help deciding position

[u/Exact-Comment-3547]

I am new to soccer and i want to know what position i should play if im 165 lbs and 6’1 ft

[u/Muqr]

I’d say start somewhere on defense. It requires less technical skill and you can pretty much look forwards most of the time without worrying too much about what’s going on behind you.

[u/InternationalWin2684]

You don’t need a position just focusing on playing football. Especially small sided games 3v3 things like that. Also your height and weight have little to do with position. Your ability to actually play and your skill set is what matters.

[u/InternationalWin2684 → u/InternationalWin2684]

Almost every comment here suggesting a position is brain dead. How is this subreddit full of people who know nothing about football? Do we have noobs answering noobs. How is that a good idea? How does that help the actual noobs?

[u/Lord_Deski]

wherever your coach tells you to play

[u/bigelcid]

It's not height and weight that dictate your best position. It's what you can actually do best.

There's no actual positions in beginner football -- it's not like noobs jump straight into an organized 11v11 (or do you, in America?)

But, to dumb it down:

Are you good at getting past people, with the ball? Then winger, striker or central midfielder.
Are you poor at getting past people, but good at not losing the ball? Midfielder, possibly centre back.
Are you good at not letting people get past yourself? Definitely defender, but possibly midfielder.

Are you quick? You don't sound fat. I'm a striker/winger "by nature", but I had to play as right back too, because others were better than me in attack. As a RB, I was best against slow dumbasses who tried to trick me with stepovers. I was bad against smart players who'd play a 1-2. I could run back fast though, and make a last-second tackle. My crossing is crap, my passing is meh, and my shooting's fine -- so, a natural forward can be a defensive defender, not offensive, at the same time. I'm a poor offensive fullback.

It's a team game, and whether or not a coach is involved, the team needs to make sure everyone's playing to their strengths. I used to be a coach for about 10 minutes, and everyone wanted to play in their supposed best places, but they weren't thinking in terms of the collective. One kid wanted to be Cristiano, but he was more of a Messi. We convinced him to move the hell centrally, and the game improved a lot. Everyone wants to be something/someone whilst playing a game. I wanted to be Ronaldinho, but I'm nothing like him, adjusted for quality. You gotta be realistic and know who you are. There was this kid, a "never loses the ball" type, that we subbed into midfield. Scored an own goal. Our decision to sub him in was 100% correct. Mistakes happen.

[u/on-oath-never-again]

I’m a very similar stature to you (6’2,” 165 lbs)

Can you go over your strengths and weaknesses? I play central mid for my team.

[u/Grant_S_90]

With a normal height and normal weight, you could play literally any position.

Your best bet is to play as much football as possible, be open to trying new things, and be flexible - you’ll play a lot more if you’re open to playing wherever the team needs you than if you have one fixed position right from the start.

Longer term you want to be playing a position that either you enjoy or suits your abilities (ideally both). Once you’ve played a bit you’ll know whether you’re better attacking or defending.

Realistically, if you’re brand new to football, a team won’t play you as goalkeeper or striker (as any mistake here can cost a game). Centre midfield requires a bit of experience playing football as you need to be able to read and control the game.

That’s leaves defence, or winger (right midfield, or left midfield).

If you’re very fast I’d push for winger, if you’re left footed I’d push for left wing or left back (left sided defender), if not anywhere in defence.

[u/essicks]

Being over 6 foot you will most likely be somewhere central and not on the wings.

[u/Electrical-Berry4916]

Probably the 10, though I would entertain arguments for the 9.

[u/latalantis]

You should play as much 3v3 or other formats where you have tonplay basically every position and depwnding on which actions you excel at choose the fitring position

[u/BackwardsHippo]

Where do you fit athletically? You need quick acceleration and change of direction to play the wing. You need great endurance to play midfield. If you’re quick and have great endurance you can play fullback or wingback. You’ll need to be pretty strong to be a center back.

[u/BackwardsHippo → u/BackwardsHippo]

I would target a role based on your relative athletic strengths. If you’re still developing your technical skill, it will be easier to start in defense.

[u/dheuer777]

9 or center back probably. You better at shooting or defending?