Like quarterbacks and point guards, good midfielders are leaders. One of the most skilled midfielders in women's soccer, Julie Foudy, was nicknamed "Loudy Foudy" by one of her coaches because she was partial to shouting instructions to her teammates. And Carlos Valderrama, with his bleached and permed hair, won the first Major League Soccer player of the year award for his Magic Johnson style, no-look passes to set up teammates. If you want to become a good midfielder, you need to bring such elements of guidance and field vision to the game.
Attacking Midfielder
Step 1
Listen to the coach's description of your team's midfielder formation and your role within it. In a typical 4-4-2 formation, for example, you have four midfielders, playing in front of four defenders and behind two forwards. You may be in the center as the attacking midfielder or the defensive midfielder, who play a bit more forward and a bit more behind respectively. Or you will play on the side of the field, as the left or right midfielder.
Step 2
Look to feed the forwards with decisive passes, if you are the attacking midfielder in your team formation. Pass with all parts of the foot: the top, inside and outside to spaces behind the defender, recommends Roy Rees, former coach of the U-16 and U-17 boys' national team, in "Coaching Soccer Successfully." Emulate Valderrama by not telegraphing your passes; look up quickly and pass promptly to your chosen target.
Step 3
Dribble in closer and take a shot yourself if the defense has focused on your forwards. Time your run so you arrive while the open space is still present but not so soon you are picked up by a defender or called offside. Practice shooting with both feet so you can use your weaker foot comfortable if a shot opportunity presents itself.
Defensive Central or Wing Midfielder
Step 1
Work on your individual defensive skills if you are the defensive central midfielder. Instruct the players around you on what to do if you lose possession. You can shout "go left," "go right," "pick up No. 7" and the like. Foudy handled this role when she switched from attacking to defensive midfielder as her career progressed.
Step 2
Take up a wide position on the field if the coach assigns you as the left or right midfielder, also known as a wing midfielder. Focus in training on aerobic conditioning by doing sprints and intervals of varying intensity to improve your endurance; you need tremendous fitness to be effective on the left or right wing.
Step 3
Run from one end of the field to another to contribute on offense and defense during the game if you are the left or right midfielder. Cross the ball at the end of a run along the wing to the area in front of the goal to set up a scoring opportunity for your forwards. Defend against players who come into your side of the field.
Tips and Warnings
- Learn to look for gaps or seams in the defense that you can exploit, Rees recommends. Gaps exist between players in a line, and seams exist between the lines of the rival team. Place yourself in these spaces to receive the ball. At the same time, try to keep yourself midway between the forwards and defense so that you can effectively serve as a link between teammates, bringing the ball up from the back to the front.
References
- "World of Soccer: A Complete Guide to the World's Most Popular Sport"; Ashley Jude Collie; 2002
- MLS; What Ever Happened To: Carlos Valderrama
- "Coaching Soccer Successfully"; Roy Rees, et al.; 2003
- "Soccer Skills and Drills"; James W. Lennox; 2006
- "The Soccer Coaching Bible"; National Soccer Coaches Association of America; 2004
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