Number of soccer positions4/2/2024 The goalkeeper is the player with the gloves and different-colored jersey who gets to catch, block and throw the ball – whatever it takes to keep the ball out of his or her own net.ĭefenders: Defenders want their goalkeeper to get bored. No matter how advanced soccer tactics get, the basic positions remain the same: goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards. If your players are at a stage where positions are appropriate, keep them very simple. And that’s when positions can start to make their way into the game. Those are the basics of understanding soccer tactics, according to Condone. They have a sense of the ball’s pace and movement, and how players work together to make things happen. If they’ve played for a few years, they can start anticipating the play. Introducing basic soccer positionsĪs players develop, they start picking up on the game in new ways. Specialization happens naturally as they get older. Then, if they stay with the sport, players can drift toward one position or another. “That will let the players develop an understanding of the game and all the positions.” “Start from the notion that all players can - and do - attack, and all players can - and do - defend, in an environment that is safe and fun,” says Condone. That means during practice, coaches should strive to keep players in motion and use games and activities that include everyone. (Plus, it’s just not as fun to do the same thing all the time.) At all levels of the sport, every player needs to know a little bit of everything - and the time to learn is when they’re young. ![]() They won’t learn as much about soccer if they only see the game from one or two positions on the field. Putting players into predetermined positions before age 10 short-changes players on the two goals of youth soccer: fun and development. And the best way for young players to develop that skill - and learn the game - is to do a little bit of everything. “Positioning is smart movement across the field during the match,” says Condone. For younger players, and in the rec leagues, players should learn positioning before positions, says Tom Condone, the director of sport and member development at US Youth Soccer. ![]() In fact, they don’t typically factor into a game until the players are about 10 years old - and even then, just on the more competitive teams. With the exception of goalkeeper, perhaps, positions play less of a role in youth soccer than you might expect.
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