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.
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Making runs into the penalty box and reaching the ball from crosses is key to any team’s chances of scoring goals. This session will improve your team’s ability to attack effectively. MORE
in Attacking, Email newsletters, Midfield
I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but your midfield really is the engine of your team. Your midfielders need the energy and vision to create and drive attacks and the determination and awareness to provide defensive cover. And it’s up to you to equip your players with the skills and technique necessary to... MORE
in Attacking, Midfield, World Cup 2018
Luka Modric can drive defenders backwards, find space and exploit it. Use this fast session to teach your midfielders how to drive play in different ways, just like the World Cup Golden Ball 2018. MORE
