A soccer team consists of 11 players. Fortunately, although there are 11 players, there are only four different positions that a soccer team needs to field. Of course, it must field them on different sides. Often a position will have left, right and middle. The forward positions can have as many as 5 people on the front line. This article describes the position from the goalie forward.

The Goalie’s Role

The soccer goalie is his team’s last line of defense. He keeps the ball from getting into the goal. Unlike the other players on the team, he is allowed to touch the ball with his hands. Goalies wear a different type of shirt than other players to help the referee distinguish between a goalie and the other players. On many teams, the goalie is often the most agile player.

The Fullback

The fullback forms the next line of defense. A good fullback will make the job of the goalie much easier. A fullback typically stays near the back of the field during the game. A good fullback will get the ball up the field or if there is no other choice, out of bounds. In soccer, unlike football, the clock keeps moving unless a player is down or injured.

The Halfback

A halfback in soccer plays both offense and defense. He may have to do the most running of any of the other players. He will get the ball out of his teams section and pass it to the front line. If the occasion calls for it, he may also manage to take a shot on goal. When a halfback takes the field, he sets up between the front line in the fullbacks.

Wings and Centers

The wings and the centers make up a soccer team’s offensive units. Often, the defensive part of the team outnumbers the offensive player. Wings and centers need to pass the ball, keep it in his team’s possession, and avoid getting themselves into the off side position. More than one off side call has prevented a soccer team from going on to the World Cup. The most recent such occurrence occurred in the 2006 World Cup game where Italy faced the United States.

Equipment

Regardless of what position a soccer player takes on the field, he will wear shin guards. Shin guards protect the shins from the accidental and even intentional kicks a player may suffer from. Most leagues will not allow a player to even take the field without wearing shin guards. The goalie may wear extra padding, including head gear.

Regardless of what position he takes on the field, a soccer player can expect to do a lot of running. Even a team with a good offense may find that the ball gets into the territory his team is defending many times throughout the course of a 90 minute game.