UGAAR Football Positions:
The Forwards (Red):
- Center Forward (CF): A center forward (main striker) has the key task of scoring goals and for this reason acts as the focal point of the majority of attacking play by a team. As such, how well a striker is performing tends to be measured purely on goals scored despite the fact that they may be contributing in other ways to a team's success. The center forward is often paired with a second striker who may play around him or in a slightly withdrawn role respectively, though it is not unknown to play two recognized center forwards.
- Second Striker (SS): The second strikers (withdrawn striker or support striker) tend not to be as tall or as physically imposing as a center forward. They are required to be more "nippy", quick, mobile, and skillful, helping to create goals and scoring opportunities for center forwards, utilizing spaces created in the opposition's defense to provide passes to the strikers, picking up loose balls around the area, or attempting to dribble with the ball and score themselves. The position itself is a loosely defined one, a player who lies somewhere between the out-and-out striker and the midfield, who can perform this role effectively due to their vision, technical skills, creativity, and passing ability.
- Winger (LW/RW): A winger (left winger and right winger) is an attacking player who is stationed in a wide position near the touchlines. They can be classified as forwards, considering their origin as the old outside forward who played out on the "wing" (i.e. side of the pitch). A winger's main attribute is usually speed which is used to attack and dribble past opponent's full-backs in order to get behind the defense and to then deliver crosses and passes into the center for their attackers. Occasionally, left and right footed wingers may swap sides of the field as a tactical move to enable the winger to cut inside against the opposing full-backs weaker foot, looking for a shooting opportunity or just as a means of opening up the defense.
- Center Midfielder (CM): Central midfielders provide a link between defense and attack, fulfilling a number of duties and operating primarily in the middle third of the pitch. They will support their team's attacking play and endeavor to win the ball back on defense. A central midfielder is often an important initiator of attacks and can be sometimes described as a "playmaker." They will also offer an additional line of defense when the team is under sustained attack and when defending set pieces. Central midfielders are always busy in a game and are often therefore sometimes described as the engine room of the team. Their central position enables them to have an all-round view of the match. A central midfielder is expected to have good vision, be adept at long and short passing and have great stamina because of the ground they cover in a game. The central midfielder shares some similarities to to a basketball center in that they also contest the ball-ups (similar to tip-offs). For this reason, the central midfielder is typically the tallest player on either team
- Wide Midfielder (LM/RM): A wide midfielder (left midfield and right midfield, or generally side midfielder) is a midfielder who is stationed to the left or right of central midfield. In general they need to be highly skilled, especially in kicking. Wingers also require considerable pace and stamina, as they run up and down the ground linking play between defense and attack. They will still support attacking play and sometimes be expected to act as a semi-winger.
- Defensive Midfielder (DM): A defensive midfielder (holding midfielder or midfield anchor) is a central midfielder who is stationed in front of the defenders to provide more defensive protection, thus "holding back" when the rest of the midfield supports the attack. The defensive midfielder screens the defense by harrying and tackling the opposition teams' attackers and defenders. They also help tactically, for instance, by directing opposing attacking players out to the wing where they have more limited influence, and by covering the positions of full-backs, other midfielders and even the center-backs if they charge up to support the attack. Although the duties of defensive midfielders are primarily defensive, some midfielders are deployed as deep-lying playmakers, due to their ability to dictate tempo from a deep position with their passing. Sometimes a defensive midfielder will be paired with a central midfielder who will act as the deep-lying playmaker. Whenever the central midfielder ventures forward the defensive midfielder will hold back. Defensive midfielders require good positional sense, work rate, tackling ability, and anticipation (of player and ball movement) to excel. They also need to possess good passing skills and close control to hold the ball in midfield under sustained pressure. Most importantly, defensive midfielders require great stamina as they are the outfield players who cover the greatest distance during a professional match.
- Attacking Midfielder (AM): An attacking midfielder is a midfield player who is positioned in an advanced midfield position, usually between central midfield and the team's forwards, and who has a primarily offensive role. According to positioning along the field, attacking midfield may be divided into left, right and central attacking midfield roles. These players typically serve as the offensive pivot of the team, as their main role is to create goal-scoring opportunities using superior vision, control, and technical skill. The attacking midfielder is an important position that requires the player to possess superior technical abilities in terms of passing and, perhaps more importantly, the ability to read the opposing defense in order to deliver defense-splitting passes to the strikers; in addition to their technical and creative ability, they are also usually quick, agile, and mobile players, which aids them in beating opponents during dribbling runs.
- Center-back (CB): The job of the center-back (CB) is to stop opposing players, particularly the strikers, from scoring, and to bring the ball out from their penalty area. Centre-backs are often tall, strong and have a good jumping, heading and tackling ability. Successful center-backs also need to be able to concentrate, read the game well, and be brave and decisive in making last-ditch tackles on attacking players who might otherwise be through on goal. Sometimes, center-backs concentrate less on ball control and passing, preferring simply to clear the ball in a "safety-first" fashion.
- Sweeper (SW): The sweeper is a more versatile type of center-back that, as the name suggests, "sweeps up" the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive line. Their position is rather more fluid than other defenders who mark their designated opponents. The sweeper's ability to read the game is even more vital than for a center-back as they are responsible for organizing the defense and is the key defender in front of goals. They are usually one of the taller and stronger players on the team.
- Full-back (LB/RB): The left-back and the right-back (generally referred to as the full-backs) are the defenders stationed either side of the center-backs to provide protection from attacking wide players. They often have to defend against the opponent's wingers, who will try to take the ball past them down the flanks in order to cross or pass into the penalty area to their attackers. The positions require the players having decent speed over short bursts and good hand eye co-ordination. Full-backs usually do not go up to support the attack but may move up as far as the halfway line depending on the defensive line being held. Endurance and strength are unnecessary, although agility is required.