Player Positions

In professional soccer, player positions are crucial for team strategy and success, as each position has specific responsibilities that contribute to both offensive and defensive play. Proper positioning allows teams to maximize their strengths, maintain balance on the field, and effectively counter their opponents.

Objectives

Students will learn about the primary positions in professional soccer and identify the roles and responsibilities associated with each position.

Materials

  • Worksheet
Player Positions

Academic Standards

6th Grade

Math 6.1.D The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.

7th Grade

Math 7.1.D The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.

8th Grade

Math 8.1.D The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.

Player Positions

Discussion Questions

  • What position would you like to play if you were on a soccer team, and why?
  • What are the different player positions in soccer?
  • How do the different positions on a soccer team work together to achieve common goals?

Reflection Questions

  • Why is it important for players to understand and specialize in specific positions?
  • How can a player's skills and attributes influence the position they play?
  • What challenges might a player face when switching positions?

Answer Key

  1. 12.5%
  2. 33.3%
  3. 33.3%
  4. 20.8%

Image from source document

Player Positions
Player Positions

Setup

  • There is minimal set up in this lesson.

Vocabulary

Goalkeeper: A team's final line of defense - their primary job is to prevent the opposing team from scoring by blocking and catching shots.

Defender: An outfield player positioned in front of the goalkeeper. Their primary responsibility is to stop the opposing team’s attacks, prevent them from scoring, and regain possession of the ball.

Forward: An outfield player positioned closest to the opponent’s goal. Their primary responsibilities are to score goals, create scoring chances for teammates, and apply defensive pressure to the opponent's backline.

Midfielder: A soccer player positioned between their team's defenders and forwards who acts as the primary link between the two.

Player Positions

Activity

  • Start the lesson by leading students in a short discussion to assess what they already know about player positions in soccer.
    • Use the questions provided as a jumping-off point, or come up with your own.
  • Explain to students that they will learn about the various player positions in soccer and the importance of player positions in team strategy.
  • Explain each of the positions below. You can choose to keep this simple with a general overview of each position or go a little more in-depth about each position.
  • Goalkeeper (GK):
    • Their primary role is to protect the goal and prevent the opposing team from scoring.
    • They can use their hands within the penalty area, and they wear different-colored jerseys.
  • Defenders:
    • Center Backs (CB): They protect the area in front of the goal, block shots, and clear the ball.
    • Full Backs (LB/RB): They play on the left and right flanks, support both defense and attack and are often involved in marking opposing wingers.
    • Wingbacks (LWB/RWB): They are more attack-oriented fullbacks, often seen in formations that use three-center backs.
  • Midfielders:
    • Central Midfielders (CM): Link between defense and attack, involved in both defensive and offensive play.
    • Defensive Midfielders (CDM): Primarily focused on breaking up opposition attacks and protecting the defense.
    • Attacking Midfielders (CAM): Focused on creating scoring opportunities, often positioned behind the forwards.
  • Forwards:
    • Strikers (ST): Main goal scorers, positioned closest to the opponent's goal.
    • Wingers (LW/RW): They play on the left and right flanks and are responsible for delivering crosses, scoring goals, and assisting in defense.
  • Show students the video below, then lead them in a short discussion about what they observed in the video.
  • Roles and responsibilities of player positions:
    • Explain that the team strategy plays an important role in the game.
    • Different formations of the players utilize player positions differently to implement various strategies during play.
    • Discuss the importance of positioning in attack and defense, movement without the ball, and teamwork.
      • Encourage students to compare the use of position and strategy of soccer to other sports.
  • Have students complete the worksheet activity using the current team roster.
    • Calculate the percentage for each position:
      • Goalkeeper
      • Defender
      • Midfielder
      • Forward
    • They will create a bar graph representing the percentage of players for each position on the team and answer questions

Additional Teaching Notes:

  • How to write a fraction:
    • Numerator (the number above the line)
    • Denominator (the number below the line)
    • Fraction bar (the line separating the numerator and denominator)
  • How to calculate percentage using a fraction
    • Divide the numerator with the denominator and multiply the result by 100.
    • Example, for 9/10: (9 ÷ 10) x 100 = 90%

Additional Activity

  • Turn this into a game where students have to match the player's position with the description.
  • Allow students time to play a mini-soccer game where they try out different player positions.
  • Students can research their favorite players and the positions they play.
Player Positions