The Goalkeeper #1
Role & Responsibilities:
The main purpose is to prevent the other team to score goals. He represents the last line of the defense and that’s why he’s agile and has good reflexes, jumping from one side to the other. At the same time, communicational skills are of foremost importance, because he can give instructions to the defenders in front of him.
Possession:
- Ability with the foot to build up the action either with long or short passes
- Precision with the hands or the foot, in order to start a counter attack
Non- Possession:
- Catching the ball from crosses, outside and inside the box shots
- Stop the shots from the opponents
Defense
Fullbacks
Role & Responsibilities:
The Right-back (#2) and the Left-back (#3) play mainly on the 1st quarter of the pitch, on the defensive line, respectively on the right and the left flank of the pitch. Their main role is to prevent wingers or wide midfielders to reach the goal or pass the ball in the box. They mainly run back and forth on the flank, and in the offensive phase, they overlap the wingers in case of crosses.
Possession:
- Stamina to go up and down the pitch, supporting the possession phase
- Speed for counter attacks
Non- Possession:
- Tackling abilities for the 1vs1 duels, including the right timing to tackle opponents
- Positional awareness during corners or freekicks
Centralbacks
Role & Responsibilities:
The central-backs (#4 and #5) are just right in front of the goal keeper and their job is mainly in a non possession phase. Their principal role is to prevent the opponent strikers to penetrate the last line before the goal.
Possession:
- Passing the ball, to build up the action from the bottom
Non- Possession:
- Tackling abilities for the 1vs1 duels, including the right timing to tackle opponents and aerial abilities to stop the crosses
- Positional discipline, in order to read the game and possible opponents’ actions
- Communicational skills, giving instructions and motivate their teammates
Midfield
Midfielders are generally positioned between the defense and the attack, and most of the time they need to provide quality and quantity, meaning that in a possession phase they are meant to have a peripheral view with the passes, to create goal scoring opportunities, while in a non possession phase, they are meant to recover lost balls, run back to help defenders and be as filter for the defense.
Central-midfielders
Role & Responsibilities:
The central-midfielders (#6 and #8) are in the middle of the field and they are considered as the brain of the squad because they are those who touch the most the ball and deliver accurate passes. In modern football, they can play more defensively, helping the defenders or more offensively, participating in the attacks.
Possession:
- Passing and controlling the ball, to create chances for the teammates and shielding the ball from adversaries
- Participating into the attacking phase, being present in the opponent area
Non- Possession:
- Running back, preventing opponents to start counter attacks
- Positional discipline, in order to read the game and possible opponents’ actions
- Intercept passes
Wide Midfielders
Role & Responsibilities:
The wide-midfielders or also known as wingers (#7 and #11) are expected to add width to the game, using the flanks as possibility to penetrate the opponents defense, using skills like dribbling or speed to reach the goal.
Possession:
- Dribble adversaries
- Shooting capabilities, from short or long distance
- Create additional options while attacking, like crosses and passes
Non- Possession:
- Retrieve lost balls
- Help the fullbacks while the opponents are attacking
Attack
Role & Responsibilities:
The main responsibility for an attacking player is to create opportunities and score goals. The numbers used are #9 and #10, also called the Centre Forward and the Supporting Centre Forward respectively. Nowadays the physiognomy of forwards can vary a lot, going from tall target men to more technical players, depending a lot of the formation shape.
Generally the # 10 plays between “the lines” of the midfielders and the centre forward, giving accurate passes and setting the offensive attack. On the other hand the # 9 focuses on converting passes and crosses into goals.
Possession:
- Strong shooting abilities, in order score goals, either with the head or foot
- Make smart movements, to create space for their teammates
Non- Possession:
- Run at defenders
