Positions!

And I don’t mean sexual! Ok, that got your attention!

In soccer there are three “rows” of positions: forwards, half-backs a.k.a the mid field, and defenders. Other terms like striker, stopper, sweeper are also designations. Some players naturally want to go forward and score while others like to stay back and defend the goal (oh yes, there is the all-important goalie too!). Half-backs must do both, offense and defense.

I believe I’m a natural outside halfback. But when I first started playing (knowing little about soccer positions other than that one daughter played sweeper and the other played center-mid), I spent the first few years as right defender. Our team lost every game by double digits (offensively we rarely got past the half-line) so defense was a noble if frustrating role. Eventually I got tired of endless marking of opponents or kicking the ball out, essentially reacting to their game rather than having our own. Listening to my whining one day, my husband (formally an AYSO soccer coach) said to me, “If you want to move forward, just start playing defense offensively.” And so I did. Having at some point developed the ability to cut around a player, I began carrying the ball forward as far as I could before passing it. This change in my play soon led our coach to perceive me as a half-back. I was thrilled!

Since that time, I have remained more or less in that position. I enjoy all the running back and forth, although there is always a brief moment of “ugh” when I have to switch to defense. I much prefer when our team has the ball! I also enjoy passing to my teammates, making connections, working as a team. And as a half-back, while I occasionally have an opportunity to shoot on goal, I prefer letting one of the forwards take on that responsibility. Truth is, I don’t think I have a very good kick. But I have surprised myself at times!

And now, my sister soccer players, I invite you to reminisce about your favorite position and perhaps how it expresses who you are!