5v5 soccer positions: who plays where, and what the numbers mean
By the Poteau Team · updated
IN SHORT
In 5v5 there are no official numbers: one keeper, one player at the back, two on the wings and a pivot up top. The numbers 1 to 11 come from the full 11v11 game. 1 is the keeper, 2 to 5 defend, 6, 8 and 10 run midfield, 7 and 11 are the wingers, 9 scores. To find where you play best, the Poteau level quiz starts from your position.
Soccer positions by number, 1 to 11
Shirt numbers started in England in the 1930s. They followed where each player stood on the field. Here's what they mean today, and what they turn into in 5v5:
Number | In 11v11 | In 5v5 |
|---|---|---|
1 | Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper |
2 and 3 | Right and left back | The wings, when defending |
4 and 5 | Center backs | The player at the back |
6 | Defensive midfielder | The player at the back |
8 | Central midfielder | A wing |
10 | Playmaker | The pivot or a wing |
7 and 11 | Right and left winger | The wings, when attacking |
9 | Striker | The pivot |
It shifts a bit by country. In England, the 6 is often a center back. In Argentina, the 5 is the defensive midfielder.
9v9 and 7v7 position numbers
Youth leagues and adult rec games often play 9v9 or 7v7. That's where the numbers matter again.
9v9 (often a 3-2-3): the 1, then 2, 5 and 3 at the back, 6 and 8 in midfield, 7, 9 and 11 up front.
7v7 (often a 2-3-1): the 1, two defenders, 7, 8 and 11 in midfield, the 9 up top.
There's no official rule. These are just the numbers you'll see most. In France, on Poteau, 8 in 10 games on public fields are 7v7 or bigger.
The four roles in 5v5
The keeper. Often rotating when nobody knows each other. More in our piece on the 5v5 goalkeeper.
The player at the back. Last one before the keeper. Covers, plays it out, steps up when it's safe.
The two wings. The ones who run the most. They attack and they track back.
The pivot. Up top, back to goal. Holds the ball, lays it off, finishes.
Futsal has names for these: the fixo at the back, the wingers, the pivot. In 5v5 nobody says it, but it's the same thing.
What is a sweeper in soccer?
In 11v11, it's a defender who sits behind the others. No one to mark. Picks up whatever gets through and starts the play. Franz Beckenbauer made it famous in the 1970s. In Italy and France it's called the libero.
In 5v5, the player at the back is a sweeper without knowing it. It's the base of the diamond (1-2-1), covered in our piece on 5v5 formations.
Which position should you play?
On Poteau, one player in two says they're a midfielder. Not many left for the back.
The level quiz starts from your position: keeper, defender, midfielder or forward. You answer a few questions about how you play, and you get your Poteau level from 1 to 10, with one decimal. First, it asks what you'd give yourself.
Position picked | Rate themselves above their result |
|---|---|
Forward | 4 in 5 |
Midfielder | 3 in 4 |
Defender | 2 in 3 |
Defenders judge themselves harder. Almost 1 in 3 rates themselves below their result. Among forwards, fewer than 1 in 6.
Your position and level show on your profile. Every game shows the level it expects, and about 1 in 5 welcomes levels 1 to 4. You know where you'll play, and next to whom.
The Poteau Team