponline.co.uk/encyc
Soccer Positions. Expert Football. 2006. 11 September 2006. www.expertfootball.com
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