Though it enjoys great popularity worldwide, soccer still sits in the shadow of sports that include football, baseball and basketball in America. In fact, it's the 10th-most popular sport in the U.S., according to sports business research group Taylor Nelson Sofres. If you're trying to familiarize yourself with the sport, the first thing you need to do is learn about the roles of different players on a soccer team.
Goalie
The goalie is the last line of defense on a soccer team. It's his job to defend his team's goal against opposing players trying to kick or head the ball past him and into the goal, which is 8 feet in height and 24 feet wide. The goaltender, who usually wears gloves and a different color jersey than the rest of his teammate, does have one distinct advantage: he can use his hands.
Defender
Of the 11 players on the field for a team at one time, there are usually three or four defenders. It's their job to provide support for the goalie, diffusing potential scoring chances by the opponent by stealing the ball, blocking shots with their legs and bodies, and clearing loose balls from their team's end of the field. Defenders must always try to keep their assigned man in front of them, because when a player slips past the defense, it allows them to take unfettered shots on goal, with only the goalie left to cover the goal.
Forward
When you see soccer highlights on TV, it's usually the forwards taking center stage. They are their teams' primary scoring options, and thus are often the most skilled ballhandlers and shooters. They can score by clicking the ball past the goalie, or knocking it into the net using their heads. Forwards are often called upon for penalty kicks and targeted on corner kicks -- free kicks from the end corner of the field that occur when the defense send the ball out of bounds.
Midfielder
The midfielder in soccer is something of a hybrid. She's half-defender, half-forward, and thus must have the agility and versatility to quickly transition from offense to defense and vice versa. While the defenders focus their efforts on thwarting opposing offenses and forwards are on the field to score goals, midfielders are expected to do all of the above. They also serve as a conduit, receiving the ball from defenders and quickly moving it upfield to the forwards. The position requires excellent stamina, because midfielders must cover more turf than any other players.
Member Comments