Understanding Football Positions for Kids: A Parent and Coach's Guide 2025

Picture this: Your 7-year-old just joined their first football team, and they're asking you which position they should play. You're not alone! Every year, millions of parents and young players face this exact question. As a youth football coach who's helped hundreds of kids find their perfect spot on the pitch, I've learned that understanding positions is like putting together a puzzle – each piece has its special place and purpose. Today, I'll break down football positions in a way that both kids and parents can easily understand.

Did you know that many professional football players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, started in completely different positions when they were kids? Ronaldo began as a midfielder before becoming one of the world's best forwards! This just shows that where a child starts isn't necessarily where they'll end up, and that's perfectly okay.

Basic Football Formations

Think of a football pitch like a sandwich – it has three main layers! We have the defensive third (the back), the middle third (the middle), and the attacking third (the front).

In a typical 11v11 game, you'll usually see formations described with numbers like 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. These numbers tell us how many players are in each layer of our sandwich, starting from the back (not counting the goalkeeper). For example, in a 4-4-2, you have four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards.

But here's something really important for parents to know – younger kids often play smaller-sided games. U8 might play 4v4 with no specific positions, U10 might play 7v7, and U12 might play 9v9. This is actually fantastic because it gives kids more touches on the ball and helps them learn multiple positions naturally.

Goalkeeper: The Last Defender and First Attacker

The goalkeeper (or goalie) is like the superhero of the team – they're the only player who can use their hands to stop the ball! But there's so much more to being a keeper than just stopping shots. Modern goalkeepers are like the quarterbacks of football teams.

I remember coaching with a young goalkeeper named Sarah who was initially scared to dive for the ball. We started with simple activities where she had to catch a rolling ball. I included points to help make it fun! Overtime her confidence gradually grew. Within weeks, she was diving around like a superhero! This taught me that introducing goalkeeper skills should be fun and progressive.

Key goalkeeper responsibilities include:

• Stopping shots (obviously!)

• Starting attacks with good throws and kicks

• Communicating with outfield players

For young players under 10, I usually recommend rotating the goalkeeper position among all players who want to try it. This helps develop well-rounded players and might uncover hidden talents!

Defenders: The Counter Attackers!

Defenders are like the team's security guards – they protect the goal and help start attacks. In youth football, we typically have centre-backs (who stay in the middle) and fullbacks (who play on the sides).

One of my favourite practices for coaching defending is the "1v1+2" game mentioned in my other blog post 'Age-Specific Football Drills: Unlocking Your Players' Potential at Every Stage' Here players have to stop goals but also on winning the ball try to initiate an attack. It's amazing how quickly kids grasp this concept when you make it into a fun game!

Key defending tips for kids:

• Stay between your attacker and the goal

• Keep your eyes on the ball

• Choose the best time to pinch the ball

• Work together with other defenders

Remember, great defenders aren't just about stopping the other team – they're also crucial in starting attacks. Just look at Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, who started as a midfielder before becoming one of the world's best attacking fullbacks!

Midfielders: The Connection Makers

Midfielders, think of them as the bridges between defenders and forwards. They need good stamina because they're always moving!

I love using the "Pizza Delivery" analogy with kids: midfielders are like pizza delivery drivers, connecting the kitchen (defenders) with the hungry customers (forwards). Their job is to get the ball (the pizza) safely from one place to another!

There are different types of midfielders:

• Defensive midfielders: They help protect the defenders

• Attacking midfielders: They help create scoring chances

• Wide midfielders: They play near the sidelines to start and stop attacks in wide areas

The key to coaching midfield play is emphasising the importance of looking. Looking for your own players, the opposition and space. Challenge players to look for these things before receiving the ball, their decisions will greatly improve!

Forwards: First Defender, Last Attacker

Forwards are the team's goal-scoring specialists, but that doesn't mean they just wait around for the ball! Modern forwards need to help defend and create chances for their teammates too.

I once coached a young forward who only wanted to score goals (Who doesn't!). We worked on helping him understand that great forwards are also great defenders. By the end of the season, he was just as excited about winning the ball as he knew it allowed him to score more goals!

Essential tips for young forwards:

• Always be moving to find open spaces

• Learn to shoot with both feet

• Help your team by pressuring defenders

• Don't get discouraged if you don't score – great forwards often help create goals for others

How to Help Kids Choose Their Position

The most important thing to remember is that young players should try multiple positions. I always rotate positions in games, and you'd be surprised how often kids excel in positions they never thought they'd like!

Whilst coaching an adult team in a competitive setting, I saw so many young players trial for the team who could only play one position. One young player came to a trial as a forward, they had played there since they were 8 years old. Scored a lot of goals and used their physicality whilst doing so. Sadly, they did not develop skills in other positions such as receiving the ball with pressure from in front, or using his left foot. At 18 years old they had become a player who was effective at being physical, which became less effective now as players around him had also fully matured.

Here's my general age guide for positions:

• Under 8: No fixed positions – let them roam and explore

• 8-10: Basic understanding of different positions, but still rotate

• 10-12: Start identifying preferred positions, but continue rotating

• 12-16: Focus on around 4 positions

• 16+: Specialise in 2/3 positions

Common Position-Related Questions from Kids

Over the years, I've heard tons of great questions from young players. Here are the most common ones:

"Can I change positions?" Absolutely! Many pros played different positions as kids. It's all part of learning the game.

"Do I have to stay in one spot?" No! Football is a fluid game. While each position has a main area, players move around to help their team.

"What if I make a mistake in my position?" Mistakes are how we learn! Even professional players make mistakes. The important thing is to keep trying and learning.

The Big Picture: Making Football Fun for Everyone

Here's what I've learned after years of coaching youth football: the position a child plays matters far less than whether they're having fun and learning. Some of my most successful players were ones who tried every position before finding their perfect fit.

Remember, football isn't just about scoring goals or making saves – it's about developing confidence, teamwork, and a love for the game. Whether your child dreams of being the next great goalkeeper or just wants to have fun with their friends, the most important thing is supporting their journey.