Positional Numbering System

 In 2012, U.S. Soccer created a technical group with the aim of formally addressing and establishing in a philosophy of soccer for the United States.  One of the many results of this technical group is the numbering system. While it’s similar to other countries such as England and Germany, it’s not the same.  The history of numbers in the game goes back to the 1920’s, so while the concept of a numbering system is certainly not something U.S. Soccer has created, it is a teaching and communication concept that is now being formally implemented in coaching and player education platforms.  

Why has U.S. Soccer transitioned to this system? According to Dave Chesler, U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching Education, “A standard numbering system for positions and their roles provides a concise and common method of communicating technical information about individual and team play.  These same tags can be applied to any system and adapted to all levels of play. Effective coaches are clear, concise and accurate with their communication."

As the use of numbers has begun to trickle into mainstream soccer discussions, it’s essential that our children understand the numbers and their respective roles.   As parents, it’s important we have a general knowledge of the concept. No need to get carried away and feel you have to “talk-the-talk” with college coaches and say, for instance, “My child is interested in attending your college.  He’s usually a 4, but also is comfortable in the 6 and has the speed to play a 2.” However, if the college coach is talking to your child and asks where they like to play on the field and your child answers with numbers instead of position names, I guarantee the coach will appreciate their knowledge of the game.  

As coaches, we have transitioned from discussing actual positions which are more related to a specific system, to discussing numbers and therefore the characteristics a player brings to the table in relation to what is generally required of that number/role within our individual team’s system of play.  

The Mockingbird Valley Premier are proud to incorporate into its training/teaching philosophy the same "numbering system" that US Soccer has adopted recently.  Simply put, the numbering system relates position on the field to numbers. In a 4-3-3, for instance, the right outside back is called a “2” and the defensive mid-fielder is referred to a “6” and, a number most people have heard of, the play-making attacker is called a “10”, versus the more target attacker which is a “9”.  Talking tactics with numbers is much easier than using position names as the positions are called so many different versions of a name in various systems. For instance, there is a wing-back, a fullback, an outside back – or simply, there is a “2”

When we start to think about the general playing characteristics associated with each number, we start to see how all of this makes sense from coaching tactical perspective, from a scouting and recruiting perspective and from a player education perspective.  Coaches, with their new education, are now evaluating the tactical adjustments necessary for their system of play based on the qualities of their players. While recruiting for a college or national team, coaches and scouts can set out to identify and organize the maze of players more easily.

Here are the numbers as they relate to the positions and what are some basic characteristics of each.