エピソード

  • S1E3 Soccer Positions Explained: A Guide to Every Player on the Field

    S1E3 Soccer Positions Explained: A Guide to Every Player on the Field
    2026/03/26
    On this episode of Soccer Explained, we broke down the three main position groups on a soccer team, how formations work, and the numbering system people use to talk about players. This post gives you the information in the episode, but the episode itself has a lot more color, stories, and our Pitch Side segment where we share something that caught our eye in the soccer world recently. Give it a listen! The Starting XI: 11 Players, Three Groups Every soccer team puts 11 starting players on the field, called the “starting XI.” Yes, it’s always Roman numerals. One of those is the goalkeeper, whose job you can probably guess: keep the ball out of the net. The other 10 players are divided into three groups: defenders, midfielders, and forwards. How many players go in each group is entirely up to the coach. The only hard rule is there must be eleven players, one of whom is a keeper. Coaches get creative with the strategy of who goes in the starting XI and what role they play. Defenders, a.k.a. “Backs” You’ll basically always have at least a right back and a left back, with one or more center backs in between. Center backs are typically the big brick-wall types on the team, trying to menace the other team’s offense. Backs play closest to the goalkeeper, and the overwhelming majority of the time their job is exactly what you’d expect: defense. You might also hear the entire defensive group, minus the keeper, called the “back line.” Midfielders, a.k.a. “Mids” Midfielders play, predictably, in the middle of the field. And yes, you’ll hear people shorten “midfielder” to just “mid.” (Gen Z readers, this is not an insult). Midfielders have the most varied roles. Their job depends heavily on team strategy. A midfielder can be primarily defensive, primarily offensive, or a mix. Center midfielders generally hold down the very center of play, flanked by right and left “wingers.” There can also be “defensive midfielders” playing slightly ahead of the backs, and “Attacking midfielders” who will often appear to be forwards. You will also hear the acronyms “CDM” and “CAM,” which stand for “central defensive midfielder” and “central attacking midfielder” respectively. Forwards, a.k.a. "Strikers" Forwards, or strikers, are your primary goal scorers, and they play closest to the opposing team’s goal. Along with attacking midfielders, they’re the ones putting the ball in the net or delivering assists (assists in soccer are the same as in basketball/hockey: passing to the player who scores). Because gameplay in soccer is so fluid, any player can score, but it’s usually the forwards and attacking midfielders who do. Formations: What Those Three Numbers Mean When you hear a commentator or read that a team is playing a “4-4-2,” that’s called a formation. The three numbers tell you how the ten outfield players (everyone but the keeper) are arranged: defense, midfield, and forwards. So 4-4-2 means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. A 3-5-2 formation means three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. The numbers always add up to 10 because the goalkeeper is assumed and not included in the formation. Formations describe a team’s general strategy and where players start on the field, but there’s a lot of movement. Players don’t rigidly stick to their spots. As we put it on the show: imagine how fluid positions are in basketball or hockey, then multiply it by a playing field four times the size with double the number of players. That gives you a sense of the fluidity of soccer positions. The Position Numbering System If you follow baseball, you’re familiar with a system of numbering the players’ positions. Soccer has its own version of this, but with important caveats. Each position is traditionally assigned a number from 1 to 11, and commentators or analysts refer to them all the time. The catch is these numbers are based on formations that were popular in old-school British football, so they don’t necessarily match what’s happening on the field today. But they’re still how people reference positions, so knowing them helps you follow along. Here’s the traditional breakdown: #1 – Goalkeeper #2 & #3 – Right Back & Left Back #4 & #5 – Center Backs #6 – Defensive Midfielder #7 – Right Winger #8 – Center Midfielder #9 – Striker #10 – Attacking Midfielder #11 – Left Winger A team’s number 1 is always their goal keeper, even today. And numbers 2 and 3 are always the right and left back. But things can get muddled from there. And you may have noticed 7, 8, and 11 are the three players traditionally across the center of the midfield. It doesn’t make sequential sense, but that’s tradition for you. The Romantic Number 10 The number 10 holds a special place in soccer culture. Number 10s are the creative playmakers. The ones who score goals, rack up assists, and make something out of nothing. Many of the most ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    18 分
  • Understanding the Soccer Pitch: Dimensions, Lines, and Key Areas Explained

    Understanding the Soccer Pitch: Dimensions, Lines, and Key Areas Explained
    2026/03/19
    - For a labeled diagram of a soccer pitch, click: Soccer Explained Labeled Pitch Diagram.png Introduction The soccer field, officially called a pitch, contains a lot of structure that helps organize and direct game play. In the first regular episode of our new soccer podcast, we help casual viewers and people curious about soccer understand the layout of the markings, areas, and equipment on the pitch to make watching soccer much easier and more enjoyable. This guide summarizes the points we talked about in the episode to explain the dimensions of a soccer pitch and its most important lines, boxes, and other features. The Shape and Size of a Soccer Pitch A soccer pitch is rectangular, but its exact size can vary widely depending on the league or competition. For international matches and Major League Soccer (the top soccer league in the US), the field has to be between 110 and 120 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide. That makes it roughly the same length as an American football field including the end zones. But soccer pitches are noticeably wider; football fields are only about 53 yards across. A commonly recommended soccer pitch standard is 115 yards long and 74 yards wide (for a run of jokes about how soccer pitches change size, see this clip from Ted Lasso). Boundary Lines and the Halfway Line The long sides of the pitch are called touchlines, while the short ends are known as goal lines (often informally called end lines). Dividing the pitch into two equal halves is the halfway line. You may also hear it referred to as the midline or center line. Americans sometimes mistakenly call it the midfield line, or even the 50, like the equivalent line on a football field. Don’t do that! The Center Circle and Kickoff Spot In the middle of the pitch is the center circle, which has a diameter of 20 yards. At the exact center of that circle is the center spot (officially called the center mark, but you won’t hear that as often). The center spot is where kickoffs happen. Goals and the Goal Frame At each end of the pitch sits the goal. It’s 8 feet high and 24 feet wide. The vertical sides of the frame are called posts, and the horizontal bar connecting them is the crossbar. The posts and crossbar sit directly on the goal line, so if a shot misses the frame, the ball is almost always out of bounds. Together, the posts and crossbar are sometimes referred to as the “woodwork,” a relic from the time when goals were actually made of wood (now they’re metal). You will often hear commentators talk about “front” and “back” posts. These are relative terms referring to their distance from the player in possession of the ball. The post nearer to the ball is the “front” post, and the far post is “back.” The Penalty Area and the Goal Area In front of each goal is a large rectangle called the penalty area. There are many alternative names for this area: the 18‑yard box, the penalty box, or simply “the area” or “the box.” It extends 18 yards from the goal line and spans 44 yards across. Inside it is a smaller rectangle called the goal area, or six‑yard box, which is 6 yards deep and 20 yards wide. The Penalty Spot and the ‘D’ Twelve yards from the goal line and centered between the posts is the penalty spot, often simply called “the spot.” Like the center spot, its technical name is the penalty mark, but you won’t hear that very often. This is where penalty kicks are taken after certain fouls. Just outside the penalty area is a curved marking called the penalty arc, often nicknamed the “D.” Its purpose is to ensure that players remain at least ten yards away from the spot when a penalty kick is taken, similar to the function of the free throw lines in basketball. Corner Flags and Corner Arcs Each corner of the pitch has a flag and a small arc drawn one yard from the flag, connecting the touchline and goal line to form a quarter circle. This arc marks the area where the ball must be placed for a corner kick. The Technical Area Outside the field of play are two technical areas. These contain the benches where coaches, substitute players, and staff sit during the match. The area must be positioned at least one yard away from the touchline, but it’s typically much farther back. Why Learning the Pitch Matters Once you understand the layout of a soccer pitch, commentary and game strategy become much easier to follow. For new fans, learning pitch structure will make you feel more confident watching the beautiful game. Our upcoming episodes will build on this knowledge to explain positions, game play, fouls, and much more! Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear two American fans who work for a soccer team explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our passion for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact - Cohosts: Treencee ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    20 分
  • Introduction: Why soccer feels new and exciting to American sports fans

    Introduction: Why soccer feels new and exciting to American sports fans
    2026/03/19
    Welcome to Our New Show!

    In our first episode, we introduce ourselves, explain how we got into soccer after growing up watching American sports, and tell you what’s coming in season one of this show, leading up to this summer’s World Cup and beyond. Then we talk about two ways soccer contrasts with the big four American sports: it’s global, and games can end without a winner and loser. We’ll tell you how both make the game fresh, fun, and fascinating for fans in the US. Plus, our regular segment where we each share a story or an aspect of soccer that explains why we’re passionate about the beautiful game.

    Follow Soccer Explained!

    Follow the show to hear two American fans who work for a soccer team explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our love for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport.

    Credits and Contact

    - Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra

    - Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra

    - Podcast Logo: Riley Quarders

    - Theme music: Andre Louis

    - Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com

    - Soccer Explained website created using Podpage.

    - 2014 world cup audio clip from FIFA, retrieved from YouTube

    - Clips from US Women’s National Team training camp via the USWNT Instagram account

    - Crowd noise from 2025 USL League Two final from University of Vermont Men’s Soccer Instagram account

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    31 分
  • How to Become a Soccer Fan

    How to Become a Soccer Fan
    2026/02/23

    A New Soccer Podcast for Casual Viewers and the Soccer Curious. Learn the essentials, and maybe fall in love with the beautiful game

    Visit us at soccerexplainedpod.com. First two episodes drop Thursday, March 19!

    Hosts:

    Treencee Russell: https://www.instagram.com/treencee1/

    Sy Hoekstra: https://syhoekstra.com

    Production and editing by Sy Hoekstra

    Podcast Logo by Riley Quarders

    Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 分