Football / Soccer positions explained
What each position does, and — where the sport restricts it — where that player is allowed to go. Taken from the same rules reference built into the Squaddie app.
How many positions are there in football / soccer?
Football positions are roles rather than fixed zones — unlike netball, no player is restricted to part of the pitch. Which of these exist in your team depends on the formation you play, and in junior grades most children are better off rotating through several.
The 9 football / soccer positions
| Position | Role | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper (GK) | The last line of defence and the first attacker. Protects the goal, stops shots, organises defenders, and starts attacks. Must be comfortable playing with their feet. | Keeper |
| Centre Back (CB) | The organiser of the defence. Stops attackers, wins aerial battles, makes clearances, marks opposition forwards, and starts attacking play. | Defence |
| Full Back (LB/RB) | Defends wide areas and supports attack. Defends against wingers, provides width in attack, supports midfield, and delivers crosses. | Defence |
| Defensive Midfielder (CDM) | The shield in front of the defence. Wins the ball, protects defenders, breaks up attacks, and keeps possession. | Midfield |
| Central Midfielder (CM) | Controls the rhythm of the game. Connects defence and attack, creates passing options, and supports both areas. | Midfield |
| Attacking Midfielder (CAM) | Creates chances near goal. Plays final passes, creates scoring chances, and supports attackers. | Midfield |
| Winger (LW/RW) | Attacks from wide areas. Beats defenders, creates crosses, cuts inside to shoot, and tracks back defensively. | Attack |
| Striker (ST / CF) | The main goal scorer. Finishes chances, holds up the ball, creates space, and leads the attack. | Attack |
| Second Striker | Plays alongside or behind the main striker. Supports the striker, finds attacking spaces, and creates chances. | Attack |
Grouped by role
Keeper
- Goalkeeper (GK)
Defence
- Centre Back (CB)
- Full Back (LB/RB)
Midfield
- Defensive Midfielder (CDM)
- Central Midfielder (CM)
- Attacking Midfielder (CAM)
Attack
- Winger (LW/RW)
- Striker (ST / CF)
- Second Striker
Should junior players stick to one position?
The practical exception is goalkeeper in the sports that have one, where some children genuinely want the role and are happy in it. Even then it is worth checking in, because a fixed keeper has a very different experience of a season from everyone else.
Rotating positions and rotating playing time are separate problems, and it helps to treat them separately — see how to plan player rotations for the mechanics, and fair playing time for the policy behind it.
Where these come from
Based on the FIFA Laws of the Game, with junior modifications used by NZ Football and Football Australia.
Governing bodies: New Zealand Football · Football Australia · FIFA
Last reviewed: September 2026. Junior formats vary by region and are revised between seasons — your competition handbook takes precedence over anything here. The full football / soccer rules reference has formats, scoring, fouls and timings.
Football / Soccer rules
Formats, positions, timing and the junior variations, with the governing bodies they come from.
Football lineup generator
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Football / Soccer team management app
How Squaddie handles lineups, rotations and playing time for football / soccer teams.
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