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Coaching Corner:
Training the Central Midfielder
(Part 1 of 4)
By Roland Loy, German A-License
(Courtesy of
Success in Soccer from
the
NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - September 29, 2004)
This is Part 1 in a four-part series that will focus on training central
midfield players. Part 1 will deal with defensive exercises, part 2
will focus on building the attack, part three will address passing to the
front runners, while the fourth and final installment will concentrate
on shooting.
1. 1 v. 1 DEFENSE
Set Up
-
Three 3 v. 3s on small goals take place simultaneously on three separate
fields.
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The midfielder starts out between the fields.
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Have extra balls ready at each goal.
Sequence
- The midfielder runs into one of the fields where his teammates are not in
possession of the ball, where he tries to win the ball quickly by creating a
4 v. 3 situation.
- After winning the ball, the midfielder switches at top speed to another
field where the opposition has the ball.
- The round is over when the midfielder has helped his teammates win the
ball in all three fields.
Objectives
- Winning the ball quickly by outnumbering opponents around it
- Identifying situations quickly
2. GOING AFTER A DRIBBLING OPPONENT
Set Up
-
One midfielder plays against two defenders on a small goal on the endline.
-
The defenders have two teammates 15 yards to the right and left of the
small goal.
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Two more small goals stand on the opposite endline, about 30 yards apart.
Sequence
- Each play starts with the midfielder and defenders playing 1 v. 2 on the
small goal.
- If the defenders win the ball, they immediately bring one of their two
teammates into play, and that player starts a solo attack on one of the two
counter attack goals.
- The midfielder goes after the attacker and tries to stop him from
dribbling across the goal line.
Objectives
- Switching quickly to defense and pursuing opponents
- Skillful 1 v. 1 play against a dribbler
3. STOPPING A DRIBBLER
Set up
-
The coach stands behind three small goals.
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The midfielder takes a position in front of the goals, facing away from
the coach.
-
The remaining players have one ball each and divide into three groups of
equal size.
-
Each group lines up facing a goal, about 25 yards away.
Sequence
- The coach points to one group, giving the first player in that group the
signal to start dribbling toward the goal opposite.
- The midfielder reacts as quickly as possible, moving to the appropriate
side to stop the attacker and using skillful 1 v. 1 play to keep him from
dribbling across the goal line.
- If the midfielder wins the ball, the coach gives the next signal.
Objectives
- Moving quickly to the ball
- stopping opponents and initiating 1 v. 1s at high speed
4. INTERCEPTING PASSES AND INTERFERING WITH BALL
CONTROL
Set up
-
The coach stands behind three small goals.
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Three more small goals stand about 25 yards away, with one attacker in
front of each of them.
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The midfielder has a ball and stands just in front of the three attackers,
opposite the coach.
Sequence
- The midfielder starts the play with a pass
on the ground to the coach.
- The coach kicks a long pass to one of
the three attackers (A, B, C), who starts an attack on one of the three
goals in front of the coach.
- The midfielder's job is either to
intercept the pass or to interfere with the subsequent attack. If he
wins the ball, he has an opportunity to score on one of the other three
goals.
Objectives
- Intercepting passes
- Interfering with an opponent's ball
control
- 1 v. 1 play against a dribbler
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Coaching
Corner: Training the Central Midfielder (Part 2 of 4)
By Roland Loy, German A-License
(Courtesy of
Success in Soccer from
the
NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - Oct 13, 2004)
This is part 2 in a four-part series
that will focus on training central midfield players. Part 1 dealt with
defensive exercises, part 2 will focus on building the attack, part three
will address passing to the front runners, while the fourth and final
installment will concentrate on shooting.
1. SECURING THE BALL
Set Up
- Two teams of five play inside a marked
field.
- There is one neutral midfielder.
Sequence 
The two teams play 5 v. 5 to maintain
possession of the ball. The midfielder helps whichever team has the ball.
Various extra requirements serve to highlight the midfielder's role as
"ball distributor:"
The ball must go to the midfielder every
third pass (or fourth, or fifth) at the latest.
- The midfielder must always dribble at
least 20 yards.
- The midfielder must pass directly.
Objectives
- Training the midfielder as a passing
station and "ball distributor"
- Confident combination play
2. HEADER AFTER A LONG PASS
Set Up
- Two teams of four play on two endlines
(dribbling across the opposition's endline = one point).
- Team A consists entirely of
midfielders.
- The coach has a number of balls and
stands outside the field, ready to pass.
Sequence
- The two teams start out facing each
other in one half.
- The coach starts each play with a
long, high pass to one of the midfielders.
- As soon as the coach passes, the other
team can leave its half and interfere with the midfielders. The pass
receiver must head the ball to a teammate, starting the 4 v. 4.
Objectives
- Accurate heading
- Combination play to score
3. HIGH-SPEED LONG-RANGE DRIBBLING
Set up
- Two teams play 3 v. 3 in a marked
field (about 15 yards square).
- Two small goals stand to the right and
left of this field, each 10 yards away.
Sequence
- This exercise is specially designed
for the midfielder, who plays with Team A.
- Team B starts out in possession of the
ball and plays 3 v. 3 to maintain possession as long as possible.
- If Team A's midfielder wins the ball,
he tries to dribble through one of the small goals at top speed. One
player from B is allowed to pursue him. Afterwards, a new 3 v. 3 starts
inside the field.
Objectives
- High-speed long-range dribbling
- Safe combination play
4. PASSES FROM THE MIDFIELD
Set up
- Two teams play 4 v. 4 inside a marked
field along the centerline.
- Team B consists entirely of
midfielders.
- Another pair of players stands on each
of the larger field's sidelines: 1 v. 1 between an outside attacker and
a defender.
- One goalkeeper stands in the goal.
Sequence
- Team A starts the 4 v. 4 in possession
of the ball.
- If Team B wins the ball, one player
immediately shows for and receives a pass outside the small field. This
player then kicks a high pass, without interference, to one of the two
outside attackers, who shows at high speed for the pass (his opponent is
only half-active).
- The outside attacker crosses to
another midfielder in front of the goal.
Objectives
- Accurate high passes
- Initiating wing attacks
5. QUICK SWITCH TO THE ATTACK
Set up
- Two teams of six play in a field half.
- One player from each team (the
midfielder) has extra duties.
- There are two goals with goalkeepers.
Sequence
- The two teams play 6 v. 6 on the two
goals with goalkeepers. Various extra requirements highlight the
midfielder's role:
- The midfielder may only kick long
passes.
- An opponent is permanently assigned to
the midfielder.
- The midfielder must pass directly.
Objectives
- Fast counterattacks initiated by the
midfielder
- Safe combination play
6. PLAYMAKER TRAINING
Set up
- Set up two goals with goalkeepers on
the ends of a field half.
- Use cones to make the half somewhat
narrower.
- Players form two teams of six.
- Another player (a midfielder) plays
the role of a "neutral player."
Sequence
- The two teams play 6 v. 6 to set up
shots and score. The neutral midfielder plays with whichever team has
the ball.
- All players are limited to a maximum
of two touches, except the neutral "playmaker," who has unlimited
touches.
Objectives
- Midfielder constantly involved
- Speed of play and direction of attack
determined by the midfielder
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Coaching
Corner: Training the Central Midfielder (Part 3 of 4)
By Roland Loy, German A-License
(Courtesy of
Success in Soccer from
the
NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - Oct 27, 2004)
This is part 3 in a four-part series
that will focus on training central midfield players. Part 1 dealt with
defensive exercises, while part 2 focused on building the attack. Part
three will address passing to the front runners, while the fourth and
final installment will concentrate on shooting.
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1. LONG PASS TO THE FRONT
Set Up
- Two attackers play against two
man-markers in front of the goal.
- The midfielder stands at the
centerline with a number of balls.
- A goalkeeper stands in the goal.
Sequence
- The midfielder dribbles forward a
short distance and tries to get one of the two forwards (who show
for the pass) into position to score with a long pass.
- The forwards get away from of
their opponents (who are only half-active at first) as follows: They
approach their opponents at a moderate pace, then run into open
space. They should score directly on the through pass if possible.
Objectives
- Accurate long passes to the front
- Developing an overview of the game
2. SHORT PASS TO THE FRONT
Set Up
- Two attackers play two 1 v. 1s
against two man-markers in front of the goal.
- The midfielder stands at the
centerline with a number of balls.
- A goalkeeper stands in the goal.
Sequence
- The midfielder dribbles a
relatively long distance toward the goal and tries once again to get
one of the two forwards into shooting position with a short pass.
- The forwards get away from of
their opponents (who are only half-active at first) as follows: At
the right moment, they cross paths at top speed, creating an opening
for a well-aimed through pass.
- They should score directly on the
pass if possible.
Objectives
- Accurate long passes to the front
- Developing an overview of the game
3. CROSS FROM THE OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF THE
GOAL
Set up
- Two attackers play against two
man-markers just beyond one corner of the penalty box.
- Two midfielders stand in the
backfield.
- A goalkeeper stands in the goal.
Sequence
- The rear midfielder (A) passes to
the forward in front of the penalty box, who drops the ball directly
back to the second midfielder (B).
- B controls the ball briefly, then
passes to the other forward, who passes back to A again (A has made
a high-speed run up the wing in the meantime).
- A dribbles a short distance and
crosses to the two forwards in front of the goal.
Objectives
- Accurate crosses from the
midfielder
- Initiating wing attacks
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Coaching
Corner: Training the Central Midfielder (Part 4 of 4)
By Roland Loy, German A-License
(Courtesy of
Success in Soccer from
the
NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - November 2004) |
This is part 4 in a four-part series
that will focus on training central midfield players. Part 1 dealt
with defensive exercises, while part 2 focused on building the attack.
Part three addressed passing to the front runners, while the fourth
and final installment will concentrate on shooting.
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1. SETTING UP A SHOT
Set Up
- Two forwards play two 1 v. 1s against two man-markers inside the
penalty box, in front of a goal with goalkeeper.
- The midfielder starts out outside the penalty box line, with a
number of balls.
Sequence
- The midfielder tries to create shooting opportunities by playing
com
 binations
with the two forwards.
- The midfielder can only shoot from inside the penalty box.
- The attackers have various options for the attack, e.g. wall
passes, overlapping, etc.
- If the man-markers win the ball, they try to dribble out of the
penalty box.
Objectives
- Setting up shots with combination plays
- Accurate shooting
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2. SHOOTING AFTER HIGH-SPEED
DRIBBLING
Set Up
-
The midfielder stands about 30 yards in front of a goal
with goalkeeper, with a number of balls.
-
One defender stands outside the penalty box.
-
Two pass receivers stand to the defender's right and
left.
Sequence
-
The midfielder dribbles at top speed toward the defender
and tries to get past, enter the penalty box and shoot.
-
Alternatively, he can play a wall pass with one of the
pass receivers.
Objectives
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3. SETTING UP A SHOT WITH A HEADER
Set up
- Three players take assigned positions in front of a goal with
goalkeeper:
- One player (or the coach) stands on a sideline with a number of
balls.
- One player (the attacking forward) stands inside the penalty
box.
- The midfielder stands outside the penalty box.
Sequence
- The passer on the sideline kicks a long, high pass to the
forward inside the penalty box.
- The forward heads the ball back into the path of the midfielder,
who is moving toward the goal.
- Depending on the situation, the midfielder shoots either
directly or after briefly controlling the ball.
- Possible variations: high passes from various positions to the
forward, or with an opponent for the forward.
Objectives
- Fast, accurate shots set up by a header
- Moving up to the front
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