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.
in Midfield, Practice plans
Each midfielder takes turns to play two onetwos and runs forward to shoot at goal. MORE
in Midfield, Practice plans
This session is designed to improve your team’s use of a defensive midfielder. Sergio Busquets plays in this role for Barcelona and Spain. In this position, he is able to provide defensive cover and can also begin attacks by passing forward. MORE
in Midfield
Use this fast-paced training game to get two centre midfielders and a defensive midfielder moving quickly into positions to support each other, just like they would in a match. Why use it This is a refresher for players to get into supporting positions when they are near the player with the ball. Set up Use... MORE
in Fun soccer games, Midfield
Getting ball wide early, passing, running with the ball, dribbling, and use of midfield pivot player to create opportunities. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
Lewis Cook became the first man to lift a World Cup for England since Bobby Moore lifted the old Jules Rimet trophy in 1966, after leading the Under 20s to a win over Venezuela in the final. They won a frantic game thanks to a first-half strike from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and aided by a second-half... MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
This possession-based session gives players a good idea of looking and moving to the pass and awards points if the players succeed in moving the ball through the thirds. Why use it This is a session based on passing and moving between the thirds. It is quite a technical game but an excellent session in... 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. Why use it Holding onto the ball is the best way to ensure opponents don’t score. Passing and moving using good control is the... MORE
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
What an amazing achievement for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante to win back-to-back titles at different clubs. He’s been the model of consistency with the way he breaks play up and £32 million looks a bargain for such a match winner. The weekend saw Kante win his second consecutive Premier League title when Chelsea saw off West... MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
Yaya Toure 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 Ivory Coast star. Why use it Attacking play from midfield can fire a team forward and create the kind of chances in the final third that... MORE
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
This session is all about cover and support play. Every player has to attack and defend which helps you to develop match play in training. Why use it Big overload for team with no goalkeeper coaches players in the need to shoot early when outnumbered and for the overload team to cover at the back.... 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. Why use it Working in pairs in midfield or attack is an ideal way to disrupt passing teams by positioning and support play. Anticipation is... MORE
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
Give your players plenty of decision making opportunities in this fun transition game, which also exposes players to lots of overload situations. Set up Pitch size: 30 x 20 yards (minimum) / up to 40 x 25 yards (maximum) Two teams of four players Two goals Two keepers Rules Each team defends one goal. One... MORE
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
Encourage your players to be as creative as Juan Mata around the penalty area and teach them the importance of a well-weighted pass and a well-timed run. Why use it Creativity around the box is vital to ensuring the creation of scoring chances. The type and accuracy of pass are key, as is a good... MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
If you want flying wingers you have to be prepared to take risks. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
The best teams switch the ball continuously, looking for space and probing the opposition's defence for an error. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
Being the boss in midfield means taking charge of all situations that arise and making the most of moments of transition. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
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. MORE
in Midfield, Small Sided Games
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. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
This session will help teach your players to play like Arsenal's 22-year-old attacking midfielder Jack Wilshere. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
Teams play better when a strong midfielder is winning the ball off the attackers and creating opportunities for a counter attack. It’s a great way to turn the tables on opponents. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
The "backbone" is the spine of the team. If you can play matches with a strong backbone, you can fit other players into the formation that have a role with more freedom. They can roam all over the pitch. 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
in Midfield, Soccer drills and 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. MORE
in Midfield, Soccer drills and skills
It's understandable for some players to want to bypass the crowded, pressurised environment that is the centre of the pitch. MORE
