Positioning | Know Your Role

Here is Factor #1 of Tactical Intelligence 

1. Positioning | Know Your Role
2. Team Strategy | Squad up
3. Sight vs. Vision | Read the Game
4. Decision Making | The Holy Grail

Positioning!

Here are the basics:

What is positioning in soccer? Soccer has many different places designated for a person on your team to be during the game. This depends on a players specific tasks or roles within the team. Knowing your role on the field will let you play your part within your teams tactics. When you play your part well, you'll make smarter decisions, utilize your energy reserves properly, and support the run of play in order for your team to complete it's objective (which would ultimately be scoring goals + winning the game!).  So what are the roles?

Depending on your role, you'd be put into one of these broad categories: Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder, or Forward. And once you've got that covered, you'll be placed into your more specific position, whether it be in the center, on the outside, more offensive or holding. It will all depend on your coaches formation (4-4-2,  4-2-3-1,  etc.)

The traditional formation would have been a 4-4-2 and now most pro teams are sitting at a 4-2-3-1.

Which looks something like this!

Let's break it down a bit by the numbers that represent the positions


Position 1 = Goalkeeper

Role & Responsibility
Keeping the ball outta the net!
Being involved in the play as far as organizing the team.
Making sure players are marked up especially from the defensive side of things.
Being the commander/general.
Being a great shot stopper, being brave.
Commanding your box.
Dealing with crosses.
Having good distribution with hands and feet, playing it out of the back in different ways, accurately.
But most importantly *keeping the ball out of the net!*


Position 5 & 6 = Right + Left Centerbacks

​Role & Responsibility
Usually winning headers in the air from goal kicks
Coming through winning the ball, winning tackles
Organizing the team make sure everyones compact, and marked up.
Blocking shots.
Making tackles
Doing most of the defensive work for the team (this is expected of you by the team)
Filling in another position from time to time (all players may have to do this and we will talk about it below!)


Position 2 & 3 = Right + Left Fullbacks

​Role & Responsibility
#1 role is having a defensive mindset 
But in todays game, having a lot more freedom to get up the field and be more adventurous and getting in the attack (It's now more expected of you to do it)
Having a good engine
Getting up and down the line.
Coming in and joining the attack.
Filling space when wingers step inside and create space on the outside
Crossing into the box accurately + well
Defensively, stopping crosses coming into the box
Being quick on your feet
Being good on 1v1 defending situations
Having an appetite for the game because when you're tired and you make a run and don't get the ball, you have to get back and defend!


Position 4 & 8 = Right + Left  Defensive Midfielders

​Role & Responsibility

Having a bit more focus on defensive aspects and responsibility in this formation (as opposed to the traditional 4-4-2, which was getting up and down the field in a box-to-box way... a lot of running.)
Getting up into the attack sometimes to join, but the primary job is to protect the backline.
Cleaning up any passes in front of that defensive line.
Doubling up with defenders if balls are played into strikers.
Winning the ball back.
Blocking passes.
Covering playmakers.
Winning tackles in the midfield.
Playing a very important role on the offensive side.
Moving the ball.
Keeping the rhythm of play going.
Keeping good distribution.
Picking up ball from fullbacks.
Switching the play. 
Playmaking.
Keeping the ball moving.
Always showing.
Giving options.
Moving the ball. 
Coming back and receiving the ball for switching it to the other side of the field.
Playing lots of 2-touch football.
Keeping things ticking.


Position 10 = Attacking Central Midfielder

​Role & Responsibility
usually Playing with a lot of freedom to go where ever they want.
Scoring goals and creating goals.
Getting on the ball as often as possible (it's expected of you).
Finding little pockets of space between defenders (everyone wants to find you).
Trying to get the ball to feet.
Playing through balls to wingers making runs or to the strikers feet and joining the attack.
Getting shots on goal. 
Following up chances.
Getting into the box, whenever theres an opportunity to score 
(if you're waiting around outside, sitting in the midfield, you wont be very valuable to your team).
Acting in attacking roles as almost a second striker while getting involved into the play
(you just have a bit more defensive responsibility).
Getting back and help out
(especially against a very good team, its almost a 4-5-1 on the defensive side of things)
Getting back to defend.
Playing combos and getting forward and attack on the offensive side .


Position 7 & 11 =  Right + Left Wingers

​Role & Responsibility
Getting lots of width.
Get the ball out wide.
Whipping crosses into the box .
Cutting inside.
Creating goal scoring opportunities for yourself.
Playing combinations.
feeling a lot of freedom (all of the attacking players) .
Having freedom to change positions
(example: with total football, all players can cover all positions. If a fullback steps up, a winger can come back and cover for him until he can get back and fill his spot)
Interchange positions.
Switching with the other winger. 
Not feeling restricted to stay outside.
Coming inside sometimes.
Stepping up, while the striker drops.
Making sure you get back into your spot and help out defensively.
Taking players on in the right positions.
Having the job of feeding the striker.
Getting goal for yourself.
Helping out defensively
Helping double up with your fullback
Winning balls with your fullback and countering quickly


Position 9 = Striker

​Role & Responsibility
Scoring goals. 
Putting the ball in the net.
Being clinical in front of the net.
Scoring at least 1 out of 2 chances.
Being sharp with your finishing.
Anytime a ball is whipped into the box, being that player getting on it .
Wanting to be making the run to the front post.
Peeling off making a run to the back post.
Showing at the top for a cut back.
Always being an option.
Always making good runs into space.
Playing as a target so show for the ball.
Get the ball to feet.
Holding the ball up really well.
Playing the ball off to your teammates.
Making give and go's.
Being able to keep possession (if you're the only guy up there, when the ball is played up to you you have to 
if you lose it, then your team can't get out of trouble).
Being a good target .
Being strong.
Shielding off defenders and playing the ball off.
Spinning and making runs between center backs or full backs and trying to get on that ball.
Most of all scoring goals and creating goals for your teammates!
yes you need to be greedy, but be smart, if you have two guys on you, maybe the best option is to pass and give them the goal scoring opportunity.​

Okay so you might have a preference of where you like to play, and you might not be given the opportunity in that position. If your coach isn't giving you that chance, you need to understand that playing different positions is one of the best things for your growth. If you want to be a striker, (there's only 1 in this formation!) so if you're stuck in a fullback or centerback, it's not the end of the world, it's a positive thing if you really think about it!It's an opportunity to grow in a different way, its an opportunity for you to get your chance, because these positions are all really important. So maybe you cant make it as the best striker on your team, you can still strive to be the best fullback of the league. It's great for your development.

If you're stuck asking yourself which position should you play, the best way to answer is by first looking at your skills, and then asking which position you *want* to play. Then, look at what skills are required of that position and start developing those skills. Communicate with your coach and let them know you're working on _____ (insert important skill) and if there's ever an opportunity, you'd love it.

Ways to improve:

• Learn from the Pros! Watching professional soccer is a great way to see where to be, when to move, and how to execute the type of runs that you would be making in a game. (Hint: don’t watch the ball during the game, watch the player who is in your position on the pitch)
• Talk with your coach! Asking your coach doubles as a way to both improve your performance and it shows your coachability, which goes a long way. (Hint: Most players don’t approach the coach for a 1-v-1 chat, lead the way, and your teammates might follow the example you set. When everyone is on the same page, that’s when you start to win championships)
• Get out there and train!

Thanks for reading!
​
-z