Learn All Soccer Positions

Soccer positions can be confusing, especially if you have just started to play soccer. It took me a while to figure out what a sweeper, fullback or central midfielder is, but of course I didn't have access to this information.

Lucky for you, I have created a guide that describes every position in soccer, so just take your time and check out any position that interests you.

Keep in mind also that you should try to play many soccer positions before deciding what position suits you best. My experience is that many soccer players (especially young people) want to play as forwards and strikers.

As you already know, this is not possible because someone has to be fullback, midfielder, goalkeeper and so on. However, just because you don't play these soccer positions, doesn't mean that you will not become a good soccer player.

The Sweeper

If you want to play as sweeper in soccer you should have a good understanding of the game and also strong leadership abilities. Your main task is to control the defense of your team and to always stay behind your fullbacks.

Center Fullback

The center fullback’s (or stopper’s) main task is to mark the opposing team forwards or central midfielders. Distributing the ball to the midfielders and playing offensively at intervals is also an important skill if you want to perform well as stopper.

Left/Right Fullback

If your team use a flat back formation, your main task would be to mark your opponent’s forwards.Playing fullback in soccer requires that you are dependable and willing to give up any offensive raid. Whether you are playing as right orleft fullback you will still need to concentrate completely on your game in defense.

Wingback

To get a feeling on how to play aswingback, I advise you to study Dani Alves and Maicon which are both playing for Brazil. By doing that you’ll be able to notice what they are doing in particular situations which should give you a brief idea on how to playon this position.

Left/Right Midfielder

Good crosses in the offense are a requirement to perform well as right or left midfielder. You will also carry the ball up the field because left/right midfielders have more room compared to the center midfielders.

Defensive Midfielder

As a defensive midfielder your job is to operate in front of your defense line. You must have enough strength to force yourself to perform to the maximum. Strong character is also a requirement.

Central Midfielder

Playing as the central midfielderrequires good passing and ball handling skills. You must alsodistribute the ball safely among the offenders while doing everything to stop or slow down your opponent’s offensive attacks before they reach your last defensive line.

The Winger

To succeed as winger you should be able to sprint away from your opponents, be able to run 40-50 yards up and down the field, score goals and also serve your teammates with quality crosses. This requires of course a lot of energy which means that your fitness needs to be at the top.

Striker

The soccer striker is a type of position where you must be good at scoring goals. Simply, if you don’t score, then you are not performing well. I would say that playing striker is the toughest and most painful position to play. This is because you need to have great soccer dribblingand soccer shooting skills but also because defenders will do everything in their power to stop you. There is no greater feeling then scoring a goal, so don’t give up so easily; instead, try your best and the goals will come.

The Soccer Goalkeeper

Your job as soccer goalie is to prevent your opponents from scoring. But you need also to encourage your teammates, steer your defensive line and organize attacks.

Second Striker

To succeed as second striker you will need to have exceptional ball skills (e.g shooting, passing and dribbling). You will also need to be good at heading and even know how to score goals. Beside that you need to be strong in order to hold off your opponents and shield the ball while waiting for your teammates to catch up.

Centre Forward

To succeed as centre forward you will need be aggressive, brave and be able to maintain your focus during the whole game. You also need to be prepared to work hard without the ball, know how to dribble your opponents and be able to score goals from any situation.

Attacking/Offensive Midfielder

To succeed as offensive midfielderyou will need excellent skills with the ball, be creative intelligent, know how to score goals and also be able to encourage your teammates during the games. You also need to be prepared on criticism because you'll surely receive plenty of that when your team fails to score goals and utilize the attacking strategies that are determined by your coach.

Offense

Other than a penalty kick, crosses are the attack most feared by goalies. If properly executed, it places the ball in the zone that is just a little too far from the goal for the goalie to safely attack the ball to punch it clear of danger.  It also sets up the chance for a score from a header, which is one of the most dangerous scoring shots.  

A goalie is best able to time a save if he can follow the ball all the way from the impact of the kick. If the ball starts from a point  relatively close to the pitch, the goalies moves with it accordingly. Anything that causes the kick to change direction disrupts the goalie and often forces him to change direction. A ball can move back and forth across the goal mouth much more rapidly than the goalie can move.

The goalies ability to follow the ball is further complicated when the shot originates from a point in the air.  It is extremely difficult to judge where a headed shot will go and there is not a plane of reference.  The goalie can anticipate based upon the direction the cross to be headed is coming from and the movement of the attacking player. Even the most experienced goalie is usually reacting instinctively.


If a goalie has been forced to change direction and has moved in the direction cross has been sent, the attacker usually has an open space to shoot at and usually just needs to tap it in.  Usually, when the ball goes wide or over  the cross bar in these situations, the attacker was probably trying to blast the ball in. If they play was set up properly, a soft touch will finish off the play.  It is agonizing for the goalie, and his team's fans, to see the ball rolling with just enough speed to barely make it over the goal line.  It is like a bad dream in slow motion.

Crossing Technique: How to Cross a Soccer Ball (Soccer Training Info web site)
"Crossing the ball is about picking out a player in the goal box so they can score. Usually, the cross will come from the wide areas on the field. For instance, a wide player tries to get a little bit of space and time so they can serve the ball into the box. They might dribble past a player and cross the ball or serve the ball right in when they receive it. 
Here are the key steps to crossing the ball:

Step 1) Push the ball a little a head of you at an angle so you avoid the defender and give yourself enough space to cross the ball without the defender being able to block the cross.Step 2) Look up so you can pick someone out with your cross.Step 3) Plant your standing foot right next to the ball.Step 4) Turn your hips at an angle to the ball.Step 5) Wrap your foot around the ball to bend it with the inside area of your foot.Step 6) Strike the ball with pace, although not necessarily like a shot, take just a little pace off the ball but hit the ball with enough power so you whip the ball into the player you're picking out with the cross. 

Crossing is a lot like taking a free kick or set piece, you want enough power to make it on goal but enough touch and skill to bend around the wall or to get over the wall. With crossing, you're trying to place the ball on a platter for the player to score. So all they have to do is get a foot or head on the ball.

A lofted ball or chip has a time and a place, but it's much easier for the keeper to get to these balls and harder for a player to score if the ball is hit softly. If the ball is whipped in at pace, all the player has to do is redirect the ball into the goal.

The majority of the time, when crossing the ball, you'll use the inside of your foot to hit a cross. This way you can wrap your foot around the ball and bend the ball into your intended target. If the ball is coming into the player rather than going away it's much easier for them to score.But there are times when you'll want to cross the ball with the outside of your foot or even drive the ball in with your instep across the goal mouth. And it's always good to surprise the defense and the goalkeeper. 

Remember Maicon's goal, everyone thought the Brazilian defender was going to cross the ball, but when he saw the keeper cheating a lilttle bit out of the goal, anticipating the cross, Maicon bent the ball directly into the net with the outside of his foot.

What part of the foot you use when crossing the ball depends upon what you're trying to do and where the defender is positioned and how much time you have. If you have to kick the ball across the goal line with your toe at the last minute to get the ball to a player than that's wide open then what's you do."

Soccer Drills for Offense:

Various Attacking Strategies:

Shooting Outside The 18:

Attacking Mid-fielder--Two Strikers:

Ball Mastery:

Passing-Teamwork: 

Messi Hand of God: 

Messi Goals 2010-2011 Season: Messi scored ten goals in a short stretch at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011. Notice how he keeps his balance and quickly changes direction.

Copyright protected 2013 Alan Rubin all rights reserved

Copyright protected 2013 Alan Rubin all rights reserved