Football Positions

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4196830.stm

Regulation football is played by two teams of 11 players but there is a variety of formations that can be employed. In a European competition, Premiership or League match, three subs from a nominated seven are allowed.

More can be used in friendlies. In an 11-a-side match, a game cannot begin if either side has less than seven players.

Positions guide: Goalkeeper

Everybody says you’ve got to be a bit crazy to wear the number one jersey.

But there is no doubting it is one of the most important jobs on the football pitch.

You need agility and bravery to be a keeper. And you are allowed to handle the ball, but only in the penalty box. You need to be always ready and alert for that crucial save – especially if you have not had much to do during the game.

Now that goalkeepers can no longer pick up back-passes, there is more emphasis on the control and kicking skills of a keeper.

Positions guide: Full-back

Football pundits say that good attacking football starts with the defence.

There is no better feeling than a sliding block, or chasing after a striker and nicking the ball off their toes.

Scoring is important but your manager will be just as happy to see you stopping a goal.

Full-backs, who play on either side of the defence, have quite a varied role.

Their main job is to stop the opposition attacking in wide areas and to support the central defenders.

And the modern defender will often venture beyond the halfway line – unheard of until relatively recently.

They play an important role in supporting their team’s own attack by pushing forward to supply crosses.

Positions guide: Wing-back (Winger)

In the modern age of football there are many different roles and jobs a defender can have.

Their role is more attacking than the full-back’s, and it basically involves a great deal of running.

They are a nightmare to defend against as you never know where they’re going to be.

Because their job is to attack, there will usually be an extra central defender to give more defensive cover.

To be a useful wing-back, you’ve got to be good at all parts of the game.

Fit, strong, good with both feet, a great tackler, an amazing passer and a fine crosser of the ball.

Positions guide: Sweeper

This is a very specialised position, and you are more likely to see it in continental football than in Britain.

The sweeper’s job is mainly to play behind the defence to add extra security and improve the passing out of defence.

They must be able to read the game well, and also be calm and confident enough with the ball at their feet to carry it forward and support the midfield.

So no broomsticks required to be a good sweeper, just a good set of eyes, a fine footballing brain and two good feet.

Positions guide: Centre Midfield

It is in the centre of midfield that games are often won or lost.

They are described as the orchestra conductors, the engines of the team, the players pulling the strings from the middle.

You have to have stamina by the bagful to play in this position. It involves endless running.

You will need to be a strong tackler to win the ball back and have the skill to create opportunities for the strikers ahead of you.

A lot of your work will go unnoticed as you will make forward runs to join your attackers.

But so too will your opposite number, and you must match those runs to assist your defence.      

Positions guide: Wide Midfield

Wingers, wide midfielders, call them what you like, they are some of the most exciting players around.

It is a varied and hardworking job, though – it’s not just about showing off a few tricks and letting the defenders clean up behind you.

Energy and stamina are needed to give defensive cover to the full-backs playing behind you.  And then when you’ve got your breath back, you’ll be expected to fly down the wing to create the chances for your strikers.

Playing right out on the touchline when your team are in possession gives greater space and options.

Then when your team lose possession you should tuck infield.  This gets you closer to your central midfield colleagues and helps provide a greater barrier to the opposition.

Positions guide: Striker

Scoring goals is beautiful, but being a striker means you may take a bit of a battering from opposition defenders – particularly if you’re any good.

There are all sorts of different characteristics that make up a good striker.

What some strikers lack in pace, they make up for in speed of thought and ability to move away from markers to create chances.

But most of the top strikers in the world are selfish in front of goal – and their finishing skills are deadly