5 Easy Positions For Beginners In Soccer
Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is an exciting sport that welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. But if you’re a beginner, you may be wondering which position to choose.
In this guide, you will learn about some of the easiest positions for beginners that will get you involved in the game while developing your soccer skills.
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What Are The Easy Positions For Beginners In Soccer?
Here are some of the easiest football positions that beginners can consider:
1. Second Striker
One football position that can be easier for a beginner is the second striker. The second striker has a long history in soccer, though the name for this position has changed over the years.
Originally, players in this role were called inside forwards. Today, they are often referred to as second strikers, support strikers, deep-lying forwards, shadow strikers, or withdrawn strikers.
These players usually play between the opposing team’s midfield and defense. Second strikers are not typically as tall or strong as the main center forward.
Rather, they are usually quick, agile, and skillful. Their main job is to help create goals and scoring opportunities for the main striker.
They do this by using spaces in the other team’s defense to pass the ball to the strikers, picking up loose balls around the goal area, or trying to dribble and score themselves.
The second striker position became popular with the Hungary national team in the late 1940s and mid-1950s, led by the famous player Ferenc Puskás.
Later, Italian soccer teams made this position famous as the “trequartista” or “fantasista.” This is an advanced playmaker role where the player neither stays in the midfield nor as a main forward.
They help control their team’s attacks and provide assists. Many players in this position wear the number 10 jersey, which is why the role is sometimes called the “number 10.”
The second striker position is quite flexible. A player in this role lies somewhere between a pure striker and a midfielder.
They need to have good vision, technical skills, creativity, and passing ability as they can either be an attack-minded midfielders or a creative striker who can both score and set up goals for the main striker.
Unlike attacking midfielders, second strikers are usually less involved in the initial build-up plays but focus more on the final attacking moves.
In Italy, this role is sometimes called “rifinitore” or “seconda punta,” while in Brazil, it is known as “ponte de lança.”
The second striker often has to work more defensively than a pure attacking midfielder, especially in the tactical 4-4-2 formations popular in the 1990s.
For beginners, the second striker role can be a good starting point. It allows them to develop their attacking skills without the physical demands of being a main striker. Also, it offers a chance to learn how to create and seize goal-scoring opportunities.
2. Winger
If you’re just starting in football, one of the easiest positions to play is a winger. Wingers are players who stay on the sides of the field, near the touchlines.
They’re called wingers because they used to play on the “wing” or side of the pitch. Wingers are part of the midfield, but they have an attacking role.
Their job is to use their speed to move past the opponent’s defenders and get close to the goal. Once they’re in a good position, they try to send accurate passes or crosses to their teammates in the center, who can then try to score.
There are two types of wingers: left-wingers and right-wingers. They may switch sides during a game to confuse the other team or to take advantage of a weak defender.
Some famous soccer teams, like Barcelona and Real Madrid, sometimes put their wingers on the “wrong” side of the field.
This is because it gives them a better chance to score by cutting inside against the defender’s weaker foot. But not all teams use wingers.
Some teams have been very successful without them. For example, in 1966, the England team won the World Cup without natural wingers.
They were so unusual at the time that people called them “The Wingless Wonders.” Another example is the Italian club Milan, which often plays without wingers, relying instead on their full-backs to provide width on the field. So, if you’re a beginner in soccer, trying out as a winger could be a good option.
It’s a position where you can use your speed and agility to make an impact on the game without needing too much experience.
3. Centre forward
In soccer, the position of center forward is often considered an ideal starting point for beginners due to its easy yet important role on the field.
A center forward’s primary task is to score goals, making them the focal point of attacking play for their team.
While scoring goals is the primary measure of a striker’s performance, they also contribute in different other ways to their team’s success.
Traditionally, center forwards were expected to be tall and physically strong, capable of winning aerial duels in the penalty area and scoring with their feet or heads. However, in the modern game, speed and movement are equally important.
Today’s center forwards need to be agile and quick, able to create space and capitalize on opportunities in a more dynamic attacking environment.
In formations like 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, the center forward often partners with a second striker, allowing for strategic interplay and support.
Alternatively, in defensive formations like 4-5-1, the center forward may play a lone role up front, focusing on holding the ball or counter-attacking when opportunities arise.
Modern tactics, such as the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations, have also developed the role of the center forward. In these setups, the center forward is actively involved in the build-up play, supported by wingers and attacking midfielders.
Short, quick passes and off-the-ball movement are emphasized to create goal-scoring opportunities. For beginners, the center-forward position offers a balance of offensive responsibility and strategic simplicity.
It helps players focus on fundamental skills like shooting, dribbling, and positioning while gradually adapting to the tactical aspects of the game.
Additionally, playing as a center forward provides opportunities for teamwork and collaboration, as forwards often work in teams with midfielders and wingers to create scoring chances.
Asking me, if the center forward position in soccer is well-suited for beginners, offering a clear role in the team’s attacking play while allowing for growth and development in both skills and tactics.
4. Attacking midfielder
One of the easy positions for beginners in soccer is the attacking midfielder. An attacking midfielder is a player positioned in an advanced midfield role, usually between central midfield and the team’s forwards.
They have a primarily offensive role, aiming to create goal-scoring opportunities for their team. Firstly, attacking midfielders are often divided into three roles based on their positioning along the field: left, right, and central attacking midfielders. The central attacking midfielder is sometimes referred to as a playmaker or number ten.
This player Is the offensive pivot of the team, responsible for creating chances and setting up goals, and the main job of an attacking midfielder is to use their superior vision, control, and technical skill to create scoring opportunities.
They need to be able to read the opposing defense to deliver accurate passes to their teammates. Also, attacking midfielders are typically quick, agile, and mobile players, which helps them beat opponents during dribbling runs.
Some attacking midfielders, known as trequartistas or fantasisti, possess exceptional touch, vision, and shooting ability. They are brilliant at orchestrating attacks and unlocking defenses with their creativity.
However, not all attacking midfielders play this role; some are more focused on supporting the strikers as auxiliary attackers.
In Brazil, the offensive playmaker is called the “meia atacante,” while in Argentina, it is known as the “enganche.”
These terms highlight the importance of this position in orchestrating attacking moves and dictating the tempo of the game.
For beginners, the attacking midfielder position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the team’s offense while developing essential skills.
With a focus on passing, dribbling, and understanding the game’s tactical aspects, beginners can thrive in this role and make a great impact on the field. The attacking midfielder position provides a great starting point for beginners.
5. Goalkeeper
For beginners, the goalkeeper position is often seen as the ideal position. The goalkeeper’s main job is to stop the other team from scoring.
They do this by catching, palming, or punching the ball away from shots, headers, and crosses. Unlike other players, goalkeepers stay close to their own goal, giving them a good view of the field.
This helps them guide their teammates in defense and during set pieces. One unique thing about goalkeepers is that they’re the only players allowed to handle the ball, but only within their penalty area.
Positioning is important for goalkeepers, as they need to be in the right place at the right time to make saves.
When you watch a soccer game, you’ll notice that goalkeepers wear a different colored kit from the rest of the team. This helps everyone easily identify them on the field.
Since the 1970s, goalkeepers have also worn specialized gloves. These gloves give them a better grip on the ball and protect their hands from hard shots.
Besides, the goalkeeper is the only required role in a soccer match. If a goalkeeper is unable to continue playing due to injury or being sent off a substitute goalkeeper takes their place. But if there’s no substitute goalkeeper available, an outfield player steps in and wears the goalkeeper’s shirt.
This happened in the 2023 NSWL Championship final when midfielder Nealy Martin had to step in for goalkeeper Mandy Haught, who received a red card. We’ve also watched Kyle Walker in the pole position for Manchester City.
