| With the popularity of soccer increasing in North | | | | one to the other quickly. They have to support and set |
| America a lot of people are beginning to take interest | | | | up the forwards for attacks and at the same time be |
| in the sport. The recent World Cup and the fact that | | | | ready to assist the defenders if the opposing team |
| the U.S. had a team that did relatively well has further | | | | gets the ball. |
| increased interest in the sport. But for people who are | | | | Behind the midfielders are the fullbacks. Their primary |
| just beginning to watch soccer the formations and | | | | responsibility is defense and clearing the ball from their |
| different player positions can be confusing. Here, | | | | own zone. They also line up with one on each wing |
| therefore, is a simple primer on soccer positions for the | | | | and one in the center. Fullbacks are often given the |
| novice. | | | | responsibility of taking free kicks, especially in their own |
| First, each team starts with eleven players, generally | | | | zone, as they are knows for powerful kicks and being |
| broken down as forwards, midfielders, fullbacks, | | | | able to send the ball downfield. |
| sweeper and goalkeeper. | | | | Next to last is the sweeper who tends to play such as |
| Forwards, as the name implies, play forward and are | | | | to guard the other team's best scorer and will shift |
| the attackers and goal scorers. In most formations you | | | | their position depending on where that player is playing. |
| will have three forwards, two on the wings and the | | | | Finally, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense and |
| striker. The forwards primary objective is offense and | | | | stands right in front of their net to keep the ball from |
| scoring goals with the wings normally feeding the | | | | crossing the goal line. |
| striker who is the team's top scorer. Anytime you see | | | | While we've described a classic formation of 3-3-3-1-1, |
| a corner kick being taken it is taken by one of the | | | | there are many different formations that are used |
| forwards. | | | | depending on team strength, opposition weaknesses |
| Playing behind the forwards are the midfielders, usually | | | | and even how much time is left in the game, but the |
| numbering three, and much like the forwards lined up | | | | positions tend to remain the same. |
| with one on either wing and another in the center. | | | | Hopefully this primer will help new fans to the sport of |
| Midfielders have the difficult job of playing both | | | | soccer appreciate the game a little more. |
| offense and defense and must be able to switch from | | | | |