In 20 yrs of coaching this is the first video that clearly and succinctly explains the numbers and positions. Now I have something to share with my U9s so we can all get on the same page. Thanks!

Thanks for the information on what soccer numbers mean today. I was extremely active in the sport 40 years ago, and then took about 20 years off before coming back to it as a spectator and the meaning of the numbers had changed. It was quite confusing for me, when players would speak in those terms, because the meaning had changed so much. The primary reason for the change is the change in primary formations currently used. The biggest change for me was in the midfield where the midfielders are no longer deployed horizontally but instead are deployed more vertically in the center of the field. Of, course, I was well aware that when the numbers were originally developed the only defenders were 2 and 3, so when you add 2 more defenders they would be 4 and 5, and that originally there were 5 strikers, 7 through 11, so that when they went to only three they they did it by withdrawing the 8 and 10 and making them attacking midfielders. So, what confused me was essentially 2 questions, what the heck was the difference between the 8 and the 10, and what the heck was a "false" 9.

@RDF10.

14 күн бұрын

The modern numbers still follow directly from the same 2-3-5 conventions. The 8/10 role distinction comes after the point you've mentioned. First the 5 dropped back between the 2 and 3 and the 8 and 10 moved deeper making a 3-2-2-3 shape. The next major evolution is 1958 Brazil's 4-2-4 which pulled the 4 back as a 4th defender and then pulled the 8 back on the same side to fill the space. From this point forward the 8 (Zito) has been perceived as more defensive than the 10 (Pele). From there we get to the 2 most common modern formations of 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 either by moving the 10 back as a 3rd midfielder (4-3-3) or moving the wingers deeper (4-4-2). As a result you have an 8 that is a midfielder in a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 while the 10 is a midfielder in 4-3-3 but a 2nd striker in 4-4-2, which is why 8 is perceived as universally a midfielder while 10 occupies an 'in between' position that can either be an attacking midfielder or a deep forward.

@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music

13 күн бұрын

I think of a real 9 as a poacher who always sits atop the Christmas tree, while a false 9 is necessary on a team that doesn't have distribution strong enough to crack a defense and so they have to come back for the ball with their back to goal (hold up play) and will wind up distributing a bit. Otherwise they would get stuck on an island.

Exactly what I needed to better understand the positions. Thank you!

Great video. Raised where "futbol" was the only sport I can see how a video like this help Americans that are so used to strict formations (ala NFL) Fine job with the examples specially at number 6 and specially how lacking a good number 6 destroys a whole team (like when Julie Ertz when missing from USWNT or Waelti came down with an injury an Arsenal just imploded) you wont notice your 6 until he/she is missing

@citizen1099

14 күн бұрын

So in UK and in a lot of other countries, #6 is a Center Back position. #4 is the Holding/Defensive Midfielder.

thanks so much for this! been obsessed w women's soccer since the world cup but as someone who didnt grow up caring about sports its been hard to learn all the basics that get tossed around as if everyone knows them. hope to see more vids from you. I could use them!

@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music

13 күн бұрын

It's a very simple game; if you find yourself in the penalty area, fall down.

Small tidbit. In Argentina and most of South America the 5 is actually the defensive midfielder, so we play with a 5 or a double 5 (two defensive midfielders). The 6 is the second center back with the 2, the 3 and 4 are the left and right backs. The rest is the same.

@CaseysOnTheCase

14 күн бұрын

Oh super interesting! Didn’t know South America goes calls that spot the 5

@trorisk

13 күн бұрын

In France the number 5 is what we called "the libero", the last defender before the goalkeeper. Today it is a position that has disappeared. Once the opposing attack has passed the defense he must either make a clean tackle or take the attacker towards the goalkeeper while preventing him from shooting. The n°6 was "the stopper" he had to “break the legs of the opposing number 10”. A raw physical player on No. 10.

@FranciscoGarcia-ze5hg

13 күн бұрын

@@trorisk Franz Beckenbauer used #5. The epitomy of the Libero.

@trorisk

13 күн бұрын

@@FranciscoGarcia-ze5hg More recently Carles Puyol was also an archetype of No. 5. For those who want to see what we're talking about I think there are more videos on Puyol's defensive actions than Beckenbauer. At the 2018 World Cup, Kanté played a kind of "stopper" No. 6 on the game v Argentina on Messi.

I have been looking for exactly this kind of explainer for a year

Formations are also important in football ( soccer ) . 4-4-2 , or 4-3-3 are the most common. 4 defenders , 4 midfielders, two attackers. A highly defensive one would be a 5 -4 - 1. Used by lower teams who havent got a chance of winning against a much better team , and just to defend like mad, in the hope of a 0-0 draw. ( a zero-zero tie? ) . As you see, only ten players mentioned. The goalie / keeper ( please dont say goal tender ) is a given position. Sometimes a 4-5-1 is used to flood the midfield and control it. In that case, the two outer midfield players would be used to play as wingers ( the old numbers 7 and 11 ) when needed , turning it into a 4-3-3. Hope this helps :)

@trorisk

13 күн бұрын

5-4-1 was the famous Italian Catenaccio. The Squadra azzurra mastered the art of driving the opposing team crazy and scoring a goal on a counter attack in the 85th minute.

As a (very) old englishman who has been a fan of association football for a long, long time this is a very good explaination of the numbering used to define positions and tasks of the various players. Well done and thank you!👍

Thank you so much for this! My husband and I only got into soccer seriously within the past year, and we've picked up a few things here and there but this video was super helpful!

Thank you! This is the video I have been looking for but not quite finding in the past couple years of becoming a new soccer fan. The whiteboard is honestly so helpful.

Thank you! As a newer fan of the game, this is just what I've been looking for. Hope this is the first of many 'explainers' for us newbies!

You’re amazing! Thanks for making this!! Canadian here who follows the Prem but was too afraid to ask!!

False9's role is draw defenders out their position so wingers can attack the space if they don't take the bait it also works to overload the midfield and create numerical advantage

Really appreciate this! Now I'll be obsessively trying to see what player is playing which number and how they are playing it.

@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music

13 күн бұрын

It can be tricky because teams can defend in a different shape from how they attack.

Excellent explanations. Most of this I know and yet I could not have explained it so thoroughly or so quickly. Thank you.

This is SO helpful! Thank you for taking the time to explain this.

Brilliant video. Thanks for a concise, easy to follow explanation.

this was great. simple, informative. ty for educating us fans.

This is so great, thank you!

This is exactly what I needed! Thank you!

Thank you so much for this, I’m a youth soccer coach that knows some of the numbers but you really hit home some of the finer intricacies that I’ve had some questions about. Also, super huge kudos for listing examples of awesome women who play these positions so well!

Good vid and defo agree with the last part of the vid. Also, playing centrally anywhere is very different and really quite stressful while playing wide is much more relaxed and just about finding space to run into.

Excellent summary. And the reason that the numbers aren't in a logical order is that the formation was originally a pyramid with 2 defenders (#s 2 and 3) playing centrally and many attackers. Strategies changed and the pyramid was inverted. See Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson.

Good information. Thanks!

Oooh you were one of the few accounts I genuinely missed when I left TikTok. Glad you’ve come over

Nicely done. TY.

Exactly what I needed. It only took me since 2019 to find out!

Randomly stumbled upon this video and it's very neat as someone who loves soccer but is often mystified by numbers other than 9 and 10. I hope you keep making videos like this, it's very informative!

@cyclonesfan7205

13 күн бұрын

Also I think the physical visual aids are a lot more attention grabbing than generic graphics like a lot of youtubers use

Great video. I'm someone who watches for enjoyment, I dont get caught up in the strategy & positions of it.

Thanks! I played & watched for 35 years, and admittedly didn’t know any numbers besides 6, 9 & 10.

Great video! It's funny because I heard Emma Hayes refer to the 7/11 in some interview and I was like... wait, what? It was then that I realized how little we use those numbers for the wingers.

@CaseysOnTheCase

14 күн бұрын

Extremely seldom!

@For_Cruyff_Sake

14 күн бұрын

Think the english use the numbers a lot.

@malber2000

14 күн бұрын

@@For_Cruyff_Sake they definitely do, but from my limited experience listening to British football podcasts and youtube, it seems much more common to hear 9, 10, 8, and 6 than it is to hear any of the others.

@wlmt9706

14 күн бұрын

Great video..would you do a video to explain and show examples of off side so I can understand that better?

@maumor2

14 күн бұрын

@@malber2000 in England they use a lot the abbreviations for a position like: CB (center back 4 or 5) RB (right back 2) LB (left back 3), CDM (center defensive midfielder 6) etc

Every time there is a major tournament I think it would be helpful if they had segments like this between games or as a quick visual when talking about players. There's new fans who won't know what's going on and maybe it's just me but I get the numbers mixed up in my head time to time even though I watch soccer frequently. Then it takes a while to sort out in my head what player and number and then we've moved on.

Thank you!!

Amazing video!

actually, the numbering system developed when there more commonly 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks and 5 forwards. a system that was abandoned a long time ago, but the numbering lives on

Great video!

Great video. Thank you. I agree that Julie and Sam were are great 6s. Please consider a video about the all time uswnt tough players. Mentally and physically tough like Lloyd, O'Hara, Ertz,... the ones that would fight if they had to. Sometimes a red card may be ok

Good video missed Kiera Walsh as an example of a 6. Best in the world right now..

@youreworthyourweightinavoc7189

13 күн бұрын

And Amandine Henry, the greatest 6 ever imo..sure she's in her twilight years now, but at her best she could totally nullify the opposing team's attack (even against the USWNT) and yet also present up front as an attacking threat. Just lethal. I'm hoping Cooney-Cross becomes a giant of the game as a 6 or 8 during her career.

Thank you so much for this video. I appreciate it. And gosh I miss Sam Mewis

thanks really great.

I had a good time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I learned something. Wow. Thanks.

Interesting to see that in the USA the DM uses #6, just like what happens in continental Europe. In England it would be more common for this player to use #4, and in South America it would be #5. Different footballing cultures, different numbering, I guess. Here in Brazil, #6 is for left backs, would you believe it?

Another good 6 I'd say is Katrina Gorry and Keira Walsh but she's also like an 8 as well. Hayley Raso is a good 8 as well as Jill Scott. Raso can also play 10 but she's really good at box to box.

@youreworthyourweightinavoc7189

13 күн бұрын

Gorry is brillo as 6 8 or 10, but I wouldn't call Raso an 8, she's a winger imo

Subbed!!

"outside back" so its true, you guys actually say that. nice video, well explained.

So many good number 10s like Putellas, Bonmati, Maanum, Lindsey Horan, and you went for Bethune and Shaw 😆😆

@tijanabll

14 күн бұрын

But other than that a very good video!

@CaseysOnTheCase

14 күн бұрын

Fair! But I think there are arguments each of those players is a different number as well. Tried to keep it pure for simplicity

@maumor2

14 күн бұрын

Putellas, Maanum and Horan (in OL) are not 10s And the video states Bunny Shaw as example of a 9 not a 10

@CaseysOnTheCase

14 күн бұрын

@@maumor2 I think this person was referring to Jaedyn not Bunny

@maumor2

14 күн бұрын

@@CaseysOnTheCase Jaedyn Shaw could be an 8, 9 or 10 LOL

Thanks for the guide! I'm interested in learning soccer so this video helps me in understanding soccer jargons. I actually have heard of Lynn Williams talking about 7 and 11 positions in her podcast so people do talk about these non-spine positions in their respective numbers. One question - when you're describing #9 you say they "hold up the play", what exactly does that mean? Thanks!

@richard6440

13 күн бұрын

#9 is usually the centre forward or striker. If a quick break occurs ( the ball being played a long way forward in one pass ) then the #9 might be alone up front ( with several defenders around ) so will hold on to the ball , until help arrives. Rather than trying to beat any defenders. Thats my understanding of it :)

I watch a ton of soccer and still get confused with off sides. Can you go over that please?

4 is always a full back number (Zanetti)

"Let's have a good time. Let's just be some dumb Americans learning some new stuff." Nice...😄And here I am ready to learn! And ready to have a good time.

Excellent. Only thing I would add is where it all came from. Before Brazil/Pele it was just position names (e.g. centre forward now 9). Pele wore number 10 and changed permanently how the position was viewed and it became a number.

people say 7 and 11 all the time

Soccer Numbers more than 30 years mean nothing and and are in no way connected with the position on the field

I thought the hotter you are the higher the number

I disagree; the only 10 on the USWNT is Abby Dahlkemper--that woman is _HAWT._