| Soccer is the most popular recreational sport among | | | | are three: a left midfielder, a center, and a right |
| boys and girls in America. Professional soccer is also | | | | midfielder. This position blurs the boundaries between |
| becoming more popular over the last decade. For | | | | offence and defense. They must help the defense |
| these two reasons, it is important to understand the | | | | when the opposing team is attacking, but they are also |
| sport and the soccer positions on the field so that | | | | required to set up plays and attack with the forwards. |
| everyone can follow along. Both teams have eleven | | | | Fullbacks play behind the midfielders. Their responsibility |
| players on the field that are broken down into the | | | | is to help the goalkeeper keep the opposition from |
| following basic categories: forward, midfielder, fullback, | | | | scoring a goal. There are three of them - one on each |
| sweeper & goalkeeper. | | | | side of the field (left and right, respectively), and one in |
| Forwards typically stay in the front of the team on the | | | | the center. Fullbacks are often used for free kicks or |
| attacking third of the field. They are responsible for | | | | penalties because they are known for their powerful |
| most of the scoring. There are three forwards in most | | | | foot that is used to clear the ball from the backfield. |
| formations: a left wing, a striker, and a right wing. The | | | | The last two people between an opposing team and a |
| wings are the outside forwards and play on either side | | | | goal are the sweeper and the goalkeeper. The |
| of the field. Their primary objective is to get into | | | | sweeper is located behind the midfielders and guards |
| scoring position so when they receive the ball they can | | | | the best scorer on the opposing team, often the |
| shoot at the goal. In the instance of a corner kick | | | | attacking team's striker. The goalkeeper is positioned |
| (when the opposing team knocks the ball out of play | | | | right in front of the goal and prevents shots from |
| on the goal line), it is typically a forward who will | | | | crossing the goal line. |
| kick-off, as they are known to have the most | | | | This is the classic formation of soccer positions on the |
| powerful and accurate aim on the field. | | | | field. However, different variations can be used for |
| As their title suggests, midfielders are located in the | | | | strategic reasons during a match. For example, some |
| middle of the field behind the forwards. The number of | | | | teams use four midfielders instead of a sweeper in |
| midfielders a team uses may vary, but usually there | | | | order to increase the number of players on the attack. |