Keep ball
The success of Spain at international level proves a game based on possession can win the biggest trophies. Try this exercise with your players and they will start appreciating the value of keeping the ball. MORE
Midfield
Coaching a midfield is about making sure each of your midfielders understands their role and responsibilities. With good coaching and organisation your midfield should be able to support the defence and take the ball up the pitch, combining with the forwards to create and score goals. They need to have vision to see where to pass, and the skill and speed to execute their tactics.
These soccer drills and small-sided games look at a number of different midfield scenarios and suggest methods and coaching games to play to boost your midfield players’ skills.
The midfield enforcer
The enforcer’s role in the team is to stop opponent’s attacks by applying pressure and making tackles. He plays just in front of the defence and is often the first resistance an opposition attack faces. MORE
The art club
This is about creating space in midfield when build ups start from the back and fullbacks or centre backs have possession and want to use it cleverly. MORE
Midfield maestro
Arsenal and Barcelona are excellent examples of teams that play composed football through their Midfield Maestros (Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets). This session will help your team launch attacks through the middle of the pitch. MORE
6v6 transition
This session is all about possession play in a tight midfield area. Players must use quick decision-making coupled with crisp, clean passing to move the ball between target players. MORE
Create goals from midfield
in Email newsletters, Midfield
Long passes and long shots can be a spectacular way to get the ball in the back of the net. MORE
The Conductor
The conductor may be the person who controls a group of musicians but on your team, he pulls the strings when it comes to attacks. Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona is one famous player who thrives in this crucial role. MORE
Keep Ball
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
A key to a passing team is retaining possession in midfield. Use this session to show your players how to keep hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch. MORE
The dynamic midfielder
The term “box to box” is given to midfielders who are able to get from one penalty box to the other in order to both create and score goals. This dynamic type of player is worth his weight in gold because he is vital in defence as well. MORE
Attacking midfielder
One of the attacking midfielder’s key jobs is to get into advanced positions to create goalscoring opportunities for strikers and find the back of the net himself. MORE
Get it wide
Use this session to encourage your players to get the ball wide in order to open up the pitch for an attacking move and to create more scoring opportunities MORE
The fourth dimension
If you want to score more goals, use this activity to teach your players to develop solid midfield passing and to attack with the help of wide midfielders MORE
Create a team of ball winners
in Defending, Email newsletters, Midfield
If you find that even the brightest of your young stars is prone to losing possession when on a surging forward run, always make sure that each member of your team understands how important it is to get the ball back as quickly as possible. MORE
The enforcer
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
If you want your players to understand the role of the midfield enforcer, try this challenging game to teach them how to win back possession. MORE
The middle men
Central midfielders are key to the development of all matches. Help your “middle men” influence the game by improving their movement and their ability to gain possession of the ball. MORE
Double Dare
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
Use this session to teach players the value of hard working midfielders. They can disrupt even the best passing teams by working in pairs to block any moves through midfield. MORE
Create the best attacking midfield
in Email newsletters, Midfield
To dominate the centre of the park you need players who can drive through midfield with excellent close control and balance, get into advanced positions and link with strikers to create goalscoring opportunities. MORE
Switching play in midfield
Space can be exposed by switching the play. This means moving the ball quickly from one side of the pitch to the other to change the point of attack. And open space can lead to more chances of scoring goals. MORE
Corridor of power
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
If you want your players to work on their close control and pinpoint passing, use this advanced training session to have them playing like midfield dynamos MORE
Midfield brains
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
This game develops quick thinking midfielders like Denmark and Spurs star Christian Eriksen. Players like this can set up attacks by reacting quickly to moments of transition in a game, principally moving from defence to attack. MORE
Midfield score
To make your attacking midfielders as effective as England and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling you need to get them to shoot at every opportunity. This session is about scoring and reacting, beating a keeper or getting past a defender. MORE
Midfield surge
This session gives the attacking team a deadline to win the ball and score goals. It also puts the pressure on the defenders to keep hold of the ball and encourages midfield/attackers to win it and score MORE
Xavi and Iniesta
The Barcelona midfield pairing of Xavi and Iniesta have taken football to a new high in terms of passing, creation and domination of the ball. This session will elevate the skills of your players so they can pass and move like these Spanish masters. MORE
Midfielder/forward combinations
Play a 6v6 match with goalkeepers but condition both teams to play a 2-1-2 formation. Encourage the midfield player on both sides to join the attackers at every opportunity. MORE
