Question Number: 14868

Other 2/19/2007

RE: Under 13

Audra of Gilber, United States of America asks...

what are the positions for
soccer?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Depends on the team. As a referee, I think of them as keeper, attacker, defender, and halfback. Some teams have a sweeper in front of the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the Laws of the Game, only one player position is specifically given, the goalkeeper. All the others are just players.

The players have various functions depending on the team and coach. Typically you would have defenders, who are positioned nearest to their own goal, then midfielders and forwards. Defenders are sometimes called backs, and midfield might be called half-backs. Forwards are sometimes called attackers, although I agree with coaches who teach that when we have the ball we are all attacking and when they have the ball we are all defending.

In addition, players positioned toward the edges of the field are often called wings - you may have a midfield left wing and a forward left wing, for example. Quite often players overlap positions, for example a midfielder who has a clear opening may dribble the ball up past the forward and attempt to score.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Audra,
I encourage all coaches/parents to rotate the youth through the different positions forward, mid and back even keeper (although I think in the early stages of u6 and u8 less than 11 aside keeper is an unneccessary position) and to understand that you move as a TEAM unit in attack as well as in defence!
Soccer is a game where 98% of the time you play WITHOUT posession of the ball as an individual. It is how you play without the ball that enhances the skills of those with it!

I like REf Voshol concept of attack when we have ball, defend when we do not but I add one other as a tactic at youth, pressure and win back the ball at every opportunity. I tend to think the formation of 3 3 4 best suits the average players at u-13 u-12 however you organise according to your strengths as well as the opponet's weakness.
Cheers