Detailed Position Roles
Overview
By default, Squadd assigns players to broad position bands — GK, DEF, MID, FWD. The Detailed Position Roles module expands this to specific on-pitch roles: Left Back, Centre Back, Right Back, Left Mid, Centre Mid, Right Wing, Striker, and so on.
When enabled, lineup slots show precise role labels rather than generic band names, and the fair-play substitution algorithm swaps like-for-like (defenders replace defenders, midfielders replace midfielders).
Enabling Detailed Positions
- Go to Settings → Optional modules
- Toggle Detailed position roles on
The lineup builder will use specific role labels from your next fixture onwards.
How Roles Are Assigned
Roles are formation-driven — they're generated automatically from the formation you've selected, not from individual player profiles. A player's primary position (DEF, MID, FWD) determines which band they're placed in; the specific role within that band comes from their slot in the formation.
Role labels by formation slot count
Defence:
| Defenders | Roles assigned |
|---|---|
| 1 | CB |
| 2 | LB, RB |
| 3 | LB, CB, RB |
| 4 | LB, LCB, RCB, RB |
| 5 | LWB, LCB, CB, RCB, RWB |
Midfield:
| Midfielders | Roles assigned |
|---|---|
| 1 | CM |
| 2 | LM, RM |
| 3 | LM, CM, RM |
| 4 | LM, LCM, RCM, RM |
| 5 | LM, LCM, CM, RCM, RM |
Attack:
| Forwards | Roles assigned |
|---|---|
| 1 | ST |
| 2 | LF, RF |
| 3 | LW, ST, RW |
| 4 | LW, LF, RF, RW |
How It Changes the Lineup Builder
With detailed positions on, each player chip in the lineup shows their specific role (e.g. LB, CM, ST) instead of their broad band (DEF, MID, FWD).
Swapping players
Swapping behaviour changes depending on whether you're swapping within the same band or across bands:
- Same-band swap (e.g. LB ↔ RB): Both players stay on the pitch, their role labels swap. Used when you want to flip two defenders without a substitution.
- Cross-band swap (e.g. DEF ↔ MID, or starter ↔ bench): A full position swap — the bench player takes the starter's slot, including their role label.
Tap any two players to swap them. Squadd detects whether it's same-band or cross-band automatically.
Fair-play substitution
With detailed positions enabled, the fair-play rotation algorithm matches positions when rotating:
- A defender coming off is replaced by the bench player with the fewest minutes who is also a defender
- A midfielder is replaced by a midfielder
- All-Rounders can fill any outfield slot
This prevents the rotation putting a striker into a central back slot just because they have the fewest minutes.
Recommended For
Detailed positions work best for teams where players have established positions and consistent roles. It's most useful for:
- 9v9 and 11v11 — enough players to have distinct positional identities
- Teams with set defensive shapes where role-specific rotation matters
For 5v5 and 7v7, the broad band system is usually sufficient — players cover so much of the pitch that specific roles are less meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update player profiles when I enable this?
No. Player profiles still use broad bands (GK, DEF, MID, FWD, ALL) — detailed roles are generated at lineup time from the formation. No changes to player records are needed.
What if a player's broad position doesn't match where I want to play them?
Swap them manually in the lineup builder. Squadd will show a warning if a player's primary position doesn't match the slot they're assigned to, but it won't prevent the assignment.
Can I turn this off mid-season?
Yes — toggling it off reverts the lineup builder to broad bands immediately. Existing match records and stats are unaffected.
Does this affect how stats are recorded?
No. Stats (goals, assists, minutes, etc.) are recorded the same way regardless of whether detailed positions are on.