Madison Leigh Gerhard is a psychology student at Florida State University. Previously, as a high school student at the Peddie School in New Jersey, Madison Leigh Gerhard played as a midfielder on the girls soccer team.
In soccer, midfielders are the engine of a team. They stay positioned in front of defenders and behind strikers, keeping the ball flowing from the back to the front. They dictate the pace of the game with their passes, opening up scoring opportunities on the attack and holding back the opposing team’s offensive counters.
There are four types of midfielders: attacking, defensive, wide, and central. Attacking midfielders stand right behind strikers. They must possess strong dribbling skills to maneuver past the opposing team’s defense and create scoring opportunities for their strikers.
Defensive midfielders play just in front of their own defenders, providing additional defensive assistance. They should be tenacious and physically fit to cover their teammates during advances and pester the opposing side’s offensive players during retreats, winning back the ball with interceptions and tackles.
Wide midfielders play near the left and right wings, giving width to the midfield. During attacks, they help compress the opposing side in their half and supply strikers with long passes. They often run deep into either half of the field, so they should have speed, stamina, and good passing skills.
Central midfielders are the center of their team. They coordinate movement forward and back, setting up plays. They should have good field awareness, ball control, and passing skills.
