When you’re just starting out in the beautiful game, you will have to think carefully about the position in soccer you wish to play.
From preventing goals to scoring them, specializing in one position is important. With this in mind, we explore – what is the easiest position in soccer to play? Let’s find out.
Which position on the soccer field is easiest to play?
Every position in soccer is unique, making it difficult to generalize about which is the easiest. That being said, many people who are just starting the game opt to play as an attacker (or forward), as it’s typically seen as the most enjoyable position! However, we would suggest that you think about the skills you currently have and pick a position that suits your current attributes. We explain each of the positions in soccer you can choose in detail below.
Positions in soccer for beginners
When you’re learning how to play soccer for the first time, one of your most important decisions is which decision you’re going to play. Granted, some players are capable of playing in multiple positions, owing to their adaptability.
Still, it’s a good idea to choose a position to specialize in at the start, as you can start developing the required skills and techniques to excel in the required role. To help you get started, we explain the four primary positions in soccer below and help you decide which is best suited to your current skills and attributes.
Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper is the most specialist position in soccer. Often, people mistakenly think that it’s the easiest, but when you stand between the goalposts, you quickly realize that preventing your opponents from scoring is anything but straightforward!
First and foremost, a goalkeeper’s job is to stop the ball from flying into the goal. They’re the only players on the pitch who are allowed to use their hands, meaning that hand-eye coordination is particularly important when considering the required skills and traits of a keeper.
Equally, goalkeepers need to be competent with their feet, as they have to distribute the ball and are often responsible for starting attacks from their box. If you’re just starting out in soccer, you might be suitable for the position of goalkeeper if you have experience in American football.
After all, handling the ball and being flexible are both attributes that goalkeepers can undoubtedly benefit from. One other thing to note about playing in goal is that your mistakes are often extremely costly to the team! One ball that slips through your fingers and into the net results in a goal, which isn’t the case if a midfielder or attacker gives the ball away.
So, before trying out as a goalkeeper, make sure you understand the position well and that you’re good with your hands. If you fit the bill, you can try your luck between the sticks.
Defender
Historically, the role of the defender was extremely easy to define. The position has always been well suited to players who are strong, well-built, and competitive, given a defender’s need to win the ball back for their teammates and prevent attacks from occurring.
But in modern times, the role of a defender has become a little more complex. Full backs, in particular, are often slight and extremely fast, contributing as much to attacks as they do to defending. Many famous teams in the present day – just look at EPL champions Manchester City – utilize fullbacks as one of their primary sources of attack.
In other words, different types of players can succeed as defenders. Tall and strong players are naturally well suited to playing in the center of defense, while smaller and speedier players are ideal for playing in wide areas.
As such, if you like the idea of helping your team keep a clean sheet during your time out on the field, then trying out as a defender is a good idea for you.
Midfielder
The position of midfielder is probably the most challenging to refer to as a single entity. After all, there are so many roles within the midfield. You can play as a defensive, attacking, or wide midfielder, holding a wide range of roles from false number nine to anchorman.
However, one attribute that most midfielders have in abundance is fitness and the ability to get up and down the pitch for the duration of the game. This is because midfielders play a crucial role in both attacking and defending, and they’re required to link the defenders and attackers.
Coaches often employ midfielders in their teams with vastly different styles and techniques, as they complement one another when playing together. A great example of this is to turn to Chelsea. The manager often uses N’Golo Kante (one of the best defensive midfielders in the world) alongside Mason Mount (an attacking midfielder) to great effect.
The beauty of playing in midfield is that you have so many positions open to you. If you can specialize as a midfielder, you will find that your coach might deploy you in numerous positions, which means you’re less likely to be benched!
Attacker
Last but not least is perhaps the most enjoyed position on the field – the attacker. Often referred to as forwards, attackers are responsible more so than anyone else in the team for putting the ball in the back of the net.
To be an effective attacker, you should have an eye for goal and composure, ensuring that when an opportunity arises, you have the confidence and assuredness to slot the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper and into the net.
But of course, there are different types of strikers, from small and pacy forwards like Christian Pulisic to rangy and strong target men like Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Just like playing in defense or midfield, playing in attack is suitable for many different types of players.
So, if you like the idea of being one of your team’s most trusted goal-getters, it’s definitely worth trying out for the position of an attacker in soccer.
Can you play multiple positions in soccer?
Yes, you absolutely can play multiple positions in soccer. Realistically in the amateur game, squads aren’t overly big, meaning lots of players are required to play in more than one position when the need arises.
Therefore, if you’re versatile and adaptable to other positions on the field, it’s much more likely that the coach will pick you in the starting eleven. If you’re confined to only one position, you may have to settle for the bench if your competitor is outperforming you.
This being said, we wouldn’t worry too much about trying to master more than one position at the start of your soccer career. Instead, focus on the skills and attributes needed for one position in soccer and do your best to become an accomplished player.
Should you train with your position in mind?
To succeed in different positions on the soccer field, you require different skills and attributes, as mentioned above. As such, when you’re training, it’s important to work on the aspects of your game that are suited to your position.
For instance, it’s beneficial for attackers to work on their shooting, while defenders should focus on tackling and positioning. Typically, midfielders do a bit of everything, while goalkeepers mainly work on handling and distribution.
If you’re coaching yourself, developing drills that are well suited to your chosen position is a good place to begin, but if you’re part of a team, your coach will take care of this for you.
Recap: What is the easiest position in soccer for beginners?
In summary, it’s difficult to say which is the easiest position in soccer, as it largely depends on your skills and attributes. As we’ve explained above, you will need to begin by working out which position you’re well suited to before practicing and refining your technique.
As you become more experienced, you can always switch positions in the future or even become competent in more than one situation on the field.
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