In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball rugby union and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch (the "wings").
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Association football
In football, a winger is an attacking midfielder in a wide position. Wingers are usually players of great pace or dribbling ability so as to provide cut-backs or crosses from which strikers can score. Their main function is to support attack from the wings. Wingers do lots of high-speed running from attack to defence.
Ice hockey
Winger in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink. Nowadays, there are different types of wing men in the game -- out-and-out goal scorers, checkers who disrupt the opponents and forwards who work along the boards and in the corners. This position is typically just called "Wing", often preceded by the side on which the player normally skates (Left Wing or Right Wing).
Handball
In Handball are two wing positions: left wing and right wing. In an typical team, these positions are occupied by fast and realtively small players. One of their main jobs in a game are fast attacks.
Rugby league and rugby union
Wingers or wings play on either the extreme left or the extreme right. They are usually the fastest players on the field and score the most tries. Wingers often fall back with the fullback to take kicks from the opposition. For more information see rugby league positions and rugby union positions.
