Ever heard a commentator mention a "CDM" or a "left wing-back" and wondered what on earth they were on about? Football has a position — and a job — for every player on the pitch, and once you know them, the whole game makes more sense. You start to see why a player is where they are, and what they're trying to do.
Below we run through every position, from goalkeeper to striker. Each one has a quick summary if you're skim-reading, followed by the detail — the role, the skills it takes, and a current WSL player who does it well. Underneath, there's an interactive pitch: pick a formation from the drop-down and watch the players slot into place, so you can see exactly where a "number six" or a "false nine" actually stands.
Choose a formation and the players will move into position. Tap or hover over any player to see what they do.
4-3-3 — the classic attacking shape.
In short: The last line of defence and the only player allowed to handle the ball (inside their own box). Stops shots, commands the area, and increasingly starts attacks with the ball at their feet.
The role: The goalkeeper's first job is obvious — keep the ball out of the net. But the modern keeper does far more. They organise the defence in front of them, claim crosses, rush out to smother through-balls, and act as a "sweeper keeper" behind a high defensive line. With the ball, they're now expected to pass calmly out from the back and launch attacks, rather than just hoofing it clear.
Key skills: Reflexes and shot-stopping, brave positioning, command of the penalty area, and — more than ever — composure and passing range on the ball.
Watch: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) — a fearless shot-stopper who also builds attacks with accurate passing from the back.
In short: The defenders on the edges of the back four. They stop wingers, but spend just as much time bombing forward to support the attack.
The role: A full-back guards the wide areas of the defence, tracking opposition wingers and covering the flank. In the modern game they're a huge attacking weapon too — overlapping past their own winger, whipping in crosses, and sometimes tucking into midfield to help build play. It's one of the most physically demanding jobs on the pitch, up and down the same touchline for 90 minutes.
Key skills: Stamina, pace, one-on-one defending, crossing, and the timing to know when to attack and when to sit.
Watch: Katie McCabe (Arsenal) and Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City) — both attacking full-backs who chip in with goals and assists.
In short: The central defenders, usually two of them, who form the heart of the defence. Their job is to stop strikers and clear the danger.
The role: Centre-backs defend the middle of the pitch in front of their goalkeeper. They mark strikers, win headers, block shots, make last-ditch tackles and organise the defensive line — including holding the line to catch attackers offside. Increasingly they're also expected to be comfortable in possession, stepping out with the ball or playing the first pass that starts an attack.
Key skills: Strength in the air, tackling, reading the game, concentration, and calm distribution under pressure.
Watch: Leah Williamson (Arsenal) — a composed, ball-playing centre-back who reads the game superbly.
In short: A full-back on steroids. Used in systems with three centre-backs, they patrol the entire flank — defending one minute, attacking the next.
The role: When a team plays three at the back (like 3-5-2 or 5-3-2), the wing-backs provide the width on both sides. They push high to support the attack like a winger, then sprint back to defend as an extra defender when possession is lost. Enormous ground to cover, which is why wing-backs are among the fittest players on the pitch.
Key skills: Relentless stamina, pace, crossing, and the tactical sense to switch between attack and defence in an instant.
Watch: A role Katie McCabe often fills for club and country when the system calls for it.
In short: The midfielder who sits just in front of the defence, shielding the back line and breaking up opposition attacks. Often called the "anchor" or "number six."
The role: The defensive midfielder — CDM, for central defensive midfielder — is the team's shield. They screen the space in front of the centre-backs, intercept passes, make tackles, and mop up loose balls before they become dangerous. Once they win it back, they keep things simple, recycling possession to the more creative players. A great one makes the whole team tick without ever grabbing the headlines.
Key skills: Positional discipline, tackling and interceptions, reading the game, and tidy, reliable passing.
Watch: Keira Walsh (Chelsea) — a metronome who dictates tempo from deep and rarely gives the ball away.
In short: The engine room. A box-to-box player who does a bit of everything — defending, driving forward, and linking play.
The role: The central midfielder, or "number eight," is the all-rounder. They cover huge distances, helping to defend one moment and joining the attack the next. They win the ball, carry it forward, spread play out wide, and arrive late in the box to score. The best combine engine, technique and football brain in equal measure.
Key skills: Stamina, passing range, ball-carrying, timing of runs, and the versatility to defend and attack.
Watch: Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City) — tireless, technically superb, and a top ground-duel winner.
In short: The creative spark, playing just behind the striker. Their job is to unlock defences with clever passes and score their share of goals.
The role: The attacking midfielder — CAM, or "number ten" — operates in the pocket of space between the opposition's midfield and defence. It's the team's creative hub: threading through-balls, picking a killer pass, dribbling past players and popping up with goals. Defences hate them because they're so hard to pick up in that in-between zone.
Key skills: Vision, passing, close control, dribbling, and an eye for goal.
Watch: Lauren James (Chelsea) — a match-winner who can beat a defender or produce a moment of magic from nothing.
In short: The wide attackers who hug the touchline, taking on defenders and delivering crosses or cutting inside to shoot.
The role: Wingers provide a team's width and pace in attack. They run at full-backs one-on-one, whip crosses in for the striker, or — if they play on the "wrong" side (an inverted winger) — cut inside onto their stronger foot to shoot. They're often the most exciting players to watch, all trickery and direct running, and they're expected to chip in with plenty of goals and assists.
Key skills: Pace, dribbling, crossing, finishing, and the courage to keep taking defenders on.
Watch: Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) — direct, relentless, and a constant creator of chances from the left.
In short: The main goalscorer, leading the line. Their number-one job is simple — put the ball in the net.
The role: The striker, or "number nine," is the focal point of the attack and the one expected to score the goals. They lead the line, stretch defences with their runs, hold the ball up to bring teammates into play, and pounce on the half-chances inside the box. A complete centre-forward also presses defenders and wins headers, but it all comes back to finishing.
Key skills: Clinical finishing, movement and positioning, strength to hold off defenders, and composure in front of goal.
Watch: Alessia Russo (Arsenal) and Khadija Shaw (Manchester City) — two of the league's most complete forwards.
In short: A centre-forward who drops deep into midfield instead of staying up front, dragging defenders out of position and creating chaos.
The role: Not a fixed position so much as a clever twist on the striker's role. A false nine starts as the central striker but keeps dropping into midfield to collect the ball. This poses defenders an impossible question: follow them and leave a gap at the back, or let them turn and create. It's a role for a technically gifted forward who's as happy making chances as taking them.
Key skills: Technique, vision, link-up play, and the intelligence to know when to drop and when to strike.
There's no single right answer — that's the beauty of it. A 4-3-3 packs the attack; a 5-3-2 shores up the defence; a 4-2-3-1 tries to do a bit of both. Managers pick a shape to suit their players and to counter the opposition, and they'll often switch formation mid-match to chase a game or protect a lead.
Now you know who plays where, take a look at the pitch above, flick through the formations, and you'll start spotting these roles every time you watch. For more football terms explained, head over to the Jargon Buster, or dive back into the latest scores, tables and news right here on SheScores.