Return to play: Smart interplay
Check local rules about social distancing. The session is about quick and inventive play around the edge of the 18-yard box. It’s about being inventive, firstly in tight areas, then progressing into a large area. 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.
Return to play: Skills test
Great way to warm up before a match or training session. Similar to a Rondo but with more physical movement for days when it is cold or you have a practice based on fitness. MORE
The midfield screen
The midfield screen is a defensive line, shielding defenders from penetrating through balls and 1v1 situations. Use this session to get your midfield working as a unit to give the defenders behind them some protection. MORE
Attack from midfield
in Email newsletters, Midfield, Shooting
With youth soccer tentatively heading back to the playing fields now is the time to think about how and where your goals are going to come from next season. MORE
Closing Down Opponents
in Defending, Midfield, Tactics
Central defenders and supporting players have a vital role in stopping the opposition’s build up play. Players will work on the defending angle of approach to try and force the attacker away MORE
Compact your team in midfield
This session places an emphasis on midfield units staying compact and being hard to penetrate when out of possession. It identifies specific defensive roles for midfield players making them more compact and difficult to penentrate MORE
Who pulls the strings?
in Email newsletters, Midfield
When you construct your team often the missing player is the midfielder orchestrator; the one player who pulls the strings, who has great vision, who works between the lines and who can unlock the most stubborn of defences. MORE
Control the game in midfield
One thing that will help you control the pace of games and give you a winning edge is to have an effective midfield. This useful session will help your players learn how to pass the ball through midfield on the move MORE
Stop your opponents in midfield
in Email newsletters, Midfield
It can be very frustrating when your midfield gets overrun by the opposition – winning the ball in these areas is key to making sure your team is not under siege from a strong opponent. MORE
The midfield runner
Help improve your players’ movement off the ball so they can support play and create goalscoring opportunities. MORE
Midfield dynamite
A session aimed at getting players to create and utilise space in midfield. With quick passing and movement, it should help open up the opposition and make goal scoring chances. MORE
Busquets in control
Use this training session to coach your midfielders how to win possession by quickly closing down the opposition and pressing the player with the ball. MORE
Quick thinking midfielders
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
This game develops quick thinking midfielders like 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
Score or react
To make your attacking midfielders effective in front of goal 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
Get midfielders scoring goals
in Email newsletters, Midfield
Attacking midfielders have always been great to watch... especially when I have had the benefit of a great attacking midfielder in my own team. But even if I haven't been blessed with one I can create attacking midfielders that will run the game for me. MORE
Three-man midfield
Developing a three-man midfield is important because it will give your team domination and versatility. Formations that include three players in midfield, such as 4-3-3 and 4-5-1, are the most popular used in the English Premier League. MORE
The supply chain
Use this session to improve the link play between your midfielders and forwards. Midfielders who are looking to get the ball to an attacker need to create space to thread passes through, while target men need to learn to receive and control the ball MORE
Argentina midfield support
When a team is on the attack it is vital midfield support is quick and the passes are the correct weight and into space. MORE
Simply Spain
When a team is on the attack it is vital midfield support is quick and the passes are the correct weight and into space MORE
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
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
