# Basic Positions · Football Level 1: Beginner

Football · Level 1: Beginner · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-1/basic-positions/)

Basic Positions in Football (Level 1: Beginner) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: position definitions; and more.

Introduction to goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. What each role does in simple terms: the goalkeeper stops goals; strikers score them.

## Test 1: Position definitions

- The goalkeeper is the unique position whose job is to stop goals and is the only player allowed to legally use the hands — but only inside their own penalty area.
- Defenders are the players positioned closest to their own goal whose primary task is to block opposing attacks.
- Midfielders link defence and attack, contributing to both phases of play. They control the centre of the pitch.
- Forwards — also called strikers or attackers — play closest to the opponent's goal. Their primary job is to score and to assist scoring.
- Centre-backs (CBs) are the central defenders. They typically focus on blocking shots, winning headers, and organising the defence.
- Full-backs (left-back and right-back) are wide defenders, responsible for the flanks of the defence and often supporting attack down the wings.
- A winger plays wide and high, near the touchline (C). A plays in the middle of the back line, B just in front of it and D through the centre of the attack.
- A striker is the most advanced attacker, focused primarily on scoring goals from inside or just outside the penalty area.
- The captains represent their teams at the coin toss; the winner chooses which goal to attack in the first half and the other team takes the kick-off.
- A substitute may enter only after the player being replaced has left, and only with the referee's permission, which is signalled with the board.

## Test 2: Numbers and typical positions

- Each team has exactly one goalkeeper on the pitch at all times. Without one, an outfield player must take the role.
- The first number in a formation always indicates defenders. In 4-4-2, that is 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards (the goalkeeper is not counted).
- Formations are counted from the back without the goalkeeper: four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards make 4-3-3.
- The middle number in a formation indicates midfielders. In 3-5-2 that is 5 midfielders, often including two wing-backs.
- All formations describe 10 outfield players. Adding the goalkeeper makes 11 — the standard team size.
- A back four is usually composed of two centre-backs in the middle and two full-backs (left-back and right-back) on the flanks.
- In a back four, two centre-backs play in the middle of the defensive line, between the two full-backs.
- Only one player at a time wears the armband. When the captain leaves, a team-mate on the pitch takes it over.
- Each team has 10 outfield players plus 1 goalkeeper, totalling 11 players on the pitch.
- Substitutes were not allowed at first; one was approved in 1958, three became the norm in the mid-1990s and five became standard in the 2020s.

## Test 3: Who does what — primary roles

- A save is where the goalkeeper's job starts: once the ball is safe, the keeper often starts the next attack with a quick throw.
- Centre-backs are the central defensive anchors. They block shots, win aerial duels, intercept through balls, and lead the defence.
- Modern full-backs combine wide defending with attacking runs along the touchline, often crossing the ball or overlapping with wingers.
- Central midfielders bridge defence and attack. They distribute the ball, recover possession, and dictate the tempo of the match.
- Wingers exploit the wide areas. Their job is to take on full-backs in 1v1s, send crosses into the box, or cut inside to shoot.
- The centre-forward's job is to finish chances. They lead the attack and operate primarily in the opponent's penalty area.
- The captain leads on the pitch and is the official link to the referee. They have no special legal powers but bear leadership responsibility.
- Substitutes wait on the bench or warm up until the coach calls them; they come on only when the board has gone up and the player being replaced has left.
- A defensive midfielder sits just in front of the back line (A) to break up attacks before they reach the defenders.
- The attacking midfielder operates in the space between midfield and attack. They link play, create chances with through balls, and take long-range shots.

## Test 4: Allowed and forbidden by position

- The goalkeeper may handle the ball only within their own penalty area. Outside it, they are treated like an outfield player.
- There is no restriction on which positions can score. Defenders frequently score from corners and free kicks.
- No rule keeps the goalkeeper in the penalty area: a keeper may go anywhere on the pitch, and often goes up for a late corner.
- There is no positional restriction in football. Forwards routinely drop back to help defend set pieces or press the opponent.
- A substitute who has entered the match becomes a full player and can later be substituted off, like any starter.
- The captain represents the team but has no power to change the referee's decisions. The referee is the sole authority.
- There are no positional restrictions in football. Players regularly switch positions during the flow of play or by tactical instruction.
- A player may change places with the goalkeeper, but only at a stoppage and after the referee has been informed.
- Team staff may come onto the pitch only when the referee allows it, for example to treat an injured player, who then usually has to leave the field before play restarts.
- There are no spatial restrictions. Inverted wingers (left-footers on the right, right-footers on the left) routinely cut in to shoot.

## Test 5: Consequences when a position is missing

- Every team must have a goalkeeper at all times. If no GK substitute is available, an outfield player must take over and wear the GK shirt.
- Football requires at least 7 players per team to continue. Below this number, the match is abandoned and the result decided by competition rules.
- A back three is narrow, so it is usually paired with wing-backs, who run the whole flank and drop back to defend.
- When the captain leaves the pitch, another player on the pitch takes the armband. This is often the vice-captain.
- When chasing the game, coaches often add forwards or attacking midfielders. They may even replace defenders to shift to a more attacking shape.
- Deliberate handling that prevents a clear goal-scoring opportunity is a sending-off offence (DOGSO), as well as resulting in a free kick or penalty.
- Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) by foul play is punished with a red card, in addition to the free kick or penalty.
- An extra person on the pitch must be removed; the referee can caution the player or send off the team official responsible before play restarts.
- Handling outside the penalty area is a direct-free-kick offence. If it denies a goal-scoring opportunity, it is also a red card.
- Stopping a promising attack with a foul is a cautionable offence: the referee stops play, shows the yellow card and restarts with a free kick.

## Test 6: Historical facts about positions

- The pyramid dominated the 1880s, the W-M spread after the 1925 offside change, the 4-2-4 won the 1958 World Cup and Total Football belongs to the 1970s.
- Brazil used the 4-2-4 to win the 1958 World Cup, ushering in modern back-four defending. This format reshaped post-war football tactics.
- Goalkeepers first gained the right to handle, lost it outside the penalty area in 1912, and since 1992 may not pick up a deliberate kick back from a team-mate.
- Rinus Michels developed Total Football with Ajax and the Netherlands national team in the 1970s. It influenced generations of attacking football.
- The libero is a free defender who plays behind the central defenders (C), sweeping up anything that gets past them.
- Pep Guardiola's Barcelona (2008–2012) used a 4-3-3 with deep playmakers like Xavi and Busquets to dominate possession — and won two Champions Leagues.
- Originally any player could handle the ball. The dedicated goalkeeper role with restricted handling rights only emerged in the late 1800s.
- While early 'false 9' play existed in the 1930s and 1950s, Pep Guardiola's use of Lionel Messi in this role from 2009 onwards revived the term in modern football.
- Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning side was built around Andrea Pirlo as a deep-lying playmaker in a 4-3-1-2 / 4-4-1-1 hybrid, with a strong defensive backbone.
- FIFA first approved substitutions in 1958, initially only one per match (typically for the goalkeeper). The number increased over decades to 5 today.

## Test 7: Exceptions and rare positions

- A sweeper-keeper plays high up the pitch and clears balls played in behind the defence.
- Wing-backs combine the duties of full-back and winger, playing very wide. They are common in 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formations.
- Trequartista is the Italian term for a creative number 10 — a playmaker operating between the lines of midfield and attack.
- Regista is the Italian for a deep playmaker. Famous examples include Andrea Pirlo and Xabi Alonso.
- An inverted full-back tucks into midfield when the team has the ball, then goes back to the flank to defend once the ball is lost.
- A second striker (or 'support striker') operates between the lines, just behind the main centre-forward, mixing scoring with playmaking.
- A goalkeeper chasing a late equaliser can join the attack for a set piece, then must hurry back to guard the goal.
- While most competitions require a number of substitutes, the Laws themselves only require the 11 starters. Some lower-level matches are played without substitutes.
- Only one captain at a time. If the captain leaves the pitch, the armband passes to another player on the pitch.
- A shadow striker plays just behind the centre-forward, exploiting space between defenders and midfielders. The role is similar to a second striker or attacking midfielder.

## Test 8: Comparisons between positions

- Centre-backs are central defenders; full-backs are wide defenders. In a back four there are typically two of each.
- The defensive midfielder sits in front of the defence, the central midfielder links the lines and the attacking midfielder plays close to the strikers.
- Wingers and full-backs both operate in wide areas, but wingers are attackers while full-backs are defenders. Both often combine on the same flank.
- Strikers are central forwards focused on scoring; wingers are wide attackers who deliver crosses and beat full-backs.
- The unique handling right inside the penalty area defines the goalkeeper position. They also wear a different jersey for identification.
- The last number is the forwards: one in a 4-5-1, two in a 4-4-2 and three in a 4-3-3.
- The picture shows a back three: three central defenders, with wide players further up on each flank.
- Following IFAB trials, concussion substitutes (additional to the normal 5) may be brought on after a suspected concussion — protecting player safety.
- Football's 11-a-side format allows highly specialised positions (centre-backs, wing-backs, defensive midfielders, wingers, etc.). Basketball's 5 positions are more general.
- The captain has no extra in-game powers, but is the official link with the referee. The goalkeeper has unique handling rights but no special authority.

## Test 9: Mini scenarios

- The goalkeeper may handle the ball anywhere inside their own penalty area. As long as the ball is released before crossing the line, no offence has occurred.
- No rule limits who may score. Tall defenders often score from corners.
- A sent-off player is not replaced. The team must continue with one player fewer for the rest of the match.
- Players may swap positions freely without notifying the referee. Only changes involving the goalkeeper require the referee's permission at a stoppage.
- When the captain leaves the pitch, another player on the pitch, often the vice-captain, takes the armband.
- Swapping a defender for an attacker is a classic late move when chasing a game: more attacking threat, less defensive cover.
- Substitutes can only enter the pitch with the referee's permission, usually via the fourth official at a stoppage. Unauthorised entry is unsporting behaviour.
- The goalkeeper's handling rights apply only inside their own penalty area. Outside it, deliberate handling is a direct-free-kick offence.
- A change of goalkeeper between players already on the pitch is allowed at a stoppage with the referee's permission. The new GK must wear a distinguishing shirt.
- Formations are tactical choices, not rules. A team may change shape at any time and as often as the coach decides.

## Test 10: Mixed review

- Only the goalkeeper may legally handle the ball — and only inside their own penalty area.
- The middle number of a formation counts the midfielders: three in a 4-3-3, four in a 4-4-2 and five in a 3-5-2.
- Defenders form the line nearest to their own goal, with the goalkeeper directly behind them.
- The defensive midfielder sits in front of the defence, the attacking midfielder plays behind the forwards and the striker is furthest forward.
- The captain wears the armband and is the team's official voice when communicating with the referee.
- 5 substitutions per team has become standard in most major competitions following the COVID-19 era. Some competitions still allow only 3.
- Wingers are wide forwards who use the touchline space to dribble, cross, and cut inside.
- The defensive midfielder sits in front of the back line, intercepting passes and tackling to protect the defenders.
- Positions are tactical guidelines set by the coach. Players may move anywhere on the pitch during play.
- A back four, two in midfield and four up front: the 4-2-4 that Brazil used to win the 1958 World Cup.

Sources: 

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