Central midfielder
Box to box: help keep the ball, then arrive in their box, and get back when we lose it.
Six-week programme for central midfielders
Where you stand
The same player, four different moments. Play it through and watch how the team's tactic moves you. You are the solid orange player; your teammates are orange rings.
Your job
What every coach will ask of you, whatever the tactic.
With the ball
- Move into the space between opponents so a teammate can find you.
- Receive on the half-turn, so you can play forward.
- Arrive late at the edge of the box when the ball goes wide.
Without it
- Stay between the ball and your goal.
- Block passes through the middle, then press when the ball goes in.
- Keep the midfield line level and close together.
When it changes hands
- When we lose it, the nearest player presses. Close the passes near the ball.
- When we win it, run forward past the ball if you can.
How tactics change your game
Your coach's tactic decides a lot of what you do. Here is the same position under different plans.
Possession
Stay close to the ball, make triangles, and keep it moving. Patience: play back and go again.
Counter-attack
When we win it, run forward at once. Your late run into the box is a big threat.
Mid block
Hold the midfield line around halfway. Wait for the trigger.
High press
Push up to mark their midfielders, so the pass into them is never free.
Try it yourself: change the tactic in the team builder and tap your position to see your job change.
Roles in this position
Coaches ask for different versions of the same position. Know which one you are playing.
Box-to-box
Helps in both boxes.
With the ball. Get forward to support the attack and arrive late in the box.
Without. Get back goal side. You cover the most ground in the team.
Playmaker
Sets the tempo and finds the killer pass.
With the ball. Get on the ball as often as you can. Check your shoulder, receive on the half-turn, and play forward.
Without. Hold your position in the midfield line.
Runner from midfield
Attacks the channel between full-back and centre-back.
With the ball. Run into the gap between their full-back and centre-back, in the half-space, to receive or shoot.
Without. Sprint back into the midfield line.
Holding midfielder
Stays back to protect the defence.
With the ball. Stay behind the ball as a safe pass back.
Without. Screen the back line.
Practise it in three steps
First the technique on your own, then the decisions in a small game, then the whole team's idea in the match.
Step 1 On your own
first touch · 10 min · Just you
Wall passes across the body
Pass against a wall, take the rebound across your body to the other cone, and pass again. The best way to practise passing and first touch on your own.
turning · 12 min · Just you
Turn and go
Dribble to a line, turn sharply, and accelerate away. Learn four turns: the inside hook, the outside hook, the drag back and the Cruyff.
shooting · 15 min · Just you, or with a friend in goal
Strike the corners
Push the ball out of your feet and strike it low into a corner. Accuracy first, then power.
Step 2 In a small game
first touch · 12 min · You and a friend
Receive on the half-turn
Your friend passes to you from behind. Open your body, take the ball with your back foot and play forward through a gate.
possession · 12 min · Groups of 5
Rondo: 4 against 1
Four players keep the ball from one defender in the middle. If the defender wins it, the player who lost it goes in.
passing · 12 min · You and a friend
Give and go
Pass to your friend, run past a cone that stands in for a defender, and get the ball back in front of you. The quickest way past someone is a pass.
Step 3 In the match
- The third-man runA passes to B, and B passes first time to C, who was already running. The defenders watch the first pass and miss the runner.
- Switch the playWhen the other team crowds one side, move the ball quickly to the other side, where there is space.
- Win it straight backThe moment you lose the ball, the nearest players press it at once, for about five seconds, before the other team can get away.
Skills to masterReceiving on the half-turn · inside-foot pass · Striking with the laces · Cruyff turn
What would you do?
Two quick ones for your position. Pick an answer, then see why.
Your match moments
Full moments where your position has a job: see it in a match, make the choice, then practise it.
- Beat the pressStand in the space behind their midfielder, not in front of them.
- Get past their midfieldBe the runner: go as the first pass is played, not after.
- We have just lost itClose the nearest pass, not the ball.
- Make a chance from the wingArrive late around the penalty spot, not early.
- A winger runs at youBlock the pass back inside.
- Press togetherMark the nearest passing option when the trigger happens.
- Defend a cornerEdge of the box, ready for the clearance.
- Press their goal kickStay close to their other midfielder.
- Take a quick throw-inMove away, then come back sharply.
- Defend a throw-inMark goal side, close enough to touch.
- A free kick near their boxArrive as the ball rolls, and shoot first time.
- Take a cornerWait on the edge of the box.
- Through on goalLook up early.
- Go round themOpen your body to see both sides.
- Go over themPush up behind the ball for the second ball.
- Three against two on the breakDrive at the gap between their defenders, fast.
- The second ballMove when the kick goes up, not when it lands.
- Follow in the reboundHold the edge of the box for anything cleared.
- One down, time running outPenalty spot, then the edge of the box.
- Our kick-offFace forward. Look for the wide run first.
- A penalty for usEdge of the box, the other side.
- Our goal kickShow on an angle in the middle.
Take it into your next match
Look for
- Where is the space between their players?
- Who is behind me before I receive?
- Is the ball going wide? Then the edge of the box is mine.
Your challenge. In your next match, after every pass you make, move to a new space so you can get it back.
In your head
Midfielders make lots of decisions. You will get some wrong. Keep wanting the ball.
For younger players
Young midfielders chase the ball everywhere. Give them one job at a time: "get in a space where I can pass to you".