Playing soccer is easy; being good at soccer takes a bit more effort. To be competent on the sport, the only way is to practice and play.

Like basketball, soccer players that are on the game field have their own designated positions. In the game of soccer there are eleven designated soccer positions on each team in the playing field. A single soccer team on the playing field has one goalie or goalkeeper and ten outfielders to play a variety of defensive, attacking and midfield positions. Each of these soccer positions has their own role and area of operation and certain set of skills are required in each of these soccer positions.

Defensive Positions or Defenders

Defenders are the players that are behind the midfielders. The main responsibilities of players designated in these soccer positions are to provide defensive support to the goalie and prevent the opposing team from scoring. Defenders usually stay on their side of the field.

* Centerback – the centerbacks’ main responsibility is to stop the opposing team from scoring or more particularly the strikers and to get the ball out of the penalty area as much as possible.

* Sweeper – sweepers are the adaptable type of centerbacks. They sweep the ball if the opponents manage to break through the defensive line. A sweeper must have excellent ball handling, ball control and ball passing abilities to counter any attacking moves that the opponent does.

* Fullback – fullbacks are the players that prevent the ball from crossing or cutting back into the penalty area.

Midfielders

Midfielders are positioned midway between the strikers and defenders. Their primary responsibilities are to make sure that they have possession of the ball, take the ball from the opposing team’s defenders and pass it to the strikers. Being a midfielder is one of the most exhausting soccer positions because midfielders’ duties are broad. They are either called back into defensive position or sometimes attack the opposing team along with the strikers.

* Defensive midfield – duties of players with these soccer positions is to take the ball away from the opposing team’s attackers.

* Attacking midfield – players within these positions are responsible for creating scoring opportunities.

Strikers or Forward or Attackers

Players with these soccer positions are the ones nearest to the opposing team’s goal. Their main duty is to score goals. The other duty of players with these soccer positions is to set up goal for their team mates. Most well known soccer players are strikers because strikers tend to score more than any of their team mates.

22 players and 11 members per team play soccer. Positions can be variable depending on the soccer formation and strategy employed, but usually a team roster includes a goalkeeper and a couple of defenders, midfielders and attackers.

Passing the Ball

Passing the ball is very easy, though the hardest part of passing accuracy. This is the starter player’s handicap. To do a standard rolling pass, you should kick the ball with the inside of your foot (instep and toe part). Your kick should hit the lateral part of the ball for it to travel in a roll. Kicking with the inside part of the foot also allows accuracy, wherein the arch is used to provide the ball direction. Ok, try it. Kick the ball with modest force with the arch providing direction.

Intermediate Passing and Shooting The link also featured how to do a high pass. Notice how his foot made contact with the ball. For the ball to fly, the bottom of the ball should be hit while kicking. And to provide direction, the inside part (the toe part) of your foot should be the main contact of the bottom (of the ball).

Shooting the ball is the same as passing by a high ball. Even a rolling pass is considered shooting if it is used to score a goal. So now you see the importance of passing.

Playing soccer is easy; being good at soccer takes a bit more effort. To be competent on the sport, the only way is to practice and play. To be better, yet more practice and playing. But to be the best, again practice and play.