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.
A coach this week asked me how he could get his team to link better from defence through to attack. We associate this sort of fluid movement with teams like Barcelona, but the skills the Catalans use can be easily learned and replicated through this session.
It’s understandable for some players to want to bypass the crowded, pressurised environment that is the centre of the pitch.
Develop the ability of your players to pick out team-mates and create space for them with quick but effective passes, just as Tom Cleverley has done for Manchester United this season
A strong player who wins the ball and passes it to the feet of the attackers… I’m sure everybody wants one in their team but don’t worry, you can create your own.
If you want flying wingers you have to be prepared to take risks.
The best teams switch the ball continuously, looking for space and probing the opposition’s defence for an error.
Being the boss in midfield means taking charge of all situations that arise and making the most of moments of transition.
Use this session to turn your midfielders into a well-oiled attacking machine and teach them the benefits of bringing strikers into the game with some exciting one touch play.
If you want your players to create goal scoring chances like the Three Amigos do at Chelsea, try this exciting and fast-moving game and you’ll soon see the benefits.
This session will help teach your players to play like Arsenal’s 22-year-old attacking midfielder Jack Wilshere.
