Attacking from the Midfield

Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot

Attacking from the Midfield is a soccer attacking drill for U12–U16 that teaches midfielders their most match-changing habit: following the pass into the attack. Play builds through a middle-third battle, and whoever releases the forwards must sprint in to create a 3v2. It links possession, penetration, and arrival in the box into one repeatable pattern.

Find similar exercises in our attacking drills collection or filter by age with drills for U14 teams.

Setup

• Divide the field into thirds with cones.
• Defensive third: a goalkeeper in the goal, plus 2 defenders marking 2 forwards.
• Middle third: 4 attacking midfielders against 3 defensive midfielders.
• All defenders wear alternate jerseys. The coach starts play from the sideline with a supply of balls.

How It Works

1. The coach serves a ball into the attacking midfielders to start each round.
2. When the attacking mids secure possession, they look to penetrate quickly with a pass into the forwards.
3. The midfielder who plays that pass sprints into the attacking third, creating a 3v2 against the two defenders.
4. If the defensive players win the ball at any stage, they keep it away from the attacking team until the coach restarts.

Coaching Points

• Support the ball with proper spacing and angles in the middle third - no flat lines.
• Forwards must check back toward the midfielders to show for the pass at the right moment.
• The passing midfielder goes: get forward, play off the forwards, and arrive in the attack.
• Swing the ball across the midfield quickly to find the free man before committing forward.

Variations

• Have the midfielder farthest from the ball make the forward run instead of the passer - it forces scanning.
• Add or remove players in either third to tilt the balance.
• Change the numbers (e.g. 3v3 in midfield) to shift the focus between attacking build-up and defensive shape.