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Soccer Field Positions - An Overview

In soccer, each of the eleven players is assigned a particular position on the field. A soccer team consists of one goalkeeper and ten players. Every one of the soccer field positions defines the player's main role and area of operation. Here is an overview of the different field positions of soccer.

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper is the most critical and specialized among the soccer field positions in football. A goalkeeper's role is defensive as he guards his team's goal from being violated by the opposition team. Goalkeepers are the only soccer players who can touch the ball with their arms and hands, though rules permit this freedom only within their penalty area.

Backs

Backs, also called defenders play behind the midfielders and provide support to the goalkeeper. There are four categories of defenders.

• Center back - The role of the center back is to restrict the opposing players, especially strikers from scoring or bringing the ball into their penalty area.

• Full back - Full backs take up the wide defensive positions and prevent the opposition players from crossing the defense and penetrating the penalty area.

• Sweepers - A sweeper also called a libero, is a more versatile type of defender and has the freedom to plan counter attacking moves.

• Wingback - Wingbacks are modern versions of fullbacks and they play with a great deal of emphasis on attack. They are usually employed in a 5-3-2 formation and hence wingers occupy one of the very critical field positions in soccer.

Midfielders

Midfielders' role in soccer is midway between offensive strikers and defenders. Their main function is to isolate or dispossess the opposition, retain the custody of the ball, and score at the earliest opportunity.

A midfielder needs to have many exceptional soccer skills that include, tackling, dribbling, shooting, distributing and passing during the course of a match. Soccer has defined the following type of midfielders.

• Defensive midfielder
• Central midfielders
• Attacking midfielders
• "Box to box" midfielders

Forwards

Forwards also called strikers are players positioned nearest to the opposing team's goal. Strikers are the key attackers because they are primarily responsible for scoring the goals. Field positions of soccer has sub- divided forwards into the following categories.

• Centre forward
• Deep-lying forward
• Striker

Strikers are usually the star players of the team because of their sterling goal scoring abilities, and more often than not they are among the highest paid members of the team.

Each of the soccer field positions is vital in soccer as they can play a significant role in the outcome of the game. You can also check out some soccer positions pictures and soccer diagram field positions for more clarification.

Soccer Field Positions | Soccer Formations | Soccer Positions