The midfielder is the engine position in soccer, the player expected to connect the offense to the defense while playing a role in both aspects of the game. With that in mind, here are the 11 responsibilities of a midfielder.
- Have to run, run, run.
- Need to help on defense and on offense.
- Have to control the space between our defenders and our forwards.
- Need to be positioned so that one pass from a defender can reach you, and one pass from a forward can reach you.
- Midfielders have to receive the ball from defenders, carry it up the field, make a good pass or a through pass to the forwards (midfielders must learn when forwards are offside), or go straight to goal.
- Need to receive the ball from the defenders or take it away from the other team, and learn to cross the ball to the other side of the field to the other midfielder or the far-side forward.
- Midfielders have to be one pass away from the other midfielder, to provide support.
- When the other midfielder is defending, the first midfielder needs to provide support in case the other midfielder gets beat or an opponent cuts toward the center of field. This midfielder needs to cut off the pass to the other side.
- Midfielders need to follow forwards, stay one pass behind forwards, and intercept clearing kicks by other team’s defenders.
- Need to support forwards (receive back passes).
- Need to get back to help defenders, especially on corner kicks and situations when the other team has greater numbers. Midfielders take throw-ins in the offensive half or at least offensive third of the field (coach’s preference).
