5 Things You Need to Know About Playing Center In Soccer

1. Striker and Midfield

Playing center can refer to two different positions on a soccer field and depends on your team's configuration. On teams that use three forwards, there is a center striker as well as strikers on the left and right sides of the field. Every team uses a center midfielder, and many use two. Team that use a left center midfielder and a right center midfielder typically play one of the centers slightly in front of the other, with one focusing primarily on defense while the other attacks the goal.

2. Calling the Shots

The primary function of a center is to score. As the name implies, centers play in the center of the field and often have the best scoring opportunities. Centers should be able to bring the ball down from the air and quickly fire the ball into the back of the net. Coaches benefit from spending extra time working with the centers on their volleying and heading skills.

3. Use Your Teammates

Talented centers can dribble the ball from one end of the field to the other without losing possession to the other team, but most need to and should rely on their teammates. Unless the center is in scoring position, she should look around for passing opportunities, particularly near the sidelines. Centers should make themselves available to receive passes as their teammates work the ball around the field. Wall passes work particularly well between a center and a left or right wing. To execute a wall pass, the center receives a pass from a teammate who is being challenged by an opponent. The center then immediately passes the ball back to the teammate who has lost the opponent by passing the ball.

4. Be Quick

Centers need to be some of the fastest players on the field. Scoring opportunities are created when a midfielder dribbles the ball up the field and then plays it across the other team's goal. To avoid being marked by a defender, the center should run at a pace slightly slower than the midfielder, then explode into a sprint as soon as the ball is played.

5. Lose Your Mark

Centers have the entire width of the field to play. The best teams rotate their strikers and midfielders so the players are constantly switching positions on the field. Centers make themselves easy marks by running straight up and down the field. Players should look for diagonal passes, which provide space to lose a defender, when attacking the goal.