Soccer is a fast-paced game that requires both physical and mental agility. The best soccer position for players who are fast runners, such as track athletes, is the center forward position. This allows them to be in constant contact with the ball, which helps them maintain possession of it and distribute it to teammates.

The Second Best Soccer Position For Fast Players

The next best position for fast players is the striker.

A striker plays as a forward in front of the goal and tries to score goals or assists other teammates.

In general, strikers have high levels of speed and agility, which make them perfect for this role. For example, Lionel Messi was voted World Player of the Year five consecutive times because he has amazing ball control skills that allow him to outrun defenders en route to scoring goals!

Why Track Athletes Make Great Soccer Players

Track athletes make great soccer players because they have the best combination of strength, speed, stamina, balance, and coordination. In general, track athletes are best suited for this position because they can use their mental and physical abilities to best defend. 

For example, a track athlete may be able to run faster than any other player on the field, which will allow them to fill in space more quickly if someone is trying to break through.

The fastest runner in the world, Usain Bolt, retired himself as a track athlete in order to pursue his career as a soccer player and focus full time on becoming an outstanding soccer player. However, his career was short-lived and ended prematurely. According to The Guardian, he did well in the sport and even scored goals, however, due to disagreements with his contracts he quit to pursue other career ventures.

With a long stride and an accurate sprint, track athletes can best fill in the space behind another player who has been tackled or is moving downfield to cover for someone else.

They have the best chance of getting past defenders by using their speed as weapons against them.

But being a great track athlete doesn’t necessarily mean you will make a great soccer player!

Why Being A Fast Player Is Not Enough

Being a fast runner is an advantage; however, it is not the only skill required by strikers or forwards to be successful in their position. As well as being a fast player, a good forward needs to be able to dribble, pass and shoot.

Athletes may best be in a position to take advantage of their speed with the space behind the player who has been tackled or is moving downfield, but they may not have an opportunity to use it if they are slow at dribbling passing, or shooting.

Similarly, fast runners and sprinters are used to short bursts of energy for a few seconds! While they do need to be in optimal condition to be great sprinters, they also need the stamina to be able to maintain their skill on the pitch for 90 minutes. If they don’t, they will experience fatigue quicker than other players.

They need to work on these skills as well when working towards becoming better soccer players. It’s important for them to develop all aspects of what can make up being a successful striker (or forward). Cutting back on any one skill too much could lead them astray from their goals as a team player and result in long-term frustration. 

The best way for athletes to try out this new sport will be to learn how to play both positions and study all soccer positions.

Soccer Is A Team Sport!

Soccer is a team sport, so a single fast player means very little in the grand scheme of the game.

When playing on a team, being the fastest player has its limitations. You may be fast, but if your teammates are not? Or, worse, there is no cohesion, and they do not know what you are doing? You may as well be a lone wolf out there.

Advice For Fast Athletes Who Want To Play Soccer

The best thing you can do if you are a young athlete with natural speed is train hard with sprinting drills and agility exercises so that you can transfer your speed into those skills to use when necessary.

Another thing you will want to do is get as much practice playing either position on a team. Practicing the sport on a team is essential to understand how your speed can benefit the entire team.