Fundamentals of Football
Senior 1 · Physical Education
Fundamentals of Football
Lesson 3 of 4
20 min
Watch young children play football and all twenty-two players chase the ball in one crowd. Watch a good team and the players are spread out, each covering an area and doing a job. That spread is created by positions. Knowing the positions lets you understand your coach's instructions, choose the role that suits you, and see where the empty space is.
A team has 11 players: one goalkeeper and ten outfield players, who are defenders, midfielders or forwards.
| Position | Main job | Useful qualities |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper (GK) | Stops shots, catches crosses and organises the defence. The only player allowed to handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area. Wears a different colour from everyone else. | Courage, safe hands, quick reactions, a loud voice |
| Centre-backs (CB) | Usually two, in front of the goalkeeper. Block attackers, win headers and clear danger. | Strength, heading, reading the game, calm under pressure |
| Full-backs (LB, RB) | Defend the sides of the pitch, and run forward on the wings to support attacks. | Speed, endurance, tackling, crossing |
| Central midfielders (CM) | Link defence to attack; win the ball back and pass it forward. A defensive midfielder sits just in front of the defenders. | Passing, vision, endurance, tackling |
| Wide midfielders or wingers (LM, RM) | Attack down the sides, dribble past full-backs and cross the ball; track back to defend. | Speed, dribbling, crossing, endurance |
| Forwards or strikers (ST) | Score goals, hold the ball up for teammates, and press defenders when the team loses the ball. | Finishing, movement, strength, composure |
A formation describes how the outfield players are arranged, counting from defence to attack. The goalkeeper is never counted. In the 4-4-2 below there are 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards: 4 + 4 + 2 = 10 outfield players, plus the goalkeeper.
"Left" and "right" always mean the players' own left and right when they face the goal they are attacking.
Positions are home areas, not cages. When your team has the ball, defenders move up and wide to give passing options. When it loses the ball, forwards and midfielders help to win it back. A good player knows the job for both moments.
A coach writes three formations on the board: 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1.
Step 1: check the total. 4 + 4 + 2 = 10; 4 + 3 + 3 = 10; 4 + 5 + 1 = 10. Each gives 10 outfield players, and with the goalkeeper, 11.
Step 2: compare. Moving from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 moves one forward back into midfield. The team gains a midfielder, so it is harder to pass through in the middle, but its lone striker is often outnumbered by two centre-backs. It is a more defensive shape.
Step 3: moving to 4-3-3 takes one player out of midfield and adds a forward: a more attacking shape, but with fewer players to protect the middle.
So a coach who is protecting a 1–0 lead with ten minutes left is more likely to switch from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 than to 4-3-3.
Tip
Formation hook: the numbers read from your own goal outwards, defenders, midfielders, forwards, and always add up to 10. The goalkeeper is the "eleventh" who is never written.
Which player may handle the ball, and where?
Solution. The goalkeeper, inside their own penalty area only.
In a 4-3-3, how many midfielders are there, and how many players are on the pitch for one team?
Solution. 3 midfielders; 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 outfield players plus the goalkeeper = 11.
Mukamana is fast, can run all game and loves to cross the ball, but also likes to tackle. Suggest a position.
Solution. Full-back (or wing-back): she defends the side of the pitch and runs forward to cross.
A team plays 4-4-2. Its right-back is injured and cannot be replaced, and it moves a midfielder into the back line. What is the new formation?
Solution. 4-3-2: still 4 defenders, now 3 midfielders and 2 forwards, which makes 9 outfield players plus the goalkeeper.
Why should defenders move up and wide when their team has the ball?
Solution. To give the player on the ball passing options and to stretch the opponents, so that gaps open for the attack.
Remember
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
