Soccer positions explained: names, numbers and what they do
Football, soccer, the beautiful game… it's estimated that more than 250 million people play the sport in some capacity worldwide, but who is doing what, and where, when the 22 players take to the field?
From Manuel Neuer to Harry Kane, the German top flight boasts some of the best players in the world in their positions. bundesliga.com takes a closer look…
Position: Goalkeeper
The most defensive position in soccer
Main job to stop opposition goals
Also organises the defence and builds play from the back
Wears gloves, and a different coloured jersey from teammates
Only player who can use their hands in their 18-yard box
Bundesliga archetype: Manuel Neuer
The best goalkeeper in the world, and arguably of all time. Neuer has the shot-stopping ability of anyone who has gone before him, but the term "sweeper-keeper" was effectively invented for the Bayern Munich man, who has revolutionised the position in a 17-year career which has brought 11 Bundesliga titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues and the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Germany.
On the rare occasions that his club or national team defences are breached, Neuer races off his line to quell the danger. When his team is in possession he is just as valuable, with distribution and technique honed from moonlighting in midfield in training. And for anyone who doubts that the 37-year-old is up to the traditional nitty-gritty of the position, it's worth remembering he has a record 204 shut-outs in the Bundesliga.
Watch: Neuer, a tactical revolutionary
Position: Full-back
Lines up either side of the defence
Marks opposition wingers
Provides support for the wide midfielder ahead of them
May overlap and send crosses into the opposition box
Often takes throw-ins
Bundesliga archetype: Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm was Bayern captain before hanging up his boots in 2017, and had spent 15 years before that as the quintessential full-back in German, and indeed world, football. Neuer's teammate for club and country for much of that run, he too is a World Cup and Champions League winner, one who tallied 19 assists in the 2012/13 campaign.
Lahm was particularly attacking the year Bayern won their first continental treble, and Pep Guardiola later described him as "perhaps most intelligent player I have ever trained" on moving him into midfield later on, but Lahm broke through on the left of a back four before spending most of his career on the right of one, and none have done it better.
Pep Guardiola (l.) described Philipp Lahm (r.) as the most intelligent player he had ever coached
- Lennart Preiss
Position: Wing-back
Modern variation of the full-back
Overlaps and sends crosses into the opposition box
Still marks opposition wingers when needed
Expected to stay on their touchline
One of the most physically demanding positions
Bundesliga archetype: Alphonso Davies
If anyone puts the "wing" in "wing-back", it's Canada superstar Davies. Bayern's 'Road Runner' started life as an out-and-out winger when he burst onto the scene with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, before finding his feet further back at Bayern.
One of the fastest players ever seen in the Bundesliga, topping out at 22.69 mph, Davies' pace means he moves from touchline to touchline at a rapid rate. It allows him to cover defensive space and track oppositions wingers quicker than most players on the planet, as well as rapidly join Bayern attacks when they overturn possession.
Watch: Davies under the tactical microscope
Position: Centre-back
Shuts down opposition attackers
May employ zonal or man-marking strategies
Brings the ball out from the back
Often tall and physically strong
Bravery and heading ability desirable, for use in either box
Bundesliga archetype: Mats Hummels
An asset on either side of the ball, Hummels and former long-time Bayern and Germany counterpart Jérôme Boateng redefined the central defensive role on approaching their collective peaks around the 2010 mark. Having initially made the move from Bayern to Borussia Dortmund in 2008, and back again in 2016, Hummels returned to the Signal Iduna Park three years later having played a critical role in keeping BVB at bay during his final season in Bavaria.
Normally operating from left centre-back, the right-footer has spun the ball to a teammate with a heat-seeking 91.3 per cent of his passes this season, even though he averages six progressive passes per game. The man who goes by Aussenrist - German for the outside of your foot - on social media has teed up 17 shots on the opposition goal. Tom Brady eat your heart out.
Quarter-back Mats Hummels can be regularly found launching balls forward from Borussia Dortmund's defence.
- Daniel Kopatsch/Bundesliga
Position: Sweeper
A safety net for the centre-backs alongside them
Races to cover gaps when defence is breached
Less concerned with man-marking
Reads the game from deep
Joins midfield build-up when in possession
Bundesliga archetype: Franz Beckenbauer
The sweeper position has made a comeback to a degree, teams dabbling with back threes more often than they have for much of the last 20 years, and the system often requiring a central player who can cover the defenders either side of him or carry the play into midfield, if not both.
But when back fours first ruled supreme, Franz Beckenbauer effectively invented the role, Der Kaiser bombing into midfield from defence for Bayern and Germany throughout the 1960s and 1970s. A key cog in three consecutive European Cups with Bayern and a World Cup with Germany, Beckenbauer is one of only two defenders - Fabio Cannavaro being the other - to have won the Ballon d'Or.
The great Franz Beckenbauer (l.), a No.5 in name only
- Getty Images
Position: Defensive midfielder
Sits in front of the defence
Wins the ball back with tackles and interceptions
Covers teammates when they go forward
Harries opposition attackers
Physically fit and tenacious
Bundesliga archetype: Sami Khedira
Khedira broke through with hometown team VfB Stuttgart in 2006, and a year later they were Bundesliga champions. Seven more, by this time a midfield fulcrum for Real Madrid, he helped Germany to their World Cup triumph in Brazil in 2014.
Khedira scored 52 club goals in his career, which was testament to his ability in the final third, but most of his best work came at the other end, with Inverting the Pyramid author Jonathan Wilson perhaps best describing him as a "destroyer with carrying tendencies."
Sami Khedira played circa 100 games for Stuttgart, Real Madrid and Juventus in a glittering career.
- David Ramos
Position: Deep-lying playmaker
Sits in front of the defence
Creative playmaker from deep
Distributes to teammates, near and far
Sets the team's tempo
Capable of tackling, though a secondary task
Bundesliga archetype: Thiago Alcântara
Father time is an undefeated champion, but Bayern's former midfield metronome Thiago was able to bend it to his will with unerring regularity using his speed of control, technique, and 20/20 distributive vision from the base of the champions' midfield. In his final season before joining Liverpool, Thiago completed 93 per cent of his passes at an eye-watering rate of 75 per game.
"It's Thiago or nothing," so said Guardiola on taking up the reins at Bayern in the summer of 2013. The current Manchester City coach got his man, and the Bavarians reaped the rewards for the next seven seasons.
Watch: How Thiago pulled Bayern's strings
Position: Central midfielder
Lines up in the middle of the field
Equally adept at attacking and defending
Maintains possession
Tracks back to tackle and block shots
Breaks into the opponent’s box and tries to score
Bundesliga archetype: Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus was that rare player who was able to play more than one role to a world-class level. Germany's No.10 at Italia '90, he dropped deep in the final to man-mark Diego Maradona out of the game as West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 - but he was a sweeper by the time Bayern made it to the Champions League final in 1999, in which they were cruelly edged by Manchester United.
Matthäus was a box-to-box midfielder for most of his career, though, renowned for his perceptive passing, positional sense, well-timed tackles and powerful shot, often employed from the edge of the box. "He's the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him," Maradona later said of Germany's 150-cap record appearance-maker.
Diego Maradona described Lothar Matthäus as his most difficult opponent.
- BOB PEARSON
Position: Attacking midfielder
Dictates play from behind the strikers
Creates goalscoring chances for the attackers
Technique and creativity crucial
Ability to shoot from range an advantage
Historically associated with the No.10 jersey
Bundesliga archetype: Jamal Musiala
The classic No.10 was a string-pulling midfielder, typically with technique dripping from every pore, playing in the hole behind his team's central striker. They didn't always have to be the fastest - who can run quicker than the ball can move anyway? - imagination and creativity were key.
Today, the position is on the wane, with the attacking line expected to press from the front, but Jamal Musiala fuses old and new school interpretations better than most. Musiala still plays slick through-balls - his 13 assists last season were no accident - but 12 league goals also told the story of a No.10 who is just as happy to take as he is to make.
Watch: Musiala's creative dribbling
Position: winger
The widest attacking player
Takes on opposition defenders
Provides crosses into the box
Meets crosses from the opposite wing
Often the fastest player on the field
Bundesliga archetype: Kingsley Coman
Few players represent wing play better than Bayern's flying Frenchman Kingsley Coman. With a top speed of 22.16 mph - one of the fastest ever seen in the Bundesliga - he has the speed to beat his man on the outside before whipping in a cross, but can also play on the opposite flank and cut inside on his stronger right foot, story told by 63 goals and 66 assists in his Bayern career to date.
Coman has won a league title in each of his 11 seasons as a professional: two with Paris Saint-Germain, one with Juventus and now eight on the bounce with Bayern, and came back to haunt PSG in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final, drifting in behind his marker from the left to meet Joshua Kimmich's cross from the right and head home a famous winner.
Kingsley Coman heads homne a famous winner for Bayern against PSG in the 2020 UCL final.
- Pool
Position: Inverted winger
Same, wide, attacking starting position as a conventional winger
Takes on opposition defenders
Cuts inside onto stronger foot to score or assist
Push opposition full-backs onto their weaker sides
Dribbling ability as important as pace in the role
Bundesliga archetype: Arjen Robben
There was scarcely a sight more iconic then Arjen Robben cutting inside from the right and steering a left-footed shot into the far corner of his opponents' goal. Everyone knew he was going to do it; nobody knew how to stop it. The Dutch wing wizard was used on the left when breaking through for PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands as a youngster, with subsequent spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid just as likely to see him stationed on his natural side.
After joining Bayern in 2009, he made the right wing his own, though, with Robben and fellow inverted winger Franck Ribéry - collectively known as Robbery - stealing the show with 17 major honours won together. The fastest player in the world when clocked at just under 23 miles per hour at the 2014 World Cup, Robben didn't need that same top speed later in his career, with his ball control, trickery, and a dip of the shoulder taking on a greater importance.
Watch: Robben's Top 5 goals
Position False 9
Starts up front near the opposition goal
Replaces the traditional striker in most formations
Drops deep to pull opposition defenders out of position
Often a converted midfielder
Dribbles and creates chances
Bundesliga archetype: Mario Götze
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, 13 July 2014, 5.43pm local time: "Show the world you are better than Messi and decide the World Cup" - Germany coach Joachim Löw to a 22-year-old Mario Götze…
Maracanã, Rio, 13 July 2014, 6.08pm local time: Götze, having replaced Miroslav Klose, steers home Andre Schürrle’s cross with an exquisite volley to lift Germany to a fourth World Cup at Argentina's expense.
The way Götze ghosted in between Martin Demichelis and Ezequiel Garay made him impossible to pick up. The centre-backs knew who was marking Klose, a natural striker, and when, all game. When Götze came on, he drifted between the lines of Argentina's defence and midfield. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. In a few short seconds, Argentina were floored.
Germany World Cup winner Mario Götze (c.) might not have found so much space between Argentina's centre-backs had he started in a natural No.9 position
- Robert Cianflone
Position: Forward
Drifts into area between opposition midfield and defence
Starts from similar position to No.10
Provides assists and scores goals
Elusive and difficult to mark
More versatile than the target-man
Bundesliga archetype: Thomas Müller
To describe Thomas Müller as an archetype of any position might seem, on initial inspection, to be doing him down. The self-monikered Raumdeuter, Müller's style has left pundits - and indeed defenders - perplexed for years.
However, his coaches and teammates could hardly hold him in higher regard. The Bayern icon allegedly lacks a bit of technical skill, but his awkward gait belies an ability to control the ball that few can match. No ordinary player could bag 10 goals across two World Cups, while 145 Bundesliga strikes and 202 assists tell their own story.
Watch: Müller, the best in the world without the ball?
Position: Striker
Closest player to the opponent's goal
Responsible for scoring goals
Holds the ball up until teammates can join the attack
Harries opposition defenders
Physically strong
Bundesliga archetype: Harry Kane
From Gerd Müller to Robert Lewandowski, Bayern and the Bundesliga have boasted some of the best strikers the game has ever seen, but few compare with Bavarian new boy Harry Kane, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur last summer in what was a record transfer for both clubs.
Kane remains on course for Lewandowski's single season Bundesliga record of 41 goals scored in 2020/21, with his 21 so far plundered at a rate of one every 63 minutes he has played with 1,710 mins still available in the current campaign.
Already the record scorer for Tottenham and England, the latter of whom he captains, Kane is also able to drop deep and play as a 9.5, teeing up others with his vision and passing accuracy. That Leroy Sané has nine goals this season, four of them assisted by Kane, is no accident.
Watch: A closer tactical look at Harry Kane
Different Football Net Types & Which You Need for Your Club
Different Football Net Types & Which You Need for Your Club
A key part of getting your football pitch set up and ready for the players is ensuring you have the right type of goal netting in place. Aside from the varying sizes, you need to consider the different football net types available, too.
You can read all about the size of goal net you need in our Size Buying Guide, but here, we’ll focus on the different types of nets, more specifically straight back, box and continental nets.
So, let’s jump into it and take a look at each type in more detail.
Here’s a helpful table to help you work out which net is best for your club:
Type of football goal & Net Goal Style Available Goal Net Thickness at Huck Straight Back Goal Don't have any D-brackets on the goalposts 2.3mm, 3mm Box Goal Bottom frame sits on the turf and has back support stanchions 3.5mm - 5mm Continental Goal Features D-brackets or elbow net supports 2.5mm
Straight Back Football Goals and Nets
Straight-back football goals don't have any D-brackets on the goalposts. This means there are no other net supports apart from the posts themselves. As a result, the football net drapes straight down and is secured to the turf using ground net pegs.
This is a very basic style of a football goal, and often used for small-sided games and training sessions. It's also a great option for those on a budget, as it’s the most affordable football net type.
You can use these football net types for any size goal, even including full-size football goals. But whilst they can be used for professional and top-level games, they're often overlooked because they don't provide the same aesthetic as other styles of net.
Even so, they're still great for all levels of clubs and training facilities, and the straight-back style makes them easy to fit onto the posts.
Our Straight Back Football Net Recommendations
At Huck Nets, we manufacture various straight-back nets for all types of football goals, and our range is one of the best out there!
Our nets come in two different netting thicknesses: 2.3mm and 3mm. We recommend the 3mm netting for full-size professional goals so it can withstand the tougher kicking and shooting, whereas the 2.3mm is ideal for junior and mini-football goals.
They make great replacement nets should your existing net become damaged, or you can use them for a brand-new set of goals.
Shop Straight Back Football Nets
Box Football Goals and Nets
Box net goals (or stadium box nets) are types of football goals that top-level clubs typically prefer because they create a smart and professional look. They're generally what you'll see being used in the Premier League, European League and Cup teams and other professional leagues.
The football goals come with a bottom frame that sits on the turf and has back support stanchions, which the goal net is tied to using net ties. How the net is attached to the goal posts and back stanchions means it’s kept taut and can't sag as much, which gives the goals a more rigid and sturdy appearance.
Box football goals help create a more professional aesthetic on your pitch, no matter what level your club plays at. This can have a significant effect on your players by boosting their morale and confidence during a game.
Box Football Nets Used by Professional Clubs
At Huck Nets, we supply a fantastic range of box-style nets suitable for full-size football goals, whether you're looking to replace worn nets or buy a brand-new set.
Our nets come in a range of diameters, from 3.5mm to heavy-weight 5mm, so you can select the best thickness for your goals and the level of play.
All of our box football goal nets are manufactured using our incredible high-tenacity polypropylene knotless netting, trusted by top-flight clubs and teams all over the UK. We even have different types of mesh, too, including small mesh and classic square mesh.
Plus, we have various designs and colours, so you can match your net colour to your football club colours, creating an impressive and professional-looking pitch.
Shop Football Nets
Continental Football Goals and Nets
Continental football goals are often referred to as standard goals, and they have those classic D-brackets or elbow net supports at the top of both goalposts. The goal net is draped over these brackets and then fixed to the turf using ground pegs.
These football nets are most commonly used at grassroots and amateur levels, but they can be used for any level of football. They're also great for training sessions and small-sided games, just like straight-back nets.
The Best Continental Football Nets for Your Club
We supply a fantastic range of continental-style football nets in various sizes and colours. Our standard version is made with 2.5mm twisted knotless polypropylene netting that offers excellent durability and longevity.
Just like all our other goal nets, we use only the best knotless polypropylene netting to create our continental nets in a range of diameters, mesh sizes and shapes so you can choose the most appropriate design for your goals.
We also have a great selection of net colours, from traditional white to black and red. Or, if you're after something a little more specific to fit in with your club's branding, we also create bespoke nets! We can design any colour combination you require in the exact size and thickness needed to match your goals.
Shop Football Nets
Different Football Goal Mesh Sizes & Shapes
As well as the different types of nets and the football goal post size, the size and shape of the mesh is also another important factor to consider when you’re buying goal netting.
Standard Size Football Mesh
Our standard size mesh measures 120mm, making it the most commonly used mesh size due to its exceptional strength. This size is preferred by Many professional leagues prefer this mesh for exactly this reason.
With its proven track record, our 120mm mesh provides the ideal balance of strength and versatility for a wide range of uses, including for portable football goals.
Small Football Mesh
Our small-sized football mesh measures 60mm, and they're great anti-hooligan nets as they make it harder for people to climb up the net.
Further to that, it protects the keeper from anything getting thrown into the goal.
Hexagonal Football Mesh
In addition to various mesh sizes, you have the option to select hexagonal-shaped meshes.
These meshes not only provide a neat and professional finish to your goals, but they also offer enhanced stability and increased durability. Their unique shape reduces the risk of the ball getting stuck in the corners.
Square Football Mesh
Our final, and probably most popular type, is square mesh. Square meshes measure 120mm and look very smart on the football goals. They provide good strength and support whilst still looking great. This is a common mesh for kids' football goals.
Find the Best Type of Football Net for Your Club at Huck
Choosing the right net for your football club is crucial, and at Huck Nets, we provide a comprehensive selection of high-quality nets to cater to a wide range of needs.
From the simplicity of straight-back goals to the professional aesthetic of box nets and the traditional appeal of continental nets, we've got everything covered. Whether you're replacing an old net or setting up new goals, we are your one-stop shop for all your net requirements.
Our football goal nets are available to purchase online or over the phone. If you’re after a bespoke mesh, size or colour net, please contact us for more information and support.
Check out our great range of football nets made from knotless, UV, rot, and weather-resistant polypropylene netting today.
FAQs
What Mesh Size Do I Need for My Football Goals?
Most clubs and teams use a standard 120mm mesh size. You can also choose between square and hexagonal-shaped meshes.
What’s the Best Type of Football Net to Use for Senior Football?
Box nets are the most popular type of football net used for senior and professional teams, as they’re tauter and look more professional. However, continental goal nets are also great for senior teams.
Can You Create Custom-Coloured Football Nets?
Yes, we can! We manufacture all our nets in-house, so we can create any size, colour and thickness of net you require. Please contact us for more information about our bespoke football netting, and we'd be more than happy to help.
Can Straight-Back Football Nets be Used for Professional Matches?
Yes, straight-back football nets can be used for any size goal, including full-size professional games. However, they are often overlooked for professional matches due to their lack of aesthetic appeal compared to other styles of nets.
What's the Best Mesh Size for Football Nets?
The standard-size mesh of 120mm is the most commonly used due to its exceptional strength, making it preferred by many professional leagues. However, smaller 60mm mesh sizes are available and are great as anti-hooligan nets because they make it harder for people to climb up the net.
An analysis of transition-resulted goal scoring patterns in football leagues: a comparison of the first 5 rounds and the last 5 rounds prior midway of the season - BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Reh
The objective of this research is to compare the goal scoring patterns that result from the transitions in the first 5 rounds of the championship and the last 5 prior midway of the season in leagues that were grouped based on similarities in context sports.
The findings indicate that there are no differences in none of the method of goal scoring between the “Rounds 1 to 5” and “Rounds Last 5” variables across all the analyzed league groups. However, there was a notable exception in the Emerging Leagues where there were differences in goals scored by NT.
The goals obtained by “No Transition” (NT) are goals achieved through organized attack, which involves a slower and more deliberate positional attack [16]. This indicates a predominance of organized attack as a means of scoring goals, which will be explained by the temperatures at which the games are played. The data suggest that external factors that are characteristic of emerging leagues, such as high temperatures, explain the differences observed in the way goals are obtained between the two variables “Rounds 1 to 5” and “Rounds Last 5”. For instance, these leagues start in the last week of August, and the first variable “Rounds 1 to 5” is played until the end of September. During this period, the countries where these leagues are located experience extremely high temperatures, which explain the preference for organized attacks over more physically exhausting types of attacks as a way to score goals. The “Last 5 rounds” variable, played between the end of November and the end of January, have milder temperatures. However, teams have already done their pre-competition preparation under extreme weather conditions, which impact on their physical approach and game model during the season [20]. The organized attack also provides the involvement of a large number of players and greater time in possession searching to the best time to try to score a goal, whether due to defensive disorganization or individual action [21]. Additionally, considering the hiring history, it appears that these leagues have more signings of attacking players than defenders, which also explains the offensive supremacy of those type of attacks.
The Marginal League and Top Leagues on goals obtained by “No Transition” (NT) do not differ as the competitive period evolves which shows they are more prepared defensively and organizationally to respond to this type of attack. Although in these leagues there are a large number of athletes who play a high number of games, either for their clubs or for their national teams, the smaller number of effective training units does not remove the ability to maintain the same behavioral standards, thus demonstrating the high behavioral maturity of teams.
Regarding goals obtained through offensive transitions (OT), it is observed that these are substantially the same between the variables “Rounds 1 to 5” and “Rounds Last 5”. Also, the average of goals per offensive transition is over or nearly 1 goal per game which demonstrates the impact of Offensive transitions has in today’s football. Being temporally closer to the pre-season period (“Rounds 1 to 5”) there is the possibility of influencing the values obtained. This is the optimal time for teams to establish and organize themselves according to solid game principles, tactical plans, and strategic and action guidelines to be used during the competitive period [22]. Those facts, highlights the importance in maintaining game patterns, during the more intense competitive period the team can maintain the same behaviors even though less training units are performed. The pre-competitive period has a concrete importance in defining the game patterns that last throughout the entire season. However, the data obtained indicate the constancy of the results happen indifferently of the variable consider and the championship. However, it would be expected throughout the competitive period, once the training process presupposes a systematic application, to ensure that adaptations occur [23], as well as periodization, to optimize competitive performance [24] and for that reason unexpectable the results showed residual differences on the “rounds last 5” variable.
The goals obtained through positive outcome (POS OUT), being goals from Set Pieces that resulted from an offensive transition, are as expected in smaller numbers than others. However, they have an important preponderance as these, along with the goals from Offensive Transition, are responsible for a high percentage of all goals obtained in the sample (Emerging Leagues 43.65%; Marginal Leagues 41.97%; Top Leagues 54.21%). This data unambiguously demonstrates that offensive transitions have greater chances of success than other styles of attack [8,9,10, 25]. The goals obtained exclusively through POS OUT remain virtually unchanged in the analyzed variables. This indicates that as the competition progresses, regardless the pre-analyzes games, teams aren’t able to avoid positive outcomes, particularly in high-risk areas. The Top Leagues present in more than half of the goals scored the participation of offensive transitions (either directly or through positive outcomes). This number, in addition to being expressive, has been growing as shown by previous studies where offensive transitions were responsible for 20 to 32% of all goals.
There were no differences found in goals scored from set pieces (SP) between the two groups of variables, “Rounds 1 to 5” and “Rounds Last 5”. However, it is important to note that in top leagues, SP goals have an average of more than one goal per game, indicating that stronger teams take better advantage of these moments. Top leagues attach significant importance to these moments as they have fewer training units and present less physical wear and tear in their preparation, enabling shorter and more specific training sessions, including individualized training for players [26].
Despite the various constraints, one would expect a significant increase in the number of goals scored during the competitive period due to the formation of game automatisms and normalization by the teams, or due to the differences between the teams and the willingness to take risks to achieve a higher number of goals [26]. The breaks in the competitive calendar may hinder the formation of the teams’ game automatisms [27]. Many players are involved in other competitions, including playing/training for national teams. However, it is the athletes and teams that are deprived of competition that suffer the most from the stagnation of the automatisms, which could be better honed in the context of actual competition.
The teams often have analysts responsible for analyzing the game patterns of opponents, which increases the predictability of their opponents’ actions [28]. It is therefore expected that teams will concede fewer goals from No Transitions (NT) in the “Rounds Last 5” variable, since these attacks take longer and allow more time for the teams to organize themselves defensively. Empirically, it is also expected that teams will score fewer goals through Positive Outcomes (POS OUT) during this period, as teams should be able to better control where offensive transitions end due to the presence of specialists in executing these moments. At the beginning of the competitive period (“Rounds 1 to 5”), one would expect more goals to be scored through Offensive Transitions (OT), Positive Outcomes (POS OUT), and Set Pieces (SP) due to the surprise factor and risk acceptance that teams tend to have in the early stages of the championships, where many points are at stake.
External factors that were not taken into account or recorded in this research include, but are not limited to, temperatures, the number of spectators present, the quality of the opponent, the number of training units, or the recovery times between competitions.
This study is groundbreaking as it compares two distinct competitive periods across three different groups of leagues. Future research could investigate the performance of teams in repeated matches to determine whether the observed differences are specific to certain leagues or if they can be generalized and compared. Additionally, exploring potential trends in end-of-season matches could yield valuable insights. It would also be beneficial to incorporate the perspectives of coaches and players, particularly in regard to the emphasis placed on goal-scoring strategies during the training microcycle.
