Introduction: Football (soccer) is a game that is played all over the world therefore it is important for individuals to have adequate knowledge on the different positions. Every post contains certain tasks or tasks that play an important role of implementing the overall strategy and achieving the goals of the team. The following is a clear description of the various positions in Football, their roles and responsibilities;

Position Chart Summary

1. Goalkeeper (GK)

As their primary duty is to prevent the opponent team from scoring through shots on goals; the goalkeeper (GK) is the last man standing as their lower limbs however is permitted. They also coordinate the defense, organize other colleagues and make invocations which results to formation of chances through a pass.

Role: It is also called as line of defense and their primary function is to guard the goal post against the players of the rival teams and the task of the defender is to ensure that structure of the attacking players should not offer a chance for scoring the goal

Key Responsibilities:

Safe shots that ends up in the rival’s goals can be made using any part of the body.

Organize and integrate the defense and communicate with the defense.

In improving the ability of starting attacks quickly, the players should be efficient in distributing the ball.

2. Right Back (RB)

This is a strategic player located on the right side of the defense with the main duty of defending the opposing teams’ winger. Besides performing anticipation and pressing/pressure tasks they contribute to the attacking phase by occupying the areas of right midfielders or wingers to provide crosses into the area of the opponent’s penalty box.

Roles: Located in the right side of the defense with the main task of containing the wingers of the opponent’s team.

Key Responsibilities:

Mark and tackle opposing players on the right flank.

Support the attack by overlapping with the right midfielder or winger.

Deliver crosses into the opponent’s penalty area.

3. Center Back (CB)

The center back (CB) is always situated between the two other full- back positions on the defense line and his role of work is to stop and block attacks from the team’s striking force. A defensive backbone participate in the organization of the defensive unit, victory in aerial tussles in dead ball situations and the clearance of the ball from defensive area, thus enhancing team stability.

Role: Usually located in the middle of an organization with the specific task of preventing and stopping attacks.

Key Responsibilities:

Mark strikers and win aerial duels during set pieces.

Clear the ball from the defensive zone.

Organize the defensive unit and communicate with teammates.

4. Left Back (LB)

The left back or the LB is a player located in the left side of the defense formation with primary duties of closing the opponent players and or barring access to the left sided attack. Besides the defensive errands, they contribute to the team’s attacks by covering left midfielders or the wingers when providing crosses to the attacking box.

Role: Here he is located to the left of the defense like the right-sided full back and hence was easily replaced.

Key Responsibilities:

Stay and fight other players on the left side of the pitch.

Backup the attack by laying opposing to the left midfielder

Crosses and bring some breadth to the team’s offence.

5. Defensive Midfielder (CDM)

The second is the DAT which stands for the defensive midfielder (CDM) and this ordinary player should be positioned near the defense team because he or she must deal with the attack force of the opposition while at the same time safeguarding the defensive players. They play a key role in intercepting passes, tackling opponents, and distributing the ball to more advanced midfielders and forwards to initiate counter-attacks.

Role: Positioned in front of the defense, focusing on breaking up opposition attacks.

Key Responsibilities:

Protect the backline by intercepting passes and tackling opponents.

Distribute the ball to more advanced midfielders and forwards.

Provide cover for defenders during counter-attacks.

6. Central Midfielder (CM)

The central midfielder (CM) stays midfield and perform a role that connects the defensive and the attacking lines. They dictate the rhythm of the match by exercise proper passing and distribute the ball to support the defensive and the attacking aspect of their team in order to sustain the fluidity of their match play.

Role: Located in the center and thus playing the role in between defense and attacking.

Key Responsibilities:

Usually, the team which follows this formation has the ability to set the pace of the game or control play.

Be able to perform the function of defending and also the function of an offense for the game.

Nicely pass to the wingers and forwards.

7. Attacking Midfielder (CAM)

The attacking midfielder (CAM) is slightly forward than the four mentioned players as his main role is to create and get involved in goals chances and assists. They also specialize in penetrating the opposition’s defense, shooting at goal and in improving the connection between midfield and the forwards thereby boosting the teams attacking power.

Role: Placed nearer to forwards, and that in point of their work, they have done all in their power to construct goal schemes.

Key Responsibilities:

For striker and wingers make good passes and help in provide for them.

Score goals from free-kicks, that is taking shots on goal from the free areas of the field.

Creating link play with the team of midfielders and attackers to penetrating into the opponents’ backline.

8. Right Winger (RW)

it is important to note that right winger also known as right midfielder (RW) plays right side of the field and his activities includes crossing and good maneuvers to score goals. This is applied in spinning past defenders, making the width of the pitch an added option for scoring and taking shots and or creating passing squares for other people.

Role: Played on the right end for crossing and for creating several chances incidences for scoring a goal.

Key Responsibilities:

Other some of the ideas for consideration are as follows; Best the defenders in one on one tussles.

Bring width in the attack front and free up space on the field which is directly against the opponent’s defense.

To shoot or to position himself for shot or for teammates to do so, be assigned to move into space.

9. Left Winger (LW)

The identification of the left winger deals with the position that is played on the left side of the field, similar with the right winger. They perform switching of the flanks, crossing into the opposing team’s penalty area, outwooing their direct opponents, and dribbling past them or coming inside to shoot or to set up the forwards.

Role: It was located on the left side, more or less where the right winger was placed.

Key Responsibilities:

Go for the left side where you should thrown crosses in the box.

Sneak past defenders and have the ball and be in the position to make scoring opportunities.

To come in as a substitution in order to take shots or help strikers.

10. Center Forward (CF)

In terms of formation, the center forward or striker commonly referred to as ‘CF’, plays in the middle and central part of the attacking formation and his major role is that of a goal scorer. EGLs are involved in completing the scoring chances, delaying play to bring other teammates into play and finding space by dropping-off to disrupt the opposing team’s defense.

Role: The role of a center forward which involved them in attacking in the mid of the attacking force and mostly aiming at scoring goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Take their opportunities and chances and put it in the back of the basket.

The classic ‘hold up play’ helps to drag defenders toward the midfield line which opens the space for wingers and midfielders to get forward.

An example of this is making space for other teammates by pulling defenders; away in attack.

11. Striker (ST)

The ST is centrally located and has the major responsibility of concern with goals, which makes it a major attacking merchant. They are good in taking chances if provided by other teammates, moving forward to exploit spaces behind the backline and applying continuous pressure to the opponent’s defenders when they are out of the game.

Role: It located in the middle of the field, key role is to set, take goals.

Key Responsibilities:

We need to polish attacks created by teammates.

To get through ball make runs behind the defense line.

He has to challenge the opposition’s defenders willfully when his team is out of the ball.

Conclusion

It will be helpful to grasp the position descriptions in football so as to be in a position to organize the team and come up with the best strategies. This gives a clear picture of the field whereby, the numbers 1 to 11 match the positions of each player on the field which is very helpful to a player and a coach to enhance their performance when playing the game.

People also ask

1. What is the role of a number 10 in football?

The tenth position is virtually the attacking midfielder whose role entails that he connects the defenders, the midfielders and the forwards. However, the number 6 and 8 roles are very important because they are moving the team’s engine.

2. What is the role of the number 11 position in soccer?

Position 11 in football is a position where the left winger targets attacking down the left-hand side by making crosses and generates scoring opportunities. He has pace, skills, and has the ability to beat off-track-backing defenders, cuts inside for shots on goals, and should support the center forward in the attacking phase.

3. What is the role of the number 8 position in football?

In football, the number 8 is often associated with a central midfielder, a role of pivotal necessity in linking the defense and attack of a team. Here, this player must be the “breaker of pace.”.

Also Read: Is Safety a Good Position in Youth Football