How to Become a Better Center Midfielder in Soccer- 7 Key Tips:
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The Center Midfielder is one of the most important players on the pitch.
Your goal is to be the lynchpin and the main connection between the back line and front line (offensively and defensively).
Obviously, there are “different types of center midfielders.” You can be:
An Attacking Center Midfielder (the classic #10)
A Box-to-Box Midfielder (the classic #8)
A Center Defensive Midfielder (the classic #6)
All in all, since you are in the center of the park, your main goal is be to be the leader on the pitch and the key lynchpin to connect the back line and the attack.
You are the leader and your goal is to dictate play!
Since you are the center of attention, the center midfielder is one of the most sought out and competitive positions on the pitch.
Many players want to play centrally; everyone and their brother wants to be the next Xavi or Iniesta, but it obviously takes a lot of ability on and off the ball to be a great center midfielder.
It requires a TON of skill and intelligence of the game.
Your goal should be to select a player who plays at a professional level who you would like to play like. Obviously, they play at a top level, but you should ask yourself; is our body type similar? Do we have similar strengths and weaknesses? Do I want to play like this player? Do I actually have potential to play like this player?
I am not saying you should emulate (imitate/copy) and specific player but you should have a realistic goal of where you want to get to. It’s the same thing when you’re trying to improve your physique. You want to visualize where you want to be and take action in the present to try to get to that “dream body.”
The most important and underrated thing in soccer development is the ability to truly self-analyze yourself and ask yourself; what are you good at and what are you bad at?
The goal is to identify what your strengths and weaknesses are and adapt your playing style based on that and “create your own style!”
Let’s get into 7 Key Tips on How to Become a Better Center Midfielder in Soccer:
Tip 1: Proper Communication with Your Teammates:
-If you want to play in the center of the pitch, you need to be loud and you need to be demanding (in a positive and constructively critical way).
-In order to properly communicate with your teammates, you need to have a lot of game intelligence. The way you develop this is by watching and playing a lot of games.
-Nothing beats experience, but you can “fast-track” that experience if you find a mentor who has played at a high level. A mentor that can sit with you and help you analyze your own games and analyze other pro games.
-You need to be able to direct your teammates one way or the other and help them find their correct positioning.
-I recommend becoming very good friends with your entire back line. You need to be able to read their non-verbal communication so you can receive the ball in good pockets and good places.
-For example, before every game and at half time, I speak with my cornerbacks and let them know the best place to find me.
-You also need to be loud and willing to talk all game long!
Tip 2: You Should Be the Fittest Player on the Pitch:
-Your aerobic & anaerobic system needs to be very well developed, but especially your aerobic system so you can cover a lot of ground.
-You are the “engine” of the team; you need to be able to cover a lot of distance, but also you need to be able to do repeated sprints.
-Also, the fitter you are, the more able you will be able to do point #1. We all know how hard it is to be able to communicate and speak all game if we’re tired and unfit.
-If you want to improve your aerobic fitness, here are 2 workouts you can try (these are workouts I share with my 1 on 1 Private Online Clients, so today is your lucky day!):
Workout 1:
-Go to a pitch. Use each side of the field as a marker.
-The Byline, Sideline, Byline and Sideline are the “4 Sides”
Rep 1:
-Jog 3 Sides of the Pitch, Sprint 1 Side
-Jog 2 Side of the Pitch, Sprint 2 Sides
-Jog 1 Side of the Pitch, Sprint 3 Sides
-Sprint 4 Sides
That is One Rep
No Rest in Between
Time:
The goal is progression, so you want to progress slowly week by week.
Weeks 1 & 2: 10 Minutes
Weeks 3 & 4: 12 Minutes
Workout 2:
20 Minutes of Work
5 Minutes Total:
10 Second Sprint
10 Second Jog
16 Sets
2 Minutes Rest
5 Minutes:
20 Seconds Sprint
20 Seconds Jog
8 Sets
2 Minutes Rest
5 Minutes Total:
10 Second Sprint
10 Second Jog
16 Sets
2 Minutes Rest
5 Minutes:
20 Seconds Sprint
20 Seconds Jog
8 Sets
Couple Key Things:
- Please make sure you get a sufficient 5-10 minute dynamic warmup in before starting these.
- If the workout is too hard, cut the volume (reps and sets). It’s always best to start slow.
- Get a 10-15 minute static stretch in after the session to cool down and stretch any tight or overactive muscles.
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Tip 3: Be Active:
-You need to always be on the move and always be willing to receive the ball.
-You need to be constantly scanning your shoulders to see where your teammates and where space is.
-In the offensive phase, your goal is to get into a space that you find and receive the ball on your front foot so you can go forward as quickly as possible in search of a goal scoring opportunity for your team.
You also need to always be available for your teammates as an outlet to get out of tight space and tight situation.
-In the defensive phase, your goal is to win second balls (the second ball that bounces after the first ball that is played in the “air” generally). Take a look at Tyler Adams (who plays for Leeds United and the USMNT if you want an excellent example of proper positioning and how to win second balls).
-You also need to always be on your toes and ready to cover your other center midfielders and your fullbacks. If your fullback is in a 1-v-1 duel/situation, you need to sprint over there and help him/her if they get beat down the line or in the middle of the pitch.
-Obviously, there are many other roles you need to play in the attacking and defensive roles, but I wanted to make it as simple as possible for you.
Tip 4: Have an Excellent First Touch:
-Your first touch is one of the most important aspects for you to succeed as a footballer at any position on the pitch but in the center of the field, it is even more important because you are controlling play.
-You need to be able to control the ball on the ground and out of the air with both feet and every surface of your body. In a game, you never know where, when and how fast or high the ball will come to you. Therefore, it is very important to train and master every surface of your body, whether the ball comes to your head or to your foot.
-When you can properly control the ball, you can make more of an impact for your team when your team is in possession.
-A good first touch will allow you more time and space on the ball so you are able to make better decisions on the ball.
-A proper first touch will also allow you to take the ball in the direction that you want to go so you don’t have to disturb the “flow & fluidity” of play for your team.
-If you have a bad first touch, you will slow down your team’s play and you will put your teammates under pressure because they will be closed down much quicker.
-Don’t get me wrong; not every touch will be perfect but your goal is to train so much that it almost becomes “perfect.”
-The best way to develop your first touch is through repetition and exposing yourself to using different surfaces of your foot. Once you do that, you can work on more advanced touches and work at a higher intensity and at a higher pace. But as always, make sure you start simple before adding complexity!
-In addition to your individual technical training, it is very valuable to get yourself involved in high-quality pick-up matches where you will be able to test your touch in game situations.
Tip 5: Have an Excellent Range of Passing:
-As a midfielder, you need to be able to pass the ball with every surface of your foot, from various distances.
-You need to be able to play the ball with your laces, outside and inside with both feet at various ranges.
-Your goal is to be able to “serve up assists for your teammates on a platter.” You can’t do that unless you have a good quality of passing.
-It would be excellent to be able to play 50 yard diagonal balls with both feet but your goal should be able to master the simple passes first.
Here are a couple very simple ways that I like to work on my range of passing:
If I have a partner:
-We warm up with inside passes, and then go into about 5-20 reps of inside passes with both feet. These inside the foot passes should be two touch and they should be at a pace where you are looking to break defensive lines.
Next Ranges we work on are:
-Lace passes (driven on the ground), 5-20 reps each foot.
-Chipped balls to mid-thigh, 5-20 reps each foot.
-Chipped balls to chest, 5-20 reps each foot.
We then open up at a bigger distance:
-Floaters to chest, 5-20 reps each foot.
-Driven balls to chest, 5-20 reps each foot.
We come closer and finish off with:
-Outside the foot curls, 5-20 reps each foot.
-Inside the foot curls, 5-20 reps each foot.
Tip 6: Keep Passes Simple & Focus on Keeping the Ball:
-Your goal is to keep the ball for your team and not try to play too risky. One of the best things I was taught in Europe from a top coach who coached in Bundesliga was, “give the ball to your #10 or your wingers and let them take the risks. Play simple, keep the ball for us and do your job”
-Obviously, I am not saying to not take risks. If you see the ball, thread it through the lines. If you see the diagonal ball is on, play the ball.
-A simple trick I use during a match is if I play a longer ball and it doesn’t connect, I make sure to connect 5 more passes before trying another “riskier ball.” This helps my confidence and avoids me getting yelled at, LOL.
-More often your goal is to keep the possession for your team and not lose the ball. Your goal is to win the ball back as quickly as possible and then find that next pass.
-You want to be able to change the point of attack and the sides you can help your team relieve pressure and be able to play through other pockets.
Tip 7: Develop Real Relationships with Teammates:
-A true leader and center midfielder develops relationships with their teammates and lets them know that he has their back no matter what.
-You are in the heart of all the action so your teammates need to know that they can trust you to help them offensively and defensively.
-If you know that your center back isn’t the best on the ball, it may be best to check lower and receive the ball deeper in the defensive zone. If you know your center back is excellent on the ball and can thread passes, it makes more sense for you to try to receive balls higher up the pitch through the lines and in pockets of the opposition’s’ team.
Tip 8: Self-Accountability & Self-Discipline:
-Becoming a high-quality center midfielder is very hard but with hard work, consistency, patience and a long-game mindset, anything is possible!
-If you are a good central midfielder, you will be wanted by every team due to the massive importance of the position.
-As a center midfielder, you need to be honest with yourself and be able to be accountable for your actions on and off the pitch.
-If you train properly (on and off the ball) consistently, you will reach high levels as a center midfielder.
-Also, if you carry yourself like a professional (on and off the pitch) your teammates will take notice and see that your actions speak louder than your words. Your goal should be to be a role model to the rest of your teammates, so they know when you step on the field; a warrior is in their presence!
I hope this article helped you out. If you want a specific technical program to improve your ability on the ball and become the most confident you have ever been on the ball, be on the lookout for the launch of the RicFit Academy App. Launch will be about the 3rd week of January! It’s something that I’ve been working on for 3 years and I am confident it’s the best soccer specific app on the market.
If you want to check out what a session would look like on there, here is a full follow along training session that I did that emulates an app session.
Do you want to improve your ability on the ball as a Center Midfielder?
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