As a soccer performance coach, I cannot stress enough the importance of position-specific training for elite-level soccer players. Each position on the field requires a unique set of skills and abilities, and training specifically for your position will help you maximize your potential and excel in your role on the team.
Why Position-Specific Training is Essential for Elite Soccer Performance
We focus on position-specific training in the small-group, individual, and online coaching support we provide to players. All training activities to improve your individual performance levels must relate to the challenges that you will encounter in actual games.
Players do change positions as they progress, and even more experienced players have to adapt and play in different positions. Ben White, for example, was signed by Arsenal as a central defender, and he has successfully adapted his game so that he can play as a right-back.
We do encourage young players to try different positions as it can improve their game understanding, but it is critical, we believe, that players are trained properly to play different positions by teaching the main responsibilities of these roles in all four phases of the game:
When your team is in possession and building the attack
When your team is attempting to create and score goal-scoring opportunities
When your team has lost possession and is under threat from a counter-attack (transition)
When your team are actively trying to win possession back (transition)
Player Data has shared some interesting data about the different physical demands of each position, and you can view this information here.
Source: Player Data (learn more here)
In this article, we will cover position-specific training for forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers.
Forwards
As a forward, your primary responsibility is to score goals. To excel in this position, you will need to focus on developing your shooting, finishing, and attacking skills. Here are some position-specific training exercises for forwards:
Shooting: Practice your shooting from different angles and distances. Use cones to create a shooting range and work on your accuracy and power.
Finishing: Set up a series of passing drills with a teammate or coach to practice finishing in front of goal. Focus on your movement, timing, and composure in front of goal. You should also vary the type of finishes.
Attacking: Work on your dribbling, 1v1 skills, and ability to beat defenders. Use agility ladder drills and cone exercises to improve your footwork and speed.
Midfielders
As a midfielder, you will need to have a strong understanding of both attacking and defensive play. You will be responsible for controlling the game, setting up attacks, and preventing opposing attacks. Here are some position-specific training exercises for midfielders:
Passing: Practice your passing with a teammate or coach, focusing on accuracy and weight. Use passing drills to improve your vision and decision-making.
Defending: Work on your tackling, intercepting, and marking skills. Set up defensive drills to practice clearing the ball and protecting your goal.
Attacking: Improve your dribbling, shooting, and finishing skills to contribute to your team's attacks. Use agility ladder drills and cone exercises to improve your footwork and speed.
Defenders
As a defender, your primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. To excel in this position, you will need to focus on developing your defending, marking, and heading skills. Here are some position-specific training exercises for defenders:
*Defending: Practice your tackling, intercepting, and marking skills. Set up defensive drills to practice clearing the ball and protecting your goal.
Heading: Improve your heading skills with heading drills, focusing on power, accuracy, and timing.
Positioning: Work on your positioning and awareness on the field. Use drills to practice reading the game and making quick decisions.
Goalkeepers
As a goalkeeper, your primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. To excel in this position, you will need to focus on developing your shot-stopping, handling, and distribution skills. Here are some position-specific training exercises for goalkeepers:
Shot-stopping: Practice your shot-stopping skills with a variety of shots, including low drives, high shots, and angled shots.
Handling: Improve your handling skills with handling drills, focusing on catching, parrying, and punching.
Distribution: Work on your distribution skills with throwing and kicking drills. Practice your long and short passing, and focus on accuracy and weight.
By incorporating position-specific training into your daily activities you will be able to develop your skills to maximize your playing potential.
We provide coaching support to individual players through individual, small-group and online training programs and help elevate their performance standards towards academy players at professional clubs in Europe.
